Diois walks

Visit the Trois Becs, the high points of the Forest of Saou. Correction: the elevation is 750 m instead of the 1071 m described.

The west summit of Saou forest, which marks the beginning (or end) of this forest.

A lovely little hike to the summit of Pégarnier, which offers magnificent views of the villages of Espenel, Vercheny and Aurel en Diois.

Discover the south-western ridge of the famous Saou Forest.

The start is at the Col du Rousset, on the Chamaloc side. If you want to see the Col de Rousset from a different angle, take this hike, which follows a magnificent path carved into the mountainside, with a via ferrata above if you feel so inclined. This path was used by mule drivers to reach Vassieux via the Col de Chironne. You will also admire the magnificent Chironne rocks overlooking the Chamaloc valley.

Starting from Vercheny-le-Temple (or Vercheny le Haut), this is a very pretty hike on easy trails and paths, providing access to one of the ridges of the Grand Barry-Gaudichart, as well as the ruined castle of Barry. Exceptional panoramic views of the Vercors, the Baronnies and the Diois. The return journey is partly via the western slope, offering another panorama of the Saoû ridges, and partly via the eastern slope, via the Pas de la Bernarde, which has been cleared between the rocks (no equipment required).

In the heart of the Diois region, the Saou Forest is home to some beautiful treasures. The Saint-Médard Chapel is one of them: a viewpoint offering a unique view of the Trois Becs. Although the access is a little steep, it makes for a lovely family hike.

A lovely little hike that allows you to easily explore the Cirque d'Archiane. Discovering this place is magical as it is surrounded by magnificent cliffs. You are bound to come across a couple of griffon vultures nesting in the crevices of the rock and gliding over the cliffs.

From the Col de Rousset, a panoramic view of the vultures. From the But de l'Aiglette, close-up view of these beautiful creatures.

This chapel is on the ridge of the Forest of Saoû, above the ruins of an old priory. At the top of the climb from La Clastre, hikers have breathtaking views of the hanging valley of Saoû.

A circular walk on Couspeau mountain, with the summit of the Grand Delmas offering views over the surrounding mountains, particularly the 3 Becs.

At the foot of the Aiguilles, you will pass through a wide variety of environments. Wetlands and arid areas alternate between the Vèbre and the Mediterranean slopes of the Pas de l'Estang and the Palloir.

Tour of the Montagne de Chabrier starting from Saillans.

From the Auberge des Dauphins, there is a magnificent climb up the Grande Combe to reach the Rocher de la Laveuse and the Trois Becs, a legendary hike in the Saou Forest. Please note that the route passes through a quiet area for wild animals. Certain sections are closed between 15 May and 15 July. Specific signage and a diversion from the GR®9 trail have been put in place to assist users. See here for more information.

Beautiful hike on the slopes of Couspeau, above Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert. Unobstructed view of the Roanne basin, the Servelle, the Diois and Vercors mountains.

Explore the hilltop village of Mirabel, with views of Charsac Hill and the Col de l'Armurier.

Leave the road to Die and, at the mouth of a narrow gorge, you will find yourself in front of a welcoming valley that ends at the gigantic rock face of the Glandasse. Isolation, abundant water, forests and farmland framed by limestone cliffs: you may find yourself in a state of ecstasy... just like the Cistercian monks who settled in Vallis Crescens, the starting point of the hike, in November 1188

This hike in the Glandasse massif takes you up to almost 1,500 metres with unobstructed views and a 360° panorama. The originality of this hike lies in the fact that the trail takes you through a pedestrian tunnel carved into the mountainside, which is a little vertiginous.

A circular walk starting from the village of L'Escoulin in the wild Sépie valley, with the highest point being the Taillefer (932 m). The route, which follows little-used paths and trails, is often through forest with beautiful views of the Drôme mountains (Bec Pointu, Tête de la Dame and the southern edge of the Vercors, Glandasse, Trois Becs).

On the border between the Baronnies and the Diois, Saint-Maurice is famous for its chapel and ridges. There is a beautiful view to the north with the forest of Saoû, the Trois Becs at Roche Colombe, the Grand Delmas and the Montagne de Couspeau in the background, and to the south, the Montagne de la Lance and, on a clear day, Mont Ventoux.

Climb up to the Grand and Petit Pomerolle from the Pas de Lestang, offering beautiful views of Saoû, its forest and its legendary three peaks.

A long walk with beautiful views, with no difficulty other than the length, on trails and paths through fairly sparse pine forests.

From the resort, you will discover a vast 360° panorama of the Southern Alps and the whole of the Diois region, with a view of Mont Ventoux too. Best done in June for the exceptional flora.

From the top of this cliff, you have a beautiful view of the Vercors, the foothills of the Ardèche, the Rhône valley and the entire Saoû forest with the Trois Becs at the other end.

This is an easy walk to stretch your legs while enjoying a beautiful variety of landscapes: panoramic views of the majestic syncline of the Saou Forest, dry pine forests, the cool banks of the Roubion inviting you to take a dip, and even lavender fields to finish off before crossing the pretty village of Francillon.

The Montagne de Saint-Maurice is famous for its chapel and ridges. This route offers beautiful views of the Trois Becs, the Grand Delmas and the Montagne de Couspeau to the north, and the Montagne de la Lance to the south. On clear days, you can even see Mont Ventoux.

This is a wild hike to discover the little Chapelle des Sadous chapel through the ravines of the Vallon de la Coullance, followed by a crescendo climb to the summit of Montagne de Faraud. From the top of this spur, you can enjoy views of the Trois Becs, the Grand Delmas and the Montagne de Couspeau, the Diois, the Dévoluy, the Vercors and the Grand Veymont.

A very beautiful circuit, mostly in the forest and therefore quite shaded, with a magnificent view once you reach the ruins of Barry Castle.

A wild hike, allowing you to reach the summit of Bec Pointu and then return via Courcousson and the Pré des Chaux meadow. The circuit follows several panoramic ridges, offering 360° views of the Gorges d'Omblèze, the Roc de Toulau, the Tête de la Dame, the Vercors ridges, the Glandasse, and the Quint and Gervanne valleys.

A relatively easy short hike on the Font d'Urle plateau. Magnificent scenery on the Ambel plateau, the Quint valley, the Trois Becs, the Glandasse, the Vercors mountain range and the whole of southern Drôme.

A superb hike offering breathtaking views of the Vercors plateau accompanied by the flight of vultures! Best done in good weather for unobstructed views.

From Saint-Benoît, a hilltop village and strategic point, climb up the paths once used by farmers through the sunny south-facing slopes. They offer breathtaking views of the Roanne Gorges.

If you enjoy a good climb with cables to help you and then discovering an exceptional 360° panorama over the whole of southern Diois, then you will love this hike. Best done in June for the flowers; by mid-July, it's already too late.

Set off to explore the majestic Archiane cirque, which has become a favourite nesting place for vultures. Discover the four species present in the Vercors through explanatory panels and observation points. As you walk along the trail, you may also spot some ibex.

This walk takes you along various historic communication routes in the Saoû Forest. You can start this loop from the Ecoguards' Office by heading towards Le Chemin de la Grande Combe and then following the directions in the text. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Another, quieter and wilder route across the ridges of Les 3 Becs.It is possible to do this without returning (shorter) by descending to the Col de la Chaudière, in which case two cars are recommended (or hitchhiking). Please note that the route passes through a wildlife sanctuary. Certain sections are closed between 15 May and 15 July. Special signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide users, see here.

Like a ship, the massif stands at the foot of the Vercors and offers a panoramic view of the Drôme and Rhône valleys. In good weather, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and, on the opposite side, the Cévennes. Several contemplative breaks are necessary to discover these landscapes. Please note that the route passes through a quiet zone for wildlife. Certain sections are closed to the public between 15 May and 15 July. Special signage and a diversion from the GR®9 have been put in place to guide users, see here.

Walk through the Clairette de Die vineyards. Views of the Trois Becs, the Glandasse, and the Drôme valley.

On the border between the Baronnies and the Diois, the ridges of the Montagne de Praloubeau overlook the village of Volvent and its valley with arid vegetation on the western side and, on the eastern side, Jonchères with a greener valley.Magnificent 360° panorama of the surrounding mountains, stretching as far as the Dévoluy massif to the north and Mont Ventoux to the south.

This is an 11 km loop, the first part of which is a pleasant walk in the shade of the beautiful Saoû Forest, while the second part, which is sunnier, offers splendid views of the perched syncline. Please note: at point (9), if the passage through the undergrowth is still closed (fallen trees and impassable), continue straight on along the "Circuit des Anciennes Fermes" to the "La Prade" signpost (altitude 415 m), then turn right to reach the Sables Blancs car park.

A summit in southern Diois (1613m), isolated between the Aucelon and Couspeau mountains, offers beautiful 360° views. The starting point is in Volvent, a small village of thirty inhabitants at the end of the Roanne Valley.

The Crête de Ramiat is the flagship hike from Sainte-Croix, and rightly so! Admittedly, there is a bit of road at the start, but then there are wide paths or well-marked trails and, above all, splendid panoramic views of the Drôme Valley and the Vercors. The passage along the ridge can be tricky in short sections for those prone to vertigo and requires sure-footedness in places. However, it is possible to avoid this section without missing out on the beauty of the landscape.

This walk will take you back in time to the farming history of the Forêt de Saoû. The walk begins along the hay meadows at the bottom of the forest. You will then pass by the ruins of Raillon and Fuoc, the remains of the many farms in the lower part of the forest. This walk is accessible to all-terrain pushchairs. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

I suggest a short walk in the Marais des Bouligons and its surroundings: this is a protected area covering 65 hectares, home to remarkable flora and fauna.This walk is fairly easy and is particularly suitable for families.

A beautiful, challenging loop! The trail passes through alpine pastures and beautifully flowered forests. The view from the summit is stunning, despite the modest altitude (1,686 m). Vaunières is a small village undergoing restoration thanks to young volunteers from all over the world.

I suggest taking a short walk to the heights of the village of Châtillon-en-Diois to reach the Cascade de l'Adoux waterfall. The route is mainly through the woods, punctuated by some pretty views. Please note: some sections require careful footing.

This route around the Combe Charonnière, which was once well documented in local hiking guides, has fallen into disuse, except for the climb up to Soubreroche. Nevertheless, this walk still has many attractions: it is an opportunity to enjoy landscapes in all directions, discover ancient remains of sheepfolds and terraced crops, and explore a beautiful forest valley that sometimes plunges deep into the ground. Although there are no major difficulties, apart from a short section in a marly area, we strongly advise hikers to take a GPS device with them, as this little-used area is sometimes covered with abundant vegetation: grass, various types of scrub and sometimes fallen trees, which can temporarily obscure the path. A beautiful walk for those who like to venture a little beyond the beaten track.

This loop takes you through the magnificent meadows and forests above Les Tatins. At this altitude, the land often quickly becomes overgrown, as it has been abandoned by farmers and livestock breeders. This is not the case here, however, and life goes on: hay is harvested, the woods are managed, houses are preserved and more modern ones are being built. The walk is easy. It reaches and then follows the line of the passes, which offer views of the opposite slopes, then descends through woods to the hamlet of Bois Noir. A charming paved road, between wetlands, meadows and abandoned lavender fields, leads back to the starting point of this mountain walk.

Discover more than five kilometres of ridge offering breathtaking 360° views of the surrounding mountains. The route follows almost exclusively single-track trails winding through woods and meadows. From late May to late June, the trail is adorned with abundant, particularly pleasant and colourful flora.