Around Mailhe Biau

A very scenic hike over the Lot valley, the Aubrac plateau and Auvergne in the distance. The route is very pastoral, crossing numerous pastures where herds of cows graze (from May to October). The slopes are gentle and there are a number of fences to cross.

Details

2377174
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 297 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 297 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,407 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,248 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the Croix de la Rode.

(S/E) Continue along the stony path of theGR®6-GR®670, south-east.

(1) Take theGR®6path on the right.

(2) Leave theGR® by turning left, heading due east. Go over the fence and head north-east, following the track through the pasture that climbs alongside the beech forest. The slopes are gentle and you can easily stray from the track, which is not always clearly marked.

(3) Go over the fence that follows the ridge (there is a small green marker on a stone, but you can easily go over elsewhere) then follow the track which first descends slightly to the left of the ridge, then turns and descends steeply into the pasture.

(4) Cross the fence to enter the pasture on the right and turn right to join the dirt track.

(5) Turn left at the hairpin bend, then follow the stony path that crosses the Doulou stream and continue to the right.

(6) Cross the Pesquio stream, ignore a path on the right a little further on and climb through the woods towards the north-east until you reach a fork.

(7) Turn left onto the small asphalt road. Pass a memorial stone.

(8) Col de Bonnecombe. Turn left, heading north, and follow the D52 for about 2 km. Please note that there is some traffic in summer.

(9) Auberge. You can stop here and order a drink. Continue left on theGR®60- Gr 670 -GRP® Tour des Monts d'Aubrac.

(10) Take theGR® andGRP® path on the left, which climbs slightly. First follow a path, then a trail through the pastures, heading west.

(11) Cross the Bès, pass Les Rajas and continue to the path you took on the way there. There are a few more fences with steps to climb over.

(1) Turn right to reach the Croix de Rodes (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,374 m - Croix de la Rode
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 1,386 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 3.69 - alt. 1,333 m - Turn left when leaving the GR
  4. 3 : km 5.1 - alt. 1,386 m - Fence
  5. 4 : km 6.04 - alt. 1,314 m - Fence
  6. 5 : km 6.92 - alt. 1,268 m - On the left
  7. 6 : km 7.51 - alt. 1,248 m - Pesquio stream
  8. 7 : km 8.82 - alt. 1,339 m - Tarmac road
  9. 8 : km 9.33 - alt. 1,340 m - D52 - Col de Bonnecombe
  10. 9 : km 10.81 - alt. 1,343 m - GR and GRP inn on the left.
  11. 10 : km 11.31 - alt. 1,328 m - GR and GRP on the left
  12. 11 : km 12.94 - alt. 1,314 m - Crossing the - Bès (rivière)
  13. S/E : km 15.92 - alt. 1,374 m - Croix de la Rode

Notes

Worth a visit

Trout fishing is possible on the small lake at Col de Bellecombe (you pay for each trout caught).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bquinio
bquinio

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful hikes in Aubrac. Avoid in spring as many sections are impassable. In summer, the end of the hike is in full sun: bring water and a hat. The route must be found (or invented) across the meadows and among the cows between points 3 and 4, but there is no risk of getting lost given the layout. At the end of the hike, we made a small detour to climb up to the Mailhe Biau signal and enjoy the view and its orientation table.

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segae
segae

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route, but far too many fences to climb over.

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gpicot
gpicot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A splendid hike with breathtaking views on all sides of Signal de Mailhe Biau, the highest point in Aubrac. The northern part overlooks the plateau, while the southern part opens onto a landscape stretching as far as the eye can see towards Mont Lozère and Mont Aigoual. The entire circuit is well worth the effort. Halfway along the route, there is a restaurant and bar, and shortly after that, a small pond with tables and a café where you can stop for a picnic.

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Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike (for those who enjoy walking in the mountain pastures). Easy and peaceful, this hike brings us the serenity of the Aubrac mountains!
We took the path that leads to Lou Saltou: a very beautiful trail!
We took a detour to the "summit" of Mailhe Biau: a beautiful walk through the mountain pastures among the Aubrac cows and bulls: a beautiful view of the Cantal massif!
Between 2-3-4: it's all about feeling it: pure bliss!

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pameladugain
pameladugain

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike. We started by going to the Mailhebieu signal, the highest point, to watch the sunrise (allow about an hour from the Croix de Rode car park) – an unforgettable experience – and then did the circular hike in the other direction. However, there are no visible paths, or very few, between points 2 and 7-8, so it's best to have a GPS. Also, there is little shade on this hike, so bear this in mind in the height of summer... Shortly after point 8, heading towards point 7, we made a nice little detour to the Saltou waterfall.

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Le Manoir
Le Manoir

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike to do in April-May when the weather is fine and spring is returning to the Aubrac, preferably before the transhumance as some passages will be barricaded by farmers (dogs are also prohibited by municipal decree). The panoramic view is magnificent over the whole of southern Aveyron from the first few kilometres at the foot of Mailhebiau. Conversely, the return journey after Bonnecombe reveals the plateau and its geological curves. Between points 4 and 7, there are few or no visible markings and the IGN map is not very detailed and out of date, so it is easy to get lost, but there are in fact two parallel paths between points 5 and 7. After Bonnecombre, to avoid the road, you can cross westwards through the fields of La Vayssette towards the buron de la Rozière, bypassing cows and peat bogs. Please note: this route does not climb to the 1,469-metre peak but goes around it. The highest point in Aveyron is actually just a very rounded hill with no peak or point, and its actual summit is difficult to spot from a distance! It is also "private", like most of the Aubrac, with signs prohibiting entry!

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agnesbataille
agnesbataille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No signs indicating the summit...

It's a shame, but it's probably because of the herds...
A very beautiful hike.

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GR127
GR127

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the BONNECOMBE pass.
The section between points 2 and 5 is quite difficult to find as it is not very well-travelled and covered with tall grass, but luckily I had my GPS. Between points 5 and 6, we took the yellow-marked trail that passes by the LOU SALTOU waterfall (worth seeing).

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ALAIN.LE-MOUEE
ALAIN.LE-MOUEE

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The area is superb, but the trail description is sorely lacking in detail, particularly in terms of distance and walking time in the event of a change of direction.
Apart from that, it was great!

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Cussac J.
Cussac J.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Firstly, the route is not in Aveyron but in Lozère.

I have done this beautiful route several times and I recommend the end of May to those who can (because of the flowers).

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