Circular route from ‘Bout du Monde’ to the Mas lake in Issoire

Park in the car park between the rear of the SNCF station and the water park.

(S/E) Leave the car park by turning right in front of the Aqualudique Centre and follow the path along Avenue de l’Union Soviétique until you reach the dirt car park.

(1) Turn left and cross Square de Lattre de Tassigny. At the bottom of the steps, turn right then left to go round the sports grounds.

(2) At the fork, go straight on, ignoring the path on the right, which you will take on the way back. After crossing a footbridge, carry on straight ahead (signposted ‘Accès V70 nord’), leaving a path with a bridge on your right. After walking alongside the allotments, go under the motorway bridge and then along the lower section of the motorway, following the tarmac path to the left.

(3) Turn right before the hotel car park, pass the entrance to the Jacques Lavédrine sports complex, and carry on straight ahead to reach the Mas lake.

(4) Carry on straight ahead to go round it on the right, and stay on the dirt track as close as possible to the edge of the lake. After passing a gate, keep taking the dirt tracks on your left, so as to stay along the edge of the lake.

(5) Pass between the River Allier and the lake, then return to the original fork in the path, keeping to the left at all times.

(4) Turn right to follow, for a short while, the reverse route of the outward journey until you pass under the motorway and reach the allotments. Then take a path on the left, reach the bridge (without crossing it), and continue straight ahead to cross the footbridge again.

(2) Near the sports grounds, follow a path on the left running alongside the River Couze Pavin.
After that, ignore a small path straight ahead and turn right, walking along the outside of the esplanade.

(6) At the end of the path, turn left for 50 m then right to reach the dirt car park.

(1) Continue straight ahead along the tarmac path, then you’ll find the car park on your left near the water park (S/E).

Duration of the walk: 2 hours at a leisurely pace, without stopping.
Allow more time if you’re taking it at a leisurely pace and wish to stop to admire the scenery.
A peaceful route, accompanied by birdsong and the sound of the river, except for the section running beneath the motorway. Traffic is extremely rare along three-quarters of the route.