Allier walks

Passing through the Colbert reserve, the route offers views of seven of the forty or so listed oak trees in Tronçais. You can see naturally shaped oaks, boundary trees such as the Saint-Louis and the Sentinelle, and forest trees with long, straight trunks, of which the Stebbing is an example.

This hike will allow you to discover the Cascade de la Pisserote waterfall on the Barbenan.

A short 8-shaped walk at the foot of Saint-Vincent de Chantelle Abbey.

This short hike takes you past two remarkable sites: the Pierre Châtel with a beautiful view from its summit and the mysterious "Allée des Sorcières" (Witches' Alley) with its twisted beech trees.

This walk takes us through woods to the Verrerie plateau and its peat bog.

I suggest a short urban hike to discover Vichy, nicknamed "the Queen of Waters". This circuit takes you through the emblematic streets of Napoleon III's beloved city, lined with beautiful houses of eclectic architecture, as well as the shopping streets of the modern city and the parks along the Allier River. You can quench your thirst at the famous Source des Célestins.

This hike takes us on a journey between modernity (the wind turbines) and the past (the old glassmakers' village, the Château des Hormières) and offers beautiful views of the surrounding valleys.

Winding its way between forests and pastures, this walk leads to the foot of Rocher Saint-Vincent, the protective power of Lavoine and the Sichon valley.

Le Puy Saint-Ambroise overlooks the plateaus of the Sologne Bourbonnaise. At an average altitude of 436 metres, it offers a vast panorama, to the north over the Morvan, to the south-east over the Monts du Lyonnais, and to the south-west over the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy.

Hike route starting from Molles, a village at the foot of the Bourbonnais mountains, 17km east of Vichy.

In the heart of the Tronçais Forest, a family walk along the ponds, navigating among the oak trees of the Colbert reserve.

This hike starts in Nizerolles, a small village at the foot of the Monts de la Madeleine. It takes you across the River Jolan three times and partly follows the Tacot de la Montagne Bourbonnaise platform, the former departmental railway line that linked Vichy and Laprugne until 1949.

This hike takes us through the woods of Pierre Châtel (Saint-Nicolas-des-leat) to the Druidic Stone (Loge des Gardes). The return journey takes us through isolated hamlets and farms.

The steep slopes protect the site and its wild appearance, home to a variety of fauna and rich flora. In the past, the gorges were the lifeline of the commune. The paths led to the sunny slopes devoted to vineyards and served flour and hemp mills.

The route runs almost exclusively through forest. Here you can see the different stages of forestry development.

A lovely little hike with beautiful views of the Cher, starting from Saint-Genest south of Montluçon.

Hike not far from Vichy in the rolling countryside bordering the Sichon Valley, in the foothills of the Livradois-Forez Massif.

This is a lovely, short and easy walk that will delight all lovers of unspoilt landscapes. In the heart of the Bourbonnais countryside, you will enjoy the small shaded paths winding along the streams.

A short family walk around the Étang de Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais pond in the heart of France's most beautiful oak forest, renowned among other things for its oak wood, which is highly sought after for the manufacture of barrels for the great vineyards. You will discover magnificent oak trees with perfectly straight trunks.

A beautiful walk in any season when the weather is fine, alone or with the family. You can explore the banks of the River Allier and its magnificent waterfalls. The route is mostly shaded in summer. You can also listen to the songs of a wide variety of birds. This route is similar to the "circular des sources" hiking trail listed by Vichy Communauté: a fully developed route with rest and picnic areas.

Near Montluçon, this hike will allow you to discover one of the heritage sites of Lavault-Sainte-Anne, with an old hospital (La Charité) near the route, which was bequeathed to the commune by Viscount Pailloux at the beginning of the 20th century (for more information, see the town hall's website). This hike is easy to do as there is very little elevation gain, and can be enjoyed in any season.

A lovely walk for those who enjoy combining walking with nature observation. Starting from Saint-Yorre, walk through the pleasant undergrowth following the course of the Andraux stream, then around the Coupe-Gorge and Fonts de Fer stream basins. Open views over the Monts Dômes, the Vichy plain and the Vernet hill.

Since spring 2021, a path has been created around this artificial lake in the Bourbonnais mountains. This is a short, easy route on a very well-maintained path.

A short route starting in the pretty village of Hérisson at the foot of its castle ruins.

En partant de l'église templière de Lamaids, vous randonnerez entre Combraille bourbonnaise et Combraille creusoise. Le circuit est jalonné de châteaux, (le Fressineau, Bellefaye), de croix, de chapelles et d'églises , rappelant l'emprise des moines soldats, dans le pays.

A hike dedicated to water. Flowing water, Ruisseau des Andraux, Allier. Water to drink, Saint-Yorre bottling plant, Source des Célestins. Water with healing properties, Hall des Sources and Grand Établissement Thermal de Vichy. And, depending on the weather, perhaps water falling from the sky?This hike can also be done as a round trip, difficulty: difficult (24 km).

In the footsteps of the Master Bell Ringers, between Berry and Bourbonnais, stage 6.

In the footsteps of the Master Bell Ringers, stage7.

A circular route, mostly on tracks and farm roads, starting from Cognat-L'yonne and passing by Rilhat Castle and Monpensier Golf Course. Beautiful view of the Gannat plain on a clear day, of course.

An easy hike in the hills overlooking Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, west of the Allier valley, partly following the GR®300 trail with a few short stretches on minor roads. Easy, well-marked and signposted paths. Beautiful views of Saint Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Unshaded route, best avoided during heatwaves.

Access to the Sentier des Maîtres Sonneurs from Montluçon SNCF train station: this walking route connects Montluçon train station to Huriel via an additional stage to reach the Sentier des Maîtres Sonneurs. This route corresponds to thefirst stage of the GR®100, which connects Montluçon to Poitiers.

stage2 of the GRAVEL or mountain bike route based on theGR®® footpath: In the land of George Sand, in the footsteps of the master bell ringers between Berry and Bourbonnais.