Ardèche - Trip Suggestions and Guidebooks

[CavingForLemons]

CUCC are planning a trip to Ardèche (Vallon Pont D'Arc - CESAME hut) in April and I’m looking to procrastinate exam revision by researching potential trips…

Can anyone recommend some sporting trips for relatively experienced cavers (and any other trips you don’t think we should miss)?
Also keen for via ferrata and canyon recommendations (we're relatively new to canyoning so doesnt need to be anything too ambitious)

Finally, can anyone suggest a good guidebook/website, ideally in English but I fear that may be difficult!

 

[Benfool]

Aven Despeysse to Grotte de Saint-Marcel is great fun.

B

 

[Leclused]

Try to contact some local cavers there I would say.

Perhaps Erik (the v-king) can give you some tips. He is a Belgian caver who lives nearby Vallon Pont D'arc. There is an e-mail on his webpage.

http://lab.speleo.nu/index.php

 

[Leclused]

And on our webpage you can find a small overview of the european caves we did over the years with an indication of how difficult we found the trip (1-5)

European caves done by SC Avalon

 

[Tricky Dicky]

How close are you to the Vercours? There's an English guidebook to caves of the Vercours https://www.moorebooks.co.uk/Vercors-Caves.html Grotte de Gournier is imho a classic.

 

[Leclused]

How close are you to the Vercours? There's an English guidebook to caves of the Vercours https://www.moorebooks.co.uk/Vercors-Caves.html Grotte de Gournier is imho a classic.

Vallon Pont D'Arc - Vercors is roughly 300km

 

[amw]

"Spéléo sportive en Ardèche", par Philippe Drouin et Thierry Marchand, 1989

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Vallon Pont D'Arc - Vercors is roughly 300km

Ah, that's a bit far. When we went we were pretty much on the border between the two areas and preferred the Vercours caves (partly because of the English guidebook).

 

[petecaves]

No cave suggestions, because the last time I was there was pre caving. It's a lovely area though. You can hire canoes at Balazuc and trundle down the river for a while as an easy day out.

 

[moletta]

I think Southampton Uni sold a trip guide for a visit they made pre-2000

Midroi down in the Ardeche gorge (if water near the entrance is not too high in April)?

 

[FionaH]

Despeysse to Saint Marcel is a must. Just going in the Saint Marcel is a must. You need to book a key for the Saint Marcel.

I'm surprised I've beaten other chatty NPC members to this post but we've been twice in recent years. I wrote a blog post actually in 2019! https://northernpennineclub.org.uk/blog/20190612-ardche-2019

Aven Noel (another key needed). Neuf gorges. Midroi. I quite enjoyed Grotte Estevan actually. I know even more caves were visited by the club this year but I wasn't on the trip. It's a nice area! Agree that speleo sportif Ardeche is the book to find if you can can. And be aware of the risk of CO2...

 

[Ian P]

For future reference.

Came across this really useful resource from CUCC.
In their own words
“It is now quite good, and may be the best English-language caving guide to the area.”

CUCC | About | Trips Abroad

caving.soc.srcf.net

 

[wormster]

Above ground: good waymarked walking trails, decently bolted sport climbs, didn't see any Via Ferrata, boat hire and canoe down to the Pont De Arc, (watch out for the last left-hand rapid, it's tricky) decent vineyards for wine sampling, etc.......

Family holiday last time 25 years ago pre kids and caving