Table of Contents

Map: Location of the RLS Trail in France
Map Key
Summary Table of Stages
Map: The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail

Preface to the Second Edition

INTRODUCTION
The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail
Robert Louis Stevenson
Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes
First Half of the Trail: The Massif Central - Velay, Gévaudan and Vivarais
Second Half of the Trail: The Cévennes and Le Parc National Des Cévennes
Climate - When to Go
Travelling to and from the RLS Trail
Public Transport in the Velay and Cévennes
Accommodation
Equipment
Grandes Randonnées
Waymarking and Navigation
Maps
Snakes
Emergencies
Language
Money/Banks/Telephone
Insurance
Public Holidays and Time in France
Stevenson's Route by Cycle or by Car
Club Cévenol
Suggested Itineraries for Walking the RLS Trail
How to Use this Guidebook

PROLOGUE
Part 1 Le Puy-en-Velay
Part 2 Le Puy-en-Velay to Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille

STAGE 1 Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille to Goudet
STAGE 2 Goudet to Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas; Excursion to Lac du Bouchet
STAGE 3 Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas to Pradelles
STAGE 4 Pradelles to Langogne
STAGE 5 Langogne to Cheylard-l'évêque
STAGE 6 Cheylard-l'évêque via Notre-Dame-des-Neiges to La Bastide-Puylaurent
STAGE 7 La Bastide-Puylaurent to Les Alpiers/Le Bleymard
STAGE 8 Les Alpiers/Le Bleymard to Le Pont-de-Montvert
STAGE 9 Le Pont-de-Montvert to Florac
STAGE 10 Florac to the Gare de Cassagnas
STAGE 11 Gare de Cassagnas to Saint-Germain-de-Calberte
STAGE 12 Saint-Germain-de-Calberte to Saint-Jean-du-Gard


EPILOGUE

Part 1 Saint-Jean-du-Gard and Mas Soubeyran, Alès and Nîmes

Part 2 Walking to Mialet or Alès


APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 Gîtes d'étape on or close to the RLS Trail

APPENDIX 2 Other Long-Distance Walking Routes Encountered on the RLS Trail

APPENDIX 3 Stevenson's Itinerary

APPENDIX 4 Bibliography

APPENDIX 5 Useful Addresses, Telephone Numbers and Websites

APPENDIX 6 Modern Treks Along the RLS Trail

About the Author

Alan Castle is a writer and photographer specialising in the outdoors, walking, backpacking, mountain walking, trekking and travel in the UK, Europe and worldwide. His interests include UK and European long distance trails, challenge walking, Munroes and peak bagging and adventure travel- he leads several walking holidays throughout Europe each year. He is an occasional contributor to a number of walking magazines and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Austrian Alpine Club.