Gorges of the Loire

Walking in France: Gorges of the Loire

Like so many French rivers, the Loire rises in the Massif Central and flows generally westward towards the sea. Its upper waters, however, take a northerly course through the mountains and over millions of years they have worn a gorge, deep in some places, wide and fertile in others.

Our four-day walk took us upstream from Aurec-sur-Loire to le Puy and we passed through a great variety of landscapes, including dry, eroded hillsides, flooded gravel-pits, forests, rich pastures and savage, rocky escarpments. This was part of a longer walk that we did in 2011.

Getting to Aurec-sur-Loire

Aurec has a railway station so you can get there from almost anywhere in France.

Our route for this walk

Day 1: Aurec-sur-Loire to Bas-en-Basset

Day 2: Bas-en-Basset to Retournac

Day 3: Retournac to Vorey-sur-Arzon

Day 4: Vorey-sur-Arzon to le Puy-en-Velay

