Circular route along the northern shore of Lake Saint-Pardoux

Departure from the church of Saint-Pardoux. Parking spaces are available on either side of the church, except on Sunday mornings, which is market day (in which case, look for parking in the adjacent streets).

Directional signs are posted at various points: always follow the^PR® "Les Daumiers" signs.

Yellow + red and yellow markings

(S/E) With your back to the church and facing the old market hall, follow Rue de l'Ancien Château opposite towards the town hall.

Yellow markings

At the town hall, continue straight ahead towards Bessinnes (ignore the red and yellow arrow indicating a right turn). Ignore a dead end on the left and stay on the road until you reach the entrance to Puybison.

(1) Then turn right onto the C10 towards Mazernaud. At the intersection shortly after, continue straight ahead on the road, which becomes a dead end. When the road turns right towards the Mazernau farm, continue straight ahead on a path between meadows. Ignore the^first path on the left and you will immediately come to a^second intersection.

(2) Then turn left onto a path that climbs gently between meadows, hedges and woods. At a crossroads, cross the D103 and continue straight ahead on a tarmac road. At the fork, take the left-hand road towards Chatenet Colon. Climb steadily through wooded countryside.

(3) At the top of the hill (small tin building on the left), turn right onto a path towards Lac de Saint-Pardoux. Walk along a meadow on your right (view of the lake on your right) then descend, alternating between woods and meadows. Ignore a path on the left and continue descending into a wood, heading south. Cross a small road (elevation 383) and continue straight ahead. Note a pond below on the right.

Yellow + red and yellow markings

(4) Ignore a path coming from the left and continue straight ahead with the^GRP® des Monts d'Ambazac. Leave a path leading up to a building on the left and arrive at a crossroads (pond on the left).

Yellow + red and yellow + orange markings

(5) Turn sharply right (do not take the footbridge opposite). Cross a stream and walk along the Lac de Saint-Pardoux on your left. The path soon leaves the lake to go around a fenced pasture on the right.

Yellow + red and yellow markings

At the end of the fence, you will come to a wide path. Follow it to the left towards Pont de Santrop.

(6) Shortly afterwards, turn sharply onto the^first path on the left and walk along the lake again on your left. Stay on the path closest to the lake and take a wooden walkway to cross a wetland area. Ignore a shortcut on the right and then the end of the shortcut, still on the right, and you will come to an intersection.

(7) Keep left on the main path and take two short boardwalks. The path heads south and climbs above the lake. A few small rocks and even a very easy climbing step add to the fun of the route. At a fork, veer left, descend and return to the lake shore. Shortly after crossing a stream, you will reach an intersection.

(8) Turn right and climb towards a building. Cross the hamlet of La Ribière and, at the exit, ignore a small road on the left leading to the lake. At the intersection that appears shortly afterwards, turn left towards Pont de Santrop. Follow a tree-lined path, cross a stream and climb slightly on the other side.

Yellow + red and yellow + orange markings

(9) At a fork, turn right and climb gently into a wood. Cross the D44 carefully and follow the tarmac path opposite. Climb up, pass the foot of a water tower and continue straight on to the entrance to the village of Friaudour.

(10) Then turn left. At the next intersection, turn right at an acute angle. Cross the village, staying on the main road (which has little traffic), and ignore all side roads. At the end of the village, turn right into a cul-de-sac (a small tarmac road closed to motor vehicles). Wind your way down, noting the lake below on your left, and gradually descend until you reach the lake shore.

(11) Facing a wooden barrier, turn right, go through a chicane and go up a tarmac path (shared with cyclists). At the road (chicane on the left), continue straight ahead parallel to the road and then turn away from it. Wind your way downhill again and you will come to a crossroads.

Yellow markings

(12) Cross the D103a, follow a tarmac road parallel to the D44 and enter Saint-Pardoux. At the end of the road, cross a small car park and follow the road as it continues. Walk alongside a pond on your right and you will soon reach the church of Saint-Pardoux (S/E).

Hiking boots are recommended. Some sections may be wet.

Public toilets near the town hall.

Route designed and marked by the Gartempe-Saint-Pardoux tourist office. Despite the markings, a detailed map is always useful (at least the one accompanying this description).

Warning
Hikers are advised that this route includes relatively long sections on tarmac.

Hike completed by the author on 25 March 2023.

- Saint-Pardoux Church (12th-13th century) and old market hall (S/E).
- Panorama after (3) and before (11).
- Pleasant walk along the lake between (5) and (8) and before (11).