Cantal walks

The highest peak in Europe's largest volcanic complex, the Plomb du Cantal (1,855 m) offers unobstructed views of the Monts-Dore (Puy-de-Sancy) to the north and the Cézallier and Aubrac plateaus to the south.

A beautiful three-day hike, sleeping in a bivouac, with interesting variations in altitude.

A beautiful, not too difficult walk with magnificent scenery. Ideal for discovering the landscapes of the Cantal.

This somewhat rugged circuit follows a narrow path along the Gorges du Bès and offers wonderful landscapes with the ruins of Arzenc d'Apcher Castle on the opposite bank (Lozère). The path then climbs slightly onto the plateau and the view widens beyond the gorges. Throughout the valley, a climbing site offers numerous equipped routes. Passing through the villages of Morsanges and Chazals, you can admire old bread ovens.

Climb to the summit of the famous Puy Mary from the south-east, via a very pleasant trail, leaving your car quite far away to avoid the crowds of visitors who gather at the Pas de Peyrol. Some hikers may find this hike a little difficult, see reviews.

A long walk along the ridges allows you to enjoy the view of the Puy du Cantal, the Puy de Sancy and the Plomb du Cantal. Pass through the Brèche de Roland and return to the Cirque d'Eylac with the marmots.

Between gorges and plateaus, this circuit offers varied landscapes and paths with superb views of the Alleuze site.

A day's walk in magnificent surroundings, using theGR® trails in the area. We are within sight of Puy Chavaroche and Puy Mary.

The circuit offers magnificent panoramic views of twelve valleys from the summit. Puy Mary, a veritable pyramid when seen from the sky, rises to 1,783 metres. In the heart of the Cantalien Massif, it is surrounded by exceptional landscapes formed by volcanic activity and glacial erosion, representing the largest volcano in Europe (2,700 km²).

A pleasant loop around the pretty village of Montgreleix, ending at the Orthodox Monastery of the Mother of God Znaménié (open to visitors at certain times) at La Traverse. No technical difficulties and a wide variety of landscapes (pastures typical of the Cézallier region and burons, valleys and small woods, streams and waterfalls, etc.). You may even return with a Saint-Nectaire cheese in your bag...

This route invites you to discover the pretty village of Albepierre-Bredons and explore the Pays de Murat national forest, which is home to many remarkable trees. In the cool woods, the Prés Long, Vergnes and Prapsou waterfalls are the main attractions of this shaded route. Route not accessible from December to April due to snow.

Visit this peak overlooking Super Lioran, avoiding climbing (or descending) the ski slopes. This route via theGR®4is remarkable. Attention hikers: the IGN map shows theGR®4on the Alpins ski slope, but theGR® is now further east on a very pleasant path. To avoid this, follow the route described below.

The summit of Puy Griou has a characteristic cone shape and can be seen from afar. Located in the heart of the Cantalian volcano, it offers a superb panorama. The proposed route, which is fairly short, has the advantage of avoiding the Super Lioran ski resort facilities.

This is an unmissable walk in the Cère valley, where you can discover the gorges carved out by the glacier and then the river, on a beautiful marked trail.

A short hike but with a steep climb through the woods, the Roche Percée site is well worth a visit.

A lovely, easy hike through bucolic countryside, along and above the water, almost entirely shaded by tall trees. Beautiful views. Swimming possible. Near Saint-Illide, Arnac and Pleaux.

A beautiful hike that partly follows theGR®30along a wooded path with little elevation gain. Beautiful views of the various lakes of Crégut, Tact, Laspialade and Taurons and towards the Monts du Sancy.

This easy walk will take you to the summit of Puy Violent, where you can admire a superb 360° view of the Aurillac plain and Puy Mary. Above the Croix des Vachers, an orientation table will tell you the name of each peak.

A superb hike along a ridge with views of the Cantal mountains.

An extraordinary ridge route allowing you to visit three peaks and enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the entire Cantalian puys for much of the route.

A walk in the mountains among cows and typical Cantal landscapes. Niervèze, a lively mountain village, and the geological curiosity of Chaos de Casteltinet and its impressive Lion's Gate are on the programme. Yellow markings.

Cross the beautiful high-altitude beech forest in the Bois Mary, then follow the path along the ridge of the Monts du Cantal. This hike alternates between shade in the first half and sunshine and magnificent views in the second half.

Waterfalls, undergrowth, stream, at the bottom of the magnificent Brezons valley. Forests and pastures, magnificent Cantal landscapes; old stone burons, summer pastures, view of the Plomb du Cantal peaks. Three options: easy (40 mins), medium (1 hr 30 mins), complete (3 hrs 30 mins). Well-designed facilities to make the most of the beauty of the site without spoiling it.

A beautiful walk along the Cantalian ridges. Open landscapes and magnificent views. To be done in good weather.

A short route to a legendary summit, offering beautiful panoramic views of the Puy mountains in the Cantal region.

Its height of 1855 metres make Plomb du Cantal the second highest peak in the Massif Central after the Puy de Sancy. Starting from the Col de Prat de Bouc, this hike initially leads to the summit ascent and descent on the northern slope, followed by a climb up the slopes of the Puy du Rocher before returning to Prat de Bouc.

A short, easy, shaded circular walk from Cheyssac (in the commune of Vebret in Cantal) to the Saut de la Saule, a steep-sided gorge on the Rhue. The Rhue is a tributary of the Dordogne that separates Cantal and Corrèze (and therefore Auvergne from Limousin) near Bort-Les-Orgues.

A magnificent tour on the plateau where the village of Girgols is located. A short stretch of tarmac road at the beginning, then paths and fields. From the hamlet of La Bastide, you are in a wild, solitary and magnificent world.

The Montagnes are isolated burons (shepherd's huts) on the Carladès summer pastures. This easy walk offers views of the typical landscapes of this Auvergne high plateau.

The summit of Puy de la Tuile offers panoramic views of two regions (Occitanie and Auvergne) and five departments (Cantal, Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Lozère and Aveyron). The beauty of this landscape, the moors, the peat bogs and their array of protected species fully justify the site's classification as a Sensitive Natural Area and its inclusion in the European Natura 2000 network.

This hike will allow you to discover the surroundings of Chaudes-Aigues and the local agriculture based on livestock farming (beautiful Aubrac cows). Throughout the route, the flora is rich and varied.

From the Col du Pertus, discover the village of Mandailles and the hamlets of Larmandie and Liadouze on the banks of the Jordanne. On both the outward and return journeys, gaps in the forest offer beautiful views of the valley, the Chavaroche and Puy Mary massifs, as well as the Gliziou and Puy Griou. Update 2025: see practical information

Round trip above Mandailles, in the vast cirque of Fours de Peyre-Arse and the sources of the Jordanne. Not to be missed: both green and mountainous; magnificent landscapes, moderate difficulty. Climb under the trees, then through the meadows, then walk along an easy ridge path. 360° views in the foreground of the entire Auvergne volcano chain. No difficulty on the route. Marked but regular ascents/descents and a short climb to pass the Brèche de Rolland.

A very pleasant short walk to discover the Salins waterfall, the Monzola stream and the village of Salins, mostly in the shade of the undergrowth. There are many points of interest along the route to keep children interested (waterfall, rope bridge, river, etc.). The path is fully marked in blue. A huge thank you to the Communauté de Communes du Pays de Mauriac for developing and maintaining this walk.

A hike mainly through forest, offering access to two superb viewpoints over the vast Aubrac plateau.

This route allows you to discover the pretty village of Espinasse, which overlooks the Truyère valley and offers breathtaking views of the highest peaks in the Cantal region from Mont Mournac. The small 15th-century church is well worth a visit. The wash house, fountains and drinking troughs are also part of the local landscape.

Fond d'Alagnon will be the starting point for your hike. Follow the ridge towards Puy Griou, passing by Bec de l'Aigle and Téton de Vénus. Along the way, you will enjoy numerous views of Plomb Cantal, Puy Mary, Peyre Arse and many other peaks.

Starting from Loubaresse, near an exit from the A75 motorway, this route follows the GR® de Pays circular Boucle de la Truyère and a variant that "turns" around the Truyère river to the village of Chaliers, which is well worth taking the time to explore. The route takes small local roads on both the left and right banks of this river with its wild gorges, crossing it twice via footbridges at Valadour and Terran. The actual duration of the route is 4 hours and 40 minutes (GPS watch data), including a short stop in Chaliers.

Starting from the small village of Omps in the Cantal chestnut groves, this walk between plateaus and valleys offers beautiful views of the Monts du Cantal, with visits to hamlets with remarkable buildings.

This route takes you to one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Cantal. The Faillitoux waterfall, with a drop of around 40 metres, flows over a lava flow with basalt columns at the foot of the waterfall. The pretty hamlet of Lasmolineries, with its renovated bread oven, is also worth a visit.

An easy, shaded approach to this iconic peak in the Monts du Cantal, with its perfect cone shape and superb views. However, the final climb is quite technical and challenging.

A beautiful hike, lovingly mapped out in the heart of the Cantal between the castles of Chambres and Mazerolles.

Come and discover the magnificent Aubrac plateau from Saint-Urcize, classified as a "petite cité de caractère" (small town of character), with its granite houses and beautiful Romanesque church. You're sure to enjoy this varied hike: you'll walk high up in the summer pastures, then descend to the paths of the Saint-Urcize forest and finish by following the Hère river, which will reveal its waterfalls.Avoid this hike in very hot weather!

Discover the history of this part of the Cézalier through the archaeological and historical remains that dot this route. Prehistoric rock shelters, tumuli, Merovingian sarcophagi, medieval forest trails, 12th-century churches, a monumental 15th-century cross, a communal oven, a wash house and beautiful old houses.

Walk along the Impradine, from pastures to villages rich in beautiful old houses. Like us, you may encounter a herd of horses, deer and a fox.

The summit of Rocher de Laqueuille is covered with magnificent moorland, ideal for a picnic. To get there, you will pass close to the pretty Château de la Cheyrelle. On your return, don't miss a visit to the beautiful village of Dienne, which has a remarkable 12th-century church with a bell tower and some very beautiful old houses.

A lovely walk through isolated valleys, typical of the Cantalian mid-mountains. Beautiful trees, beautiful landscapes, peace and greenery. A marked walk with no particular difficulty, if you enjoy paths and hills.

Walk in the hills above Murat. Beautiful views over the Alagnon and Benet valleys. Beautiful old houses in the village of Bredons and the remarkable site of Bredons Church, an 11th-century Cluniac site.

Les Prés Marty are summer pastures on the slopes of Plomb du Cantal, where beautiful Salers cows graze on lush grass. On the way there, discover three beautiful waterfalls, and on the way back, a renovated buron (shepherd's hut), an oratory and a fourth waterfall. In season, dessert will be provided by the many wild raspberry bushes that line the path.

Short urban walk along the Jordanne, then into the Cantal mountains, a stone's throw from the centre of Aurillac. Beautiful views of Aurillac and the Chaîne des Puys. There are herds of livestock and electric fences. Dogs are not allowed.