La Bretogne - Barlet - Marsanges circular

Circular with the highest point halfway along the route, offering superb views of Langeac surrounded by mountains.

Details

3779841
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.63 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,093 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,093 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,828 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,854 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the grass verge at the side of the road, just before the entrance to the village of La Bretogne.

(S/E) Take the path immediately to the left, before entering the village. Atthe first crossroads, take the path on the right. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the next crossroads, cross a stream and then reach the crossroads ofthe GRP® Robe de Bure and Cotte de Maille.

(1) Take the path on the right and follow the red and yellow markings. Begin a long, beautiful climb that ends next to a chalet.

(2) Continue straight ahead, staying on theGRP® until you reach the Croix de Fer junction.

(3) Leave theGRP® here and take the wide path. Pass the highest point of the route, overlooking the village of Barlet, and reach the road leading to the village.

(4) Turn right and descend to reach the village of Barlet.

(5) At the three-way junction before the village, turn almost 180° to take the path starting on the left. Follow this path, pass close to some old mines and you will come to a crossroads of paths at a place called Bessade.

(6) Take the path on the right and begin another descent. Join the road leading to the hamlet of Pratclaux.

(7) Take this road on the right and continue along the edge of the woods. When you reach the bottom, take the path on the right. The descent becomes gentler from here. Reach the hamlet of Marsanges.

(8) Take the white track opposite, which is the Voie des Mineurs. Walk along the right bank of the Ruisseau de Marsange, first along the edge of the woods and then through the woods. When you leave the woods, continue along this track to quickly reach the grassy car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,860 ft - Grassy plateau
  2. 1 : mi 0.54 - alt. 1,965 ft - Bee crossing
  3. 2 : mi 1.62 - alt. 2,546 ft - The chalet
  4. 3 : mi 2.18 - alt. 2,631 ft - La Croix de Fer
  5. 4 : mi 2.95 - alt. 2,805 ft - Barlet crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 3.16 - alt. 2,684 ft - Barlet
  7. 6 : mi 3.79 - alt. 2,694 ft - Mines crossroads
  8. 7 : mi 4.21 - alt. 2,418 ft - Pratclaux crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 5.06 - alt. 2,064 ft - Marsanges
  10. S/E : mi 6.63 - alt. 1,860 ft - Terrace

Notes

Between (1) and (2) The uphill section just before arriving at the chalet is very exposed to the sun from mid-morning until early afternoon. It can therefore get very hot on this section, so don't forget your hats if you decide to go at this time.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Amaprog43
Amaprog43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, well described. The climb is steady and very manageable. The route follows the Langeac mines route.

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User 3066842

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent views.

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Papierre77
Papierre77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, enjoyable circular walk. Almost entirely on trails, a little muddy in places (forestry work has damaged the path a little). Beautiful view of the valley on this cool but sunny morning. Long climb at the start (about 4 km) but fairly gentle. Only saw one runner who overtook me.
I recommend this route, which I completed in just under 3 hours.

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LETEVE Claudie
LETEVE Claudie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As described in "details". We set off at 10am. The route was mostly shaded, so we didn't struggle too much despite the 36°C heat (we are 65 years old...). We completed it in 3½ hours.
It wasn't always easy to find the right direction at the six-way crossroads.
Very nice route in the heart of nature with beautiful views.
As it was hot, I wore simple, breathable trainers: mistake, as the paths are often stony and I regretted not wearing my hiking boots.

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Sirmaelle
Sirmaelle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route this morning under cloudy skies, without too much heat: much appreciated as we took the climb at a leisurely pace, which could have been more difficult in hot weather. You have to follow the route with GPS because this circular doesn't follow any particular path and there are lots of X marks everywhere, which can be misleading (my husband was always ahead and tended to take the wrong paths). We enjoyed this immersion in nature, accompanied by crickets and birds. A red kite even flew just 5 metres above us during our picnic!

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bcg243
bcg243

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello hikers.
A very beautiful hike for us with an interesting extra circular loop, albeit unintentional (routing error at point 3), but well worth doing (the error). So be careful at point 3: ignore the GR and take a wide path, except that all the paths are wide on the right... In fact, you have to take the second path on the right with a slight left turn. But every cloud has a silver lining: we went straight downhill (about 2 km) as there was no reception at this point and the app was "off" for 2 km below.So we went down to the Desges stream and climbed back up to the second path on the left towards the village of Barlet. It was a beautiful climb, passing two houses under renovation lost in the woods, and arriving at the viewpoint over Barlet. Definitely worth doing for the brave (+ 330 m elevation gain). Wear good shoes and bring walking sticks, which are essential. Otherwise, a magnificent hike through the woods with some very beautiful viewpoints.

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ToxRando
ToxRando
• Edited:

You must not have been cold! Glad you enjoyed the route.

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Danielle Scaër
Danielle Scaër

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike despite today's temperatures.
It was our first hike with Visorando.
We didn't get lost...
Thanks to the organiser.

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ToxRando
ToxRando
• Edited:

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Tony Guillemard
Tony Guillemard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike with beautiful views after a nice climb. Beautiful forest trails, almost no tarmac, a hike in the heart of nature just the way we like it!

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ToxRando
ToxRando

I'm glad you enjoyed the hike. It's true that today's weather was perfect for walking!

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REDONDIE ARLETTE
REDONDIE ARLETTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, which we did today with beautiful views from high up, enjoyable to do, passing through the woods, the sun accompanied us all day, very satisfied with this route, thank you.

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