Ardèche recommendations

banditvic

Hi going to the Alps for a week then off to the Ardèche for a week. any recommendations of where to go or stay, in the Ardèche that is, have already booked in the Alps. Probably looking for something a little easier after a hard week in the Alps.

mercia_man

The Ardeche Gorge itself is the tourist hotspot. Lots of hotels and campsites and opportunities to hire boats and canoes on the river. But it's too busy for my taste and the roads around the gorge are full of cars and coaches.

My top preference is the northern Ardeche around Mt Mezenc and the Gerbier de Jonc. Much quieter roads, beautiful scenery and great cycling. Still quite tough riding, though. It reminds me a bit of a hot Scotland. There's a fair choice of quiet and cheap campsites and small hotels but not much in the way of towns. St Martial, Fay-sur-Lignon and Le Beage are all small towns surrounding this fantastic cycling area.

A bit further west are the upper reaches of the Loire - around Goudet and Arlempdes. Another beautiful cycling area and easier riding. Again, there's a few campsites and small hotels but no larger towns.

prb007

We stayed here; http://www.giteardeche.com/
two weeks ago, 3/4 of the way through E2E France.
Cheap and cheerful, decent breakfast, nice pool,
5 mins walk from town centre.
Vallon pont d'Arc is a busy little town with a wealth of nice bars and restaurants
and if you are going in the next couple of weeks, it shouldn't be too busy, yet.
The gorge itself is tremendously scenic and VERY lumpy, take an extra memory card for your
camera or phone, and stop at all the 'balcons' to snap away... http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyrco46/7946014728/
This was our route to get there... http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=520180
this, through the gorge, to the foot of Mt.Ventoux, the next day... http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=520185
Bon voyage...