St Germain de Calberte to St Jean du Gard (22 km 350m)

We'd been asked the day before when we wanted to depart from the village and replied that we would be happy if we could eat breakfast at 08:00 and be on our way by 09:00. The farmer was surprised because a lot of walkers like to leave early in summer to avoid the worst of the heat. This was not a problem for us. I think if I'd been planning the trip I would have made an overnight stop in the next village on the route: The oddly named St Étienne Vallèe Française as the day before had been too short and the last day was a bit long. It would have meant however that we would have missed out on the visit to the Ferme de Lancizolle.

Our sleeping quarters at the Ferme.

On our way to breakfast. (The dog moved as we approached.)

We were dropped off in the village, bought some bread and sent off on our last day along a path running parallel to the D984.

The view back towards St Germain

Later on we joined the road for a few km, but traffic was light on a Sunday morning. We ate our sardine sandwiches in St Étienne Vallèe Française and then climbed over our last ridge (600 m). The way up was not difficult, but the drop on the other side was interesting, steep and rocky.

We dropped into the Gardon Valley through the hamlet of Pied de Côte.

We turned left at the D907 and followed it. It was not that pleasant. The traffic seemed to be moving very quickly. What it is like in summer I am hesitant to think. Fortunately after two km or so we could nip off along a footpath away from the road marked by red and white stripes. We crossed the Gardon and walked down the right bank into St Jean.

The railway station is one end of an historic steam line, but unfortunately does not offer services connecting with the French mainline services. It is very quaint but a decent rail service or even a bus service to Alès would be preferable. (There is a good bus service to Alès except in the school holidays when there is one bus a day!)

St Jean railway station.

We stopped in the comfortable Hotel Les Bellugues converted from a silk spinning mill and ate like Robert Louis in the L'Oronge. Next day we took a train home and since we had failed to obtain a Prem ticket it cost more than twice the outward fare.