Bains walks

Starting from the pretty little village of Saint-Christophe-sur-Dolaison, this easy, undemanding hike leads across the plateau through farmland and pastureland to the pretty hamlets of Tallobre, Eycenac and Dolaison. Water is plentiful here, with streams flowing down towards Le Puy-en-Velay. The end of the route is on the GR®65 (Way of St James).

A short hike to discover this village in the Devès region, a Cluniac site.

A walk offering numerous and varied views of a key part of the Haute-Loire's heritage: the fortress of Saint-Vidal.

This seventeenth "mountain" stage with significant elevation gain takes you to the village of Monistrol-d'Allier and the troglodyte chapel of La Madeleine, which are must-see sights before arriving in Saugues.

A walk to discover the village of Saint-Didier-d'Allier from above. A beautiful descent from Chier to Saint-Didier overlooking the Allier valley, the Rouchoux Gorges and the castle of Saint-Didier.The return to Saint-Privat d'Allier is partly along the road, but it is narrow and very beautiful.

Starting from Saint-Privat-d'Allier, a large mountain village at an altitude of 870 metres, follow this route to discover the imposing Treuil cave, with the added bonus of beautiful views of the Allier Gorges.

This easy hike takes you along theGR® 65 (the famous Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle trail) to discover the chapel and keep of Rochegude, which dominate the Allier valley. Then a beautiful descent through a forest will take you to Pratclaux for a return to the village of Saint-Privat.

From the village of Saint-Privat d'Allier, walk along the Saint-Jacques path to Lac de l'Oeuf, an ancient crater filled with a bog. On the way back, the descent to Dallas and Le Villard will give you distant views of the surrounding area.

This is a very pleasant walk to enjoy with family or friends. It passes through numerous small hamlets while winding its way along the national road.

Discover the Chibottes Valley, a site classified as a landscape of outstanding beauty since 8 March 2016. These small dry stone huts, built from stones cleared from the plots of land, were used as shelters by shepherds and farmers who cultivated orchards and terraced vineyards (known as "chambées"). This trail forms a loop, partly following the Way of St James on the way back.

Starting with a short circular route in the Devès, near Cayres, a visit to Lac du Bouchet, well known to volcanology enthusiasts, is a must.

Starting from Le Vernet, this walk offers beautiful panoramic views of the Devès at the summit of La Durande.

Starting from Le Puy-en-Velay, this route takes you to the summit of the volcanic Mont Denise. From the top, there is a breathtaking view of the Polignac fortress, the town of Le Puy and, in the background, the Mézenc massif.

As you follow this route, discover Le Puy-en-Velay (the starting point of the Way of St James) and its monuments: the cathedral, Rocher Corneille and the Statue of Notre-Dame de France, the Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel, the cloister, the town hall, the theatre, the Crozatier Museum and the Henri-Vinay Garden.

Twenty to thirty thousand walkers set out from Puy-en-Velay every year to do the pilgrimage along the Way of St. James. Discover the Way of St. James by doing the first stage by foot. You can return to Puy-en-Velay in the evening in a special coach.

Le Puy-en-Velay is a crossroads for several long-distance hiking trails such as theGR®70, the Stevenson Trail, theGR®3Loire Trail, theGR®700, the Regordane Trail and, of course, the Way of St James. As soon as you arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay, you can already sense the significant influence that religion has had on the town. Le Puy-en-Velay marks my first rest day after 15 days of walking on my Way of St James I discovered a town of Art and History, famous for its lace, its green lentils, its verbena, but above all for its incredible religious heritage.

Sixteenth stage of the Way of St James. From Le Puy-en-Velay to the picturesque village of Saint-Privat-d’Allier, don’t forget to look back and admire the view of the Marian city. Once you arrive in Saint-Privat-d’Allier, you’ll look out over the impressive Gorges de l’Allier and its still-wild river. Crossing the Velay region and its fields of lentils, as well as the Devès mountain range, is on the itinerary for this stage.

A very beautiful walk, with views in all directions over the peaks of the Haute-Loire. An easy hike, although there is a slightly uneven descent at the end of the route, requiring good footwear.

A walk up the right bank of the Borne to reach the monumental statue of Saint Joseph, at the foot of which you will be utterly surprised to discover the panoramic view of the town of Le Puy-en-Velay and its surroundings.

This loop between Aiguilhe and the village of Polignac, classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", combines sustained climbs, flat sections and fast descents. As you climb, it offers beautiful views of the town of Le Puy-en-Velay and the Polignac Fortress perched on its volcanic hill. Return via the path along the Borne.

This route is the first stage of a complete journey along the Chemin de Stevenson between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Alès. Please note that the signposting to follow the Chemin de Stevenson has been modified since 2016. On this first stage, following road repairs on the Le Puy bypass, this description follows this modified itinerary.

A 13-stage journey along the famous route described by Robert Louis Stevenson in his 1878 travel notes. This tour follows the complete route from le Puy-en-Velay to Alès.

An easy walk through the countryside around Solignac-sur-Loire. Ideal for autumn, when the days are getting shorter, or for a half-day outing. The waterfall is well worth a visit, especially after rain, as is the passage under the Baume.

Circular route on the heights of the Allier, around Monistrol, to discover a chapel overlooking the valley. See the variation in the Practical Information section for a round trip to Château de la Beaume. According to one review, it seems thatthe Visorando app is necessary to follow the route properly.

An ideal place for a walk, Lac du Bouchet is reminiscent of a Canadian lake. A real gem in its forest setting, this circular lake of volcanic origin occupies the site of an ancient crater. The suggested route allows you to walk around it. It is a very easy walk that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Short circuit to visit the Beaume waterfall. Wear good shoes for the descent to the waterfall. Avoid pushchairs. In summer, you can swim.

This beautiful hike offers, in turn, a bird's eye view of the Château de Lavoûte-sur-Loire along the banks of the Loire, a distant view of the Château de Polignac and, finally, the discovery of two shepherd's huts in the heart of a vineyard that has almost disappeared.