Hiking in and around Ruoms

Ruoms is the perfect base camp for exploring southern Ardèche on foot: limestone cliffs, emerald rivers, hilltop villages and fragrant garrigue. Our favourite family-tested routes, most of them suitable from age 6-8:

• Cirque de Gens — the iconic 8 km loop above a meander of the Ardèche river, 10 minutes from the villas, with a pebble beach for a swim at the end.
• Gorges de l’Ardèche & Pont d’Arc — a string of panoramic viewpoints along the tourist road, plus riverside trails at Gaud and Gournier for keen walkers.
• Bois de Païolive — a fairy-tale maze of sculpted rocks and ancient oaks near Les Vans (30 min), shaded and magical with kids.
• Labeaume & Balazuc — two officially listed villages of character linked by lovely cliff-top paths, with river swimming below.
• Via Ardèche cycle path — a safe, car-free greenway on a former railway line, starting right in Ruoms.

In summer, set off early, take 1.5 l of water per person and a hat — and reward yourselves with a dip in the river.