The trail and the association over the years

1878		-22 September, the Scottish writer R.L. Stevenson set off by foot from Monastier sur Gazeille with his donkey Modestine. Twelve days, 22km and many adventures later, he arrived at Saint Jean du Gard.

1879		- Publication in London of the account of his journey: Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes.

1978		- Commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of Stevenson’s trip by the Club Cévenol.

1993		- The French Hiking Federation (Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre) marked out the route and it was named GR70. It also published, in collaboration with Chamina, the relief map of the trail.

1994		- Creation of the Association ‘Sur le Chemin de R.L. Stevenson’. Tourism professionals located along or near to the trail working as a network to animate the itinerary and provide a quality service.

1998		- 120^th anniversary of Stevenson’s trip: commemoration by the Association. - Employment of a Tourism Development Agent. - Twinning with the Robert Louis Stevenson Club in Edinburgh.

2002		- 1^st edition of the Stevenson Festival (firstly at Pont de Montvert and then in a different commune every year)

2003		- 1^st economic impact study relative to the Stevenson trail

2004		- 10 year anniversary of the Association. Twinning with the Stevenson committee at Etréaupont (Ain) which promotes the souvenirs of Stevenson’s Inland Voyage in 1876.

2006		- Recruitment of a second Development Agent - 1^st edition of the Stevenson Week within the framework of the Cévennes National Park’s Nature Festival

2008		- 130th anniversary of Stevenson’s trip with Modestine through the Cévennes: from April to October the Association promoted a 250km programme of culture and festivities. - Creation of the Stevenson Exhibition, with the participation of Michel Le Bris, Stevenson specialist and creator and director of the Saint Malo ‘Etonnants Voyageurs’ festival.

2009		- Initiation of the process of application for recognition as a European Cultural Itinerary.

2010		- Production of an economic impact study to measure the income generated along the trail and to develop a better picture of the profile of hikers using the trail. - Integration of partners to create a European network related to the writer. - Recruitment of a third employee.

2011		- Translation into English of the web site and the exhibition "Travels with Robert Louis Stevenson". - Introduction of a network charter. - Initiation of studies into the potential environmental impact of hiking in the territory and also to provide an inventory of the trail's natural and cultural heritage with an endpoint of creating a tool to inform hikers. - Cultural development: organisation of a 2^nd meeting to establish a European network based on references to Robert Louis Stevenson. - Monitoring regional and national initiatives and meetings related to the hiking theme.

2012		- Cultural events for the general public during the 1^st Stevenson Grand Trail, from 7 to 9 July. - Cultural development: consolidation of the European network with the creation of a graphic charter and the development of communications tools, presentation of the exhibition 'Travels with R.L. Stevenson' in France and abroad; preparation of the application to become a European Cultural Route and preparation of events for 2013. - Evaluation and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage. - Monitoring regional and national initiatives and meetings related to the hiking theme.