Boucle de Pailharès

Park at the hamlet of Balayn.

(S/E) Head towards Montpeyroux.

(1) Turn right and join the D532 at the Col de Fontayes.

(2) Cross with care and continue left, towards Juny.

(3) At the three-way junction, turn right towards the old hamlet of Juny.

(4) Continue along the track, which turns into a path, the Chemin des Bruyères, passing some pretty ruins and joining the Vivance, which you cross.

(5) Immediately afterwards, turn left onto the yellow and white marked path leading to the road (D115). Follow it straight on for a few dozen metres.

(6) Cross carefully to take a path that climbs up to the hamlet of Sauze. Continue along the marked path which climbs through the undergrowth and leads to the Brudon farm (low branches).
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(7) At the road, turn right. After about 500 m, you will see Clozel Manor on your right. Continue to the Croix du Gibet.
"Gibet" means gallows: seigneurial justice was administered here under the Ancien Régime. Visible from afar and situated at a crossroads, the location served to set an example.

(8) Take the path on the right to begin an ascent through the woods. A lovely gallop awaits you here along the Serre de la Graille. Continue following the yellow and white markings.

(9) When you reach the road, leave the markings and turn left to join the Lalouvesc road (D532), which you follow to the right for 200 m. Be careful, as motorists drive fast; take care.

(10) Turn left onto the path towards Le Martinet. Immediately, under the power line, take a small path that descends to the left and leads to the Chemin de Théolier.

(11) Turn right onto the road that leads past the Théolier lodge and turns into a charming path that descends into the forest.

(12) When you reach the large chestnut tree, turn left onto a signposted path that passes above the Granges farm. The path joins the road. Continue to the right, then keep left to walk alongside the buildings at Fontay.

(13) After Fontay, continue along the road then take the signposted path on the right. A paved and grassy path. You can see the wheel ruts left by the carts that used to travel along it. Continue straight on along the Chemin de la Violette, which leads to the village of Pailharès, passing in front of the Auberge l’Amarante.

(14) The village wash house and fountain provide a place to water the horses. Turn right, then immediately left onto the old Pailharès path, marked in yellow and white, which descends below the village. It joins the Route de Machiron, which you take to the left.

(15) At the crossroads (cross), turn right onto a small, damp path (watch out for potholes) which joins the Impasse du Moulin. Follow the yellow and white markings which veer to the right and lead to a footbridge crossing the Daronne.

(16) The path continues along the south bank, passes behind Crapannes and joins a road leading to the D273 (Route de Saint-Félicien).

(17) Take the road on the right; motorists are warned of the presence of walkers, but do take care nonetheless. Walk 900m along this road.

(18) Turn left onto a small road that climbs up to Le Grand Médier. From this very old farmhouse, a path branches off to the right, running along a contour line. This path passes above the Château de Rosières.

(19) Barriers have been installed to prevent motorised two-wheelers from passing. It is possible to lift them, but they are quite heavy. Continue along the yellow and white marked path, heading east.

(20) To avoid entering the centre of the village of Saint-Félicien, turn right onto a wide track. When you reach the road, take the road opposite that goes downhill, passing in front of the Hôtel Le Félicien and leading to the fire station junction.

(21) Take the road opposite, Rue Pré Lacour, which descends into the outskirts of Saint-Félicien and goes round the village.

(22) At the car park of the former convent, ignore the roads and turn right onto a yellow and white signposted path which descends, crosses the Vivance and climbs back up via a small road, the Chemin de la Vivance.

(23) When you reach the D532, turn right and, 150 m further on, take the first right (Route de Darne). Take care...

(24) Before Douny, take a small stony path on the left into the beautiful Collange forest. Head straight on, northwards, to reach Montpeyroux.

(1) Turn right onto the signposted path towards Le Balayn, between the cherry and apricot trees, to return to the starting car park (S/E).

You can water the horses in the Vivance at the Pailharès fountain (bring a folding bucket as it has a push-button tap).

Don’t miss a stroll through the narrow streets of Pailharès.
Excellent restaurant in Pailharès: L’Amarante (opening hours and bookings 04 75 06 67 22).