The Route of Stevenson by mountain bike

In the afternoon, you arrive in Puy-en-Velay, the first step for Robert Louis Stevenson in 1878, before he set off for Monastier-sur-Gaveille.
Before heading to your accommodation, let yourself be transported in this story-filled town with a stroll through the medieval streets in the old centre. Don’t miss a visit to the cathedral with its magnificent Roman cloister, the Statue of the Black Virgin of Puy, and St Michel chapel, built atop an 80m rocky peak.
Night in Puy-en-Velay.

For your first stage, you will climb up to the Plateau du Pays Vellave, a volcanic platform at around 1000m altitude, from where you can enjoy wide views across the Puy-en-Velay basin. Next, you head south, taking on a beautiful descent towards the Rivers Loire and Coubon, before climbing back up to the plateau towards Le-Monastier-sur-Gazeille, the true starting point of Robert Louis Stevenson and his donkey Modestine’s adventure, in September 1878. Following the Gazelle Valley, you reach the volcanic plateau once again. Then a very technical and narrow descent to Goudet before a slight portage in the following climb. You then cross through meadows to arrive in Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. 
Night in Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas.

Level 2 : 47km Alt+820m
Level 3 : 59km Alt+1180m

For this second stage, you finish your crossing of Velay to arrive in Gévaudan. Pass by Pradelles, a medieval village which has been officially named as one of the most beautiful villages in France, and Langogne, the entry point into the territory of the Beast of Gévaudan, which terrorised inhabitants for 100 years. Once you have arrived in Luc, which is home to one of the most significant châteaux from the Middle-Ages, you have another climb before descending once more, into the forest, towards  Laveyrune.
Night in Laveyrune in a ‘gite’ (no double bedrooms on this day). 

Today, starting from Laveyrune, you will pass over the summit of Espervelouze (1225m), the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges (where Stevenson spent three days), the Mourade (1310m), the Gardille Forest and Chasseradès, before a climb towards the hilltops of Goulet from where you will be lead on to Bleymard, at the foot of Mont Lozère. 
This stage is physically demanding, with several steep but short climbs (Mourade and Goulet). 
Night in Bleymard.

It’s the arrival in the mountains ! Today you will take a little more altitude as you arrive in the Cévennes by climbing Mont Lozère through forests, moors and grassy fields. A technical descent leads you to Pont-de-Montvert, an iconic place for the Camisards movement in 1702.
You then cross the River Tarn before a physical climb up to the Bougès Massif (1421m) and, from there, a fast descent to arrive at the end of the stage in Florac.
Night in Florac.

Follow the old railway through the Moment Valley towards St Julien d’Arpaon and Cassagnas. Via the Fontmort Forest and the Col de la Pierre Plantée, you cross the Cévennes National Park. Then, through the Gardon Valley and a few climbs up fast forest tracks to arrive at Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française. 
Further on, from the Col Saint-Pierre, you reach Saint-Jean-du-Gard via a final descent which is both very steep and narrow. You can carry your bike if necessary or this section can be avoided completely. 
This final stage if very pretty, with several engaging sections with fast and technical descents. 
Saint-Jean-du-Gard marks the end of your mountain bike trip, following in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson.
End of trip, option of a return transfer.