At the very edge of the La Chaise-Dieu plateau, this hike allows you to discover charming hamlets with golden stone houses, remarkable panoramas and deep forests on the slopes of the Doulon valley.
Route details
Description
Behind the church, take the street which goes down steeply to join the road further down. Go right a few meters, then go up towards Vialard. Just after a few houses, go down left on the grassy path. Join another road. Cross the bridge above Doulon and continue for another 150 m on the road.
Just before the houses, take the path lined with shrubs on the right. After the short steep path, find the road again. Go right for 100 m. At the bend, take the path which climbs to the left. Reaching a crossroads. Turn left, follow the path straight ahead and join a road. Cross it to follow the small road opposite which leads to Chassagne. In the hamlet, the road becomes a path and goes down again. Arrive at a junction.
Take the narrow path opposite. Join the D 582 and follow it to the left. Cross the bridge over the Doulon. After 70 m, take the path on the right. Go up into the woods. At the fork, stay left. Reach a road at the hamlet of Air. Follow it to the left for 350 m.
Turn right onto the forest track which gradually climbs into the woods. At the road, turn left to reach Feneyroles.
Cross the village, then follow the road which turns right and goes down into the valley. At the exit of the bend, follow the path with a steep slope which climbs on the right. Join and cross the D 588, then find the path between low walls and shrubs. Continue to the hamlet of Condat.
At the intersection, continue straight on in the open [> panorama of the Doulon valleys and its tributaries], then soon into the woods. Cross the D 588 to follow the path which soon splits. Continue descending to the left. Arrive on a perpendicular road.
Take it to the right for 80 m, then leave it for a path on the left. Cross a stream and continue on the path until an intersection. Go down opposite, then join, near a few houses, the D 588. Follow it for 250 m, then go up to the right towards Lavalette. Use the path which passes to the right of the houses. At the fork, go right. The path turns right to reach Mandelle.
In the center of the hamlet, go down left. Cross a road and soon reach Laval-sur-Doulon.
Just before the houses, take the path lined with shrubs on the right. After the short steep path, find the road again. Go right for 100 m. At the bend, take the path which climbs to the left. Reaching a crossroads. Turn left, follow the path straight ahead and join a road. Cross it to follow the small road opposite which leads to Chassagne. In the hamlet, the road becomes a path and goes down again. Arrive at a junction.
Take the narrow path opposite. Join the D 582 and follow it to the left. Cross the bridge over the Doulon. After 70 m, take the path on the right. Go up into the woods. At the fork, stay left. Reach a road at the hamlet of Air. Follow it to the left for 350 m.
Turn right onto the forest track which gradually climbs into the woods. At the road, turn left to reach Feneyroles.
Cross the village, then follow the road which turns right and goes down into the valley. At the exit of the bend, follow the path with a steep slope which climbs on the right. Join and cross the D 588, then find the path between low walls and shrubs. Continue to the hamlet of Condat.
At the intersection, continue straight on in the open [> panorama of the Doulon valleys and its tributaries], then soon into the woods. Cross the D 588 to follow the path which soon splits. Continue descending to the left. Arrive on a perpendicular road.
Take it to the right for 80 m, then leave it for a path on the left. Cross a stream and continue on the path until an intersection. Go down opposite, then join, near a few houses, the D 588. Follow it for 250 m, then go up to the right towards Lavalette. Use the path which passes to the right of the houses. At the fork, go right. The path turns right to reach Mandelle.
In the center of the hamlet, go down left. Cross a road and soon reach Laval-sur-Doulon.