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Arriving in Saint-Arcons-d'Allier, on the D30, by the bridge over the Allier, take the first turning on the left, then immediately turn left to park in the car park near the ecomuseum.
Red and yellow signposts for the GRP®® Robe de Bure et Cotte de Maille and red and white signposts for the GR®®470.
(S/E) Return to the D30 and follow it to the right to cross the Allier. Shortly afterwards, turn right.
(1) Just after this, at the La Cambuse signpost, ignore a path on the right (this will be the path on the return journey). You will come to the D585. Cross the road(take care!) and follow the road to the left (signposted GR®®). Take the first road on the right.
Further on, leave the GR®® markings, ignoring the track on the left, and continue along the road to cross a stream, the Desges. Just after this, ignore a track on the right which leads to red and yellow markings (follow them until you see signs to the contrary). Follow this signposting by continuing along the road for a few metres, then bending right onto a path. Ignore a footpath to the right and you will come to a road at an old spring topped by a cross.
(2) Follow the road to the left and keep right at the two junctions in the hamlet of Tavernat. Continue along the track that runs alongside the road. At the intersection, take a few steps to the right, then immediately turn left. Further on, the path makes a hairpin bend to the left and ends up on a road some 200 metres further on, at a bridge on the left.
(3) Follow the road to the right, then take the first turning on the right through the hamlet of Belchamp. Find the road at the end of the hamlet and follow it to the right. Cross the Desges again. Ignore a road on the left and just after it, at an old mill, follow the gravelled track on the left. Ignore a track on the left.
(4) Follow a grassy track to the right. After a right-hand bend, then a left-hand bend, ignore a track on the right and continue to follow the red and yellow markings and this track, which runs straight ahead over the heights of the Desges valley.
(5) When you come to a road, follow it to the right for around 30 metres, then take a grassy path to the left. Continue until you reach the village of Pébrac. The path joins a road at the entrance to the village, level with a beautiful house with green shutters. Pay no further attention to the red and yellow signs for the village.
(6) Follow the main road to the left, then climb left towards the abbey bell tower. You will come to a square with a large mission cross facing the former abbey and a fountain (information panel). Go under the porch, on the right-hand side of the steps, to visit the botanical garden. Enter a courtyard and, at the far end, climb a small flight of steps to the left. This is a pleasant break, as the garden is designed for relaxation.
Go out onto the square and continue left for a short loop through the village. Go straight ahead then, at the end of the street, turn right. You will come to the main road and turn right to leave the village.
(6) Leave the finishing path on your right and then, after about 20 metres, take the lane on your left and again follow the red and yellow signs. Continue along the path that runs alongside the lane and pass below a statue of the monk who founded the abbey (on the right-hand side of the path).
(7) After a steep descent, cross the Desges again. Follow the red and yellow markings, ignoring the paths on either side. Note the entrance to an old mine on the left.
(8) At an intersection with an iron cross (on a base that could be an ancient menhir), continue straight ahead. Ignore a track on the left. Arrive at a crossroads opposite a green house that has been renovated in a very original way.
(9) Take a short right turn to a spring at the side of the path. Note also a superb chestnut tree in the meadow above the spring.
(9) Back at the green house, turn right for a long descent along a stony path.
(10) At a crossroads, go straight on, then immediately left, ignoring a track on the right just after. Then ignore a track on the left. When you reach the outskirts of Chadernac, continue along the street that continues the path and then joins a road at the Chadernac signpost.
(11) Leave the red and yellow markings and follow the red and white GR®® markings to the right (follow them until you see signs to the contrary) in the direction of Chanteuges. Ignore a road on the left and, at the intersection of four paths, continue straight ahead. Pass the chimney of an old mine on the left. You will come to a road.
(12) Continue along the road opposite. You will come to the hamlet of Fromenty. Note the curious circular wash-house and fountain. Continue straight ahead on Chemin de la Buge, then shortly after turn left onto a track. Cross a stream (which was dry when we passed) and continue on the other side along a narrower path. Arrive at the hamlet of Ferry, opposite a beautiful fountain, drinking trough and watering hole.
(13) Continue along the path opposite. At a (noisy) hunting dog kennel, there is a fine view of the village of Chanteuges. The path then descends steeply to reach Chanteuge. Cross the railway line and look for the Chanteuge signpost.
(14) Go straight on towards the village. Cross the D585 and continue along the paved slanting street Calade Saint-Martin. Turn left at the first paved slanting street sign. Continue uphill on the right, crossing the Calade du Valla and continuing straight ahead before turning left along the ramparts.
Turn right into the abbey (Rue de l'Abbaye), passing under the porch. Visit the church, several rooms (one interesting door) and the cloister. Go back down Calade du Valla and turn left off the signposts.
(15) Fountain and information panel on basalt. Go straight on to Rue du Peroux. At the intersection with an iron cross, continue straight ahead on the GR®® and GRP®®. After the last house, continue straight ahead until you reach the road.
(1) Return to Saint-Arcons the same way you came.
(S/E) At the car park, turn right onto a grassy path (GRP®), climb a few steps and continue up a paved slanting street. At the top, you'll see a church (closed) and a very old cemetery. At the end of the cemetery, a path continues to a cross|. On the way back, turn right along the castle (shoe loom). Further on, notice the cacti growing on sun-warmed basalt. At the iron cross, follow the road to the left and return to the parking area (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
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Very difficult 
