Few holiday cottages can say this: the climbing crag is in the commune. The Rocher des Aures is listed within Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne, a few minutes' drive from the farm, then a walk in.
It is a crag for self-sufficient climbers with their own gear. If you are starting out, three state-qualified instructors work in the area: their details are further down.
In the commune · 20 to 25 min walk in
The Rocher des Aures
Vertical limestone and slab, pockets, crimps and flakes, sport bolted. The guidebooks give between 72 and 78 routes depending on the source, graded 4a to 7c, from 10 to 35 metres — 25 on average.
The foot of the routes sits at 700 metres altitude, after a steep 20 to 25 minute walk in. South-facing, it is a spring, autumn and winter crag: avoid it in high summer.
Climbers rate it 8 out of 10 and warn that the bolting is good but sometimes a little spaced, and that the grades are not generous.
Getting there
From the south of Roche-Saint-Secret on the D538, then a small road on the right towards the col. Corine will point out the exact turning — it is a few minutes from the farm.
Car park coordinates noted by climbers: 44.4663 / 5.0551. The crag itself is around 44.471 / 5.053.
Before you set off, check that no nesting restriction is in force with the Drôme county FFME committee. Birds of prey nest in the area, and the seasonal orders can change from one year to the next.
Why this makes a good base camp
Being close changes the way you climb. When the crag is a few minutes away, you no longer have to spend the whole day there. You climb for two hours in the morning while the rock is still cool, come back down for lunch, and go out again late in the afternoon. That is exactly what you cannot do from Nyons or Dieulefit.
It is a winter crag. Due south, it is not advisable in high summer but it is ideal from November to April, when most crags in the north of the Drôme are cold or damp. The cottages, for their part, are open from 3 April to 16 October: April, May and the first half of October are the best times to climb here from the farm.
And there is plenty else nearby. The area has several crags within an hour, from beginners' walls to multi-pitch. A week's stay is not limited to the Aures.
- Rock limestone
- Grades 4a to 7c, concentrated in 5c–6c
- Height 10 to 35 m · 25 m on average
- Foot of the routes 700 m altitude
- Walk in 20 to 25 min, steep
- Aspect south · autumn, winter and spring crag
Guided climbing
If you are starting out, or if you want to climb without gear of your own.
| Provider | Town | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Natura Grimpe — Mathilde Eckens, qualified instructor The closest. Crags at Saoû and Dieulefit, summer courses in the morning on shaded crags. | Saoû | 06 64 65 62 56 |
| Escalao — a group of qualified instructors Séverine Roy and Gianluca Savio. Introduction to top-roping, belays and abseiling. | Aouste-sur-Sye | 06 85 11 08 59 |
| Bureau des Guides des Baronnies Mountain guides and climbing instructors. Also via ferrata and canyoning. | Buis-les-Baronnies | 04 75 28 83 71 |
Other crags in the area: Saoû and its Rocher du Midi, Soyans (Demi-lune and Rocher des Abeilles), and the large site at Buis-les-Baronnies, which has several sectors — Ubrieux, Lou Passo, Baume Rousse, Aiguille de Buis.
Advice and local resources
Climb in the morning at either end of the season, in the afternoon in winter. The southerly aspect makes all the difference: in February the wall is pleasant as soon as the sun reaches it; in June it is no longer pleasant after eleven o'clock.
Bring extendable quickdraws and a 70-metre rope. The routes go up to 35 metres and the bolting is sometimes spaced. A helmet is advisable: the walk in is steep and the base of the routes is stony.
There is nothing on site. No café, no toilets, no water. The nearest shop is 3.3 km from the farm, in the village. Bring everything with you before you go up.
A crag is not a public facility
The Rocher des Aures is maintained by volunteers and climbed thanks to the goodwill of the landowners and rights holders. Park without blocking farm access, leave nothing behind, and take your rubbish back down.
If you find a bolt you are unsure about, report it to the Drôme county FFME committee rather than leaving it to the judgement of the next person.
How far from the farm
- Rocher des Aures in the commune, a few minutes away
- Walk in from the car park 20 to 25 min, steep
- Dieulefit, Natura Grimpe's crag 19 min by road
- Forêt de Saoû north of Dieulefit
- Buis-les-Baronnies beyond Nyons, in the Ouvèze valley
- Nearest shop 3.3 km, in the village
Contact details and information checked in August 2026. Providers change their number, their season and their prices: call before you drive out. If you spot a mistake, tell Corine and we will correct it.
All of it on one map
The map we keep up to date: the farm, the cliff, the trailheads, the bathing spots, the canoe bases and every provider named on these pages.
The map is supplied by Google. It only loads once you click, so that no cookie is set without your consent.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a climbing crag near the cottage?
- Yes, the Rocher des Aures is listed within Roche-Saint-Secret-Béconne, the farm's own commune. It has between 72 and 78 routes graded 4a to 7c, on 10 to 35 metres of limestone, with a steep 20 to 25 minute walk in from the car park.
- Is the Rocher des Aures suitable for beginners?
- The crag is aimed at self-sufficient climbers with their own gear, and the grades there have a reputation for being stiff. For an introduction, three outfits run sessions in the area: Natura Grimpe at Saoû, Escalao at Aouste-sur-Sye and the Bureau des Guides des Baronnies at Buis-les-Baronnies.
- What season should you climb at the Rocher des Aures?
- Autumn through to spring. The crag faces south, which makes it pleasant from November to April and not advisable in high summer, especially in the afternoon.
- What gear should you bring?
- A 70-metre rope, a dozen quickdraws including a few extendable ones, and a helmet for the walk in and the base of the routes. There is no water, no toilets and no café on site.
- What other crags are there in the area?
- Saoû and its Rocher du Midi, Soyans with the Demi-lune and the Rocher des Abeilles, and the large site at Buis-les-Baronnies, which has several sectors: Ubrieux, Lou Passo, Baume Rousse and the Aiguille de Buis.