Circular forest loop starting from La Bastide-Puylaurent

La Bastide-Puylaurent, car park in front of Saint-Thomas Church.

(S/E) With your back to the church, head left. Cross the Allier and turn right towards the station. Cross the railway line and reach a junction.

(1) Take the hairpin bend to the right onto the Chemin du Fraisse and you’ll soon reach another junction.

(2) Take the path furthest to the right opposite: the start is a bit overgrown in June 2024, but after that, the path is excellent. Continue due north along the railway line until you reach a T-junction.

(3) Turn right, go under the railway line, cross the Ruisseau du Fraisse and continue due north between the railway line and the Allier until you reach a small road.

(4) Follow it to the right, cross the Allier and join the D906. Cross with care to take the small road opposite towards Rogleton. After a wide bend to the right, it turns north-east and joins a slightly wider road. Follow it to the right and reach a Fork in the road.

(5) Turn right and follow the road for about 300 m, then leave it and turn left, following the^GR® and^GRP® markings towards Serres.

(6) Just before the hamlet, turn left (still following^{the GRP® signs}). After crossing the Ruisseau de la Galteyre, the path turns left towards Laveyrune and eventually reaches a small road to the south of the village.

(7) Follow it to the right, pass the town hall and take the first street on the right^, still following the GRP^®. Initially wide and open, the path then enters the woodland and becomes a little wilder. Ignore the turnings to the right or left and stay on the^GRP®, which climbs a (relatively) gentle slope. Pass close to La Roche-Cercle (I climbed up there; lovely view) and reach a Fork in the road with a hiking marker.

(8) Turn right (still following^{the GRP®}) heading due south. Gradually, the path narrows and turns into a magnificent ascending trail through the woods. Follow it closely, keeping an eye on the^GRP® markings, until you reach a T-junction: signpost “Chaloueyres 1290 m”.

(9) Turn right (leaving the^GRP®), continuing due south to reach the 1304m mark. There, the path veers left and eventually reaches the ridge, where you’ll find the^GR®7.

(10) Follow the^GR®7to the right. A stony, somewhat leg-breaking descent takes you to Coulet de Pécoyol (1264 m). Continue straight on, still on the^GR®7and heading south. Pass the first path on the right and reach a three-way junction.

(11) Follow the path on the right through the woods. You’ll reach a junction where you join the^GR® 70.

(12) Follow it straight on to reach the summit of Espervelouze: panoramic views towards La Bastide-Puylaurent.

(13) Turn left, following the^GR® and^GRP®: a steep and difficult stony descent, but a lovely grassy path has formed on the right. You’ll reach the hamlet of La Courège (no! no! they don’t sell clothes there) where the^GR®7joins us.

(14) Continue straight ahead (^GR® and^GRP® markings). You eventually reach a road which you follow, keeping in the same direction.

(15) After about 300 m, leave the road and take a path on the right that goes downhill. You’ll come out onto a small road which you follow to the left. At the junction, carry straight on, cross the Allier and reach a large crossroads. Turn left to reach the church (S/E).

The paths are very good, but there are a few very stony sections: sturdy footwear is strongly recommended.