The Best Hotels in the Ardèche for Walkers

The Ardèche is a natural beauty, and if your idea of the perfect holiday is walking through a dramatic and changeable landscape dotted with small rural towns and pretty hamlets, then the Ardèche is for you. And our pick of the best hotels in the Ardeche for walkers should have something you'll be keen to book!

Armin S Kowalski via Flickr

The Gorges de l’Ardèche are an obvious highlight - perfect for kayaking or canoeing on, as well as walking beside - and the region around Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, close to the gorges, is extremely popular with visitors exploring the department on foot. Vallon-Pont-d’Arc is close to both the Pont d’Arc, the wonderful rock bridge naturally created by the Ardèche eroding the region’s colourful limestone, and some of the Ardèche’s best preserved prehistoric cave paintings. Some of the hotels recommended by our Gurus as being the best hotels in the Ardèche for walkers can be found in this area, within the Parc Natural Regional des Monts l’Ardèche.

Sandrine Néel via Flickr

The area around Mont Gerbier de Jonc, the volcanic mountain under which springs the source of the Loire, is another popular base for walkers and hikers, as is the Cevennes Ardéchoises, with its strange primeval forest of petrified oaks. The Rhône provides the perfect walking route for some people, and some of our Guru’s recommendations for the best hotels in the Ardèche for walkers are located right on the river.

Armin S Kowalski via Flickr

You can’t rely on public transport in the Ardèche, so it can be a difficult department to walk through without a car, or assistance from someone with a car, so you might want to consider staying in several of our Guru’s best hotels in the Ardèche for walkers, and use them as a base, rather than try and travel between properties under your own steam. But there are as many options as there are walking routes, and the landscape is certainly worth the effort!

For a romantic stay

• In the quaint, pretty village of Banne, within the Cévennes National Park, the Auberge de Banne is a beautiful property with an award-winning restaurant. There are just 11 rooms with plenty of luxurious features and a lovely outdoor pool. A great choice if you appreciate good design!

For sightseeing (and walking)

• The Hotel de la Villeon is a painstakingly and beautifully renovated property in the pretty village of Tournon-sur-Rhône. It's 16 large light rooms have enormous beds and elegant design, the converted stables are home to contemporary breakfast and seminar rooms and the gardens are so pretty.

The Best Spa Hotels

• The Domaine de Chalveches is a chic, modern property with beautiful mountain views of the Ardèche Natural Regional Park. Each of the ten rooms and suites are individually designed, but with nature in mind, and there’s a spoiling spa.

For great value

• The Auberge du Lac is an elegant, lakeside property with 12 simple, but well proportioned rooms. There’s a very nice infinity pool and a well regarded restaurant serving modern French cuisine. Plus stunning views. Rooms start from around £70 per night.

If you haven’t found your idea of the Ardèche's best hotels for walkers on our Guru’s list of 6 of the Best Hotels in the Ardèche for walkers you could:

• Browse through our list of all the best hotels in the Ardèche?
• Or expand your search to include the best places to stay in the Rhône-Alpes region?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.