From Vollore to the Lake

Start: Place de la Conche. Pass the town hall and descend to the D7. Cross the departmental road and, just after the garage, turn left towards Le Fraisse (view of Grün de Chignore straight ahead). In the hamlet, turn right, then take a track between 2 houses on the left. Continue straight ahead to the surfaced road. The track descends and then climbs to a surfaced road. Immediately take the track descending to the left as far as the D45. Follow it to the left for 250m, then turn onto the first track on the left. At the following junctions, continue climbing on the main track to the village of Montmiot.

1. Cross Montmiot on the road to the left and continue to the T-junction. Take the track straight ahead and stay on the main track to the surfaced road. Follow it to the right. At the hairpin bend, follow the road climbing slightly to the left to Fontcuberte. Cross the village and, by the last house, take the track climbing to the left. At the junction, turn right, then 10 m further on take the earth track on the left to the road (view of the Forez ridges). Follow the road to the right to the D 313 (views of the Chaîne des Puys, Sancy and Monts du Forez). Cross it and continue straight ahead to the hamlet of Le Besset de la Pause. Cross the village.

2. On leaving, take the earth track to the left of the wrought-iron cross (view of the Chaîne des Puys on the right) and descend to the hamlet of La Félolie (view of Lac d’Aubusson-d’Auvergne). Cross the hamlet, then at the fork descend the road to the left as far as Le Bost. At the bottom of the road, by a house, take the sunken track to reach the church in Aubusson-d’Auvergne. Pass alongside the church, then enter the village. Pass beneath the gateway and descend to the left of the fountain. Continue slightly right between two houses; pass alongside the sawmill. Climb the 1st surfaced road on the right. Follow the D41 to the right, then immediately turn left onto the first track behind the town hall. At the next junction, turn left.

3. 100 m further on, turn right and cross the hamlet of La Chosserie. After 350 m, on leaving a left-hand bend, climb the path on the right. At the top, take the track on the left to the hamlet of Puymillier. Cross the hamlet (large mulberry tree). On leaving, 100 m after the last house, take the path on the right. Descend to a broader track. Follow it to the left and continue straight ahead to the D45. Cross it and branch onto the second vehicle track on the right. Stay on this track to the D7.

4. Follow it to the right before crossing the D45 to take the surfaced road straight ahead (no-entry direction). Turn left onto the first track and continue straight ahead to the hamlet of Rongeron. At the junction, head towards Vollore-Ville, then 150 m further on take the surfaced road descending to the left towards the hamlet of Barbat. Cross it. 150 metres further on, climb the surfaced track on the right. Pass below Château de Vollore and, 200 metres further on, turn right onto the earth track and climb to Place de la Conche.