Around Molles

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

Details

484972
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 251 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 251 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 486 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 342 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Molles (03300)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 46.107755° / E 3.558368°
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Start from the town hall or church in Molles.

(S/E) Take the La Chapelle road (D421) for 500 metres until you reach a left-hand bend, then take the path that descends to the right.

(1) At the bottom of the valley, cross a river (a few metres to the left, there is a footbridge to cross without getting your feet wet) and continue straight on along the path that climbs up to the hamlet of Nivière. Take the small road on the right that leads to the Debost farm.

(2) Pass between the farm buildings and follow the wide dirt track that climbs through the forest and then descends to the D121. Take this road to the right for a few metres.

(3) Turn left towards the stadium, walk alongside it, then cross a small road and take the path opposite, which can be quite muddy in wet weather.
Further on, the path overlooks the Sichon Valley. Ignore the first path on the left.

(4) At the three-way junction, follow the path on the right which joins the D121 and follow it to the right for a few metres.

(5) Take the D208 towards Molles. After Moulin Fidèle, turn left and cross the Mansan river towards Chervais.

(6) At the exit of the hamlet, turn left.

(7) Before the top of the hill, start the descent to the right, ignoring the paths on the left.

(8) On the descent, take the first path on the right, which becomes a small tarmac road at the entrance to the hamlet of Les Quatre Vents. At the intersection, turn right and then right again.

(9) Before the hamlet of Rez Buriaud, leave the carriage road and take the grassy path on the left. This descends rapidly into the valley. At the next intersection, turn left. The path continues downhill to the stream and then climbs back up to Molles. Pass by the sewage treatment plant and arrive at the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 464 m - Molles Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 394 m - Footbridge
  3. 2 : km 1.98 - alt. 443 m - Debost Farm
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 417 m - Head towards the stadium
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 401 m - On the right, at the three-way junction
  6. 5 : km 4.71 - alt. 350 m - D208 on the left
  7. 6 : km 5.9 - alt. 412 m - Exit Chervais
  8. 7 : km 6.38 - alt. 437 m - Turn right downhill
  9. 8 : km 7.02 - alt. 475 m - Path on the right
  10. 9 : km 7.95 - alt. 461 m - Grassy path on the left
  11. S/E : km 9.65 - alt. 464 m - Molles Town Hall

Worth a visit

Throughout the hike, enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Monts de la Madeleine and the Bourbonnais mountains.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Patoche 50
Patoche 50

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the Bourbonnaise mountains.
Please note that there is a discrepancy between the markings and the description between markers 5 and 7.

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Venorique
Venorique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great!

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63mireille
63mireille

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Markings throughout the hike. When crossing the stream, take the path on the left to find the small stone bridge.
Beautiful views along the route. After Chervais, there is a fairly long climb.

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Vivestido
Vivestido

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On this scorching hot day, it was pleasant to walk mostly in the shade, with occasional clearings offering beautiful views of the "distant" mountains.
A hike to be recommended

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lalias
lalias

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful country walk. We were pleasantly surprised by some of the views of the region.
Be careful, however, as the footbridge over the stream no longer exists.

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vehuel12
vehuel12

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route through forests and hamlets, with views of the Puys. Located within a 10 km radius of Cusset.

There is only one point of uncertainty between points 3 and 4, where you have to cross a road and continue straight ahead. There are no markings at this point.

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ktybo
ktybo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike without any particular difficulty

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les trois sœurs +
les trois sœurs +

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful, pleasant route

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visionrandonnées
visionrandonnées

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hi, it was very pleasant in November. There was a very muddy section on a farm, but otherwise the paths were beautiful, with lovely autumn colours. There is a café-restaurant in the village. I didn't have time to stop, but it's definitely worth taking a break there. There is also a good bakery open on Sunday mornings.
Happy hiking, everyone!

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Fournet Claire
Fournet Claire

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant, undulating walk with no major points of interest.

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Pemberley
Pemberley

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant route because it is varied: open paths, forest trails, few roads and magnificent landscapes, especially as the weather was very favourable.

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neimad42
neimad42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route often follows the old railway line. The route is of little interest.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, JIGECE
Why did you rate the route as "Moderate"?

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JIGECE
JIGECE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, an easy-to-follow route and magnificent views...
And above all, alone in the world...

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michelmarieandree
michelmarieandree

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful and enjoyable hike with stunning views of the Bourbonnais countryside and mountains.

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