Chaptelat walks

A walk presenting no particular difficulty in a peaceful and relaxing setting, allowing you to explore the Vienne Valley in the heart of the world capital of porcelain, with magnificent medieval bridges, historic neighbourhoods, old factories (porcelain) and a lovely park.

This walk is situated at the foot of the foothills of the Monts d’Ambazac range. Rich in varied landscapes, it alternates between forest trails, visits to small villages and sections across the plains.

To ease into the climb up the small Monts d’Ambazac mountain range, I suggest you take the lovely forest paths overlooking the Domaine du Muret in Ambazac.

This circular route passes through hamlets with beautiful Limousin-style houses, takes you up to a vantage point to enjoy the scenery, and ends with the lovely avenues of the Forêt des Vaseix.

A magnificent walk that allows you to discover the rich scenery and biodiversity of the commune of Isle. If you keep quiet and look out carefully, you may spot foxes, squirrels, roe deer and numerous birds. In spring, the song of the golden oriole will accompany you as you walk along the ‘fox trail’, the ‘squirrel trail’ or even the ‘sequoia trail’. You’ll follow the right bank of the River Aurence and come across the Meynieux mill before climbing a short path that leads to the village of Mas de l’Aurence with its beautifully restored buildings.

From the12th-century church to the Château du Mas Cerise, this route takes you along avenues lined with majestic trees and a ridge path.

Circular route with varied scenery, often through woodland, partly along the Monks’ Trail. Magnificent in the autumn colours of the LimousinNote from the moderator: the route was amended on 11 May 2023 due to issues with private land; instead of heading to point 4 across the fields after going round the pond, the route now passes through Bourdaleine.

Starting from the Santrop bridge, this 7 km route allows you to explore the shores of Lake Saint-Pardoux and its landscapes in the Haute-Vienne. The route follows the lake’s banks for much of the way and passes through several wooded areas, in a peaceful setting ideal for a stroll. The route passes through the heart of the village of Friaudour, whilst offering lovely views of the lake. During the walk, you’ll also catch a glimpse of the Île aux Enfants, a small island accessible via a wooden footbridge situated near the path. With a relatively easy route, this walk is ideal for enjoying nature and discovering the landscapes of Lake Saint-Pardoux as you follow the water’s edge.

There is a trail that can be explored on foot or by mountain bike, connecting all these towns and offering beautiful views along the way. This will take you to the Château de Chalucet, an extraordinary medieval site.

Here is a circular route to explore the Briance Valley, passing through some magnificent little villages. This circular route is accessible on foot or by mountain bike, but presents some challenges on various tricky sections, even for experienced adults. There’s always a way to shorten the route. It is also possible to set off from the small village of Le Chambon (4) on the D32, where there is a perfect car park to start from.

A short walk of less than 10 km passing by the Chapelle Saint-Martin, situated near the Étang des Sagnes, which is on peatland. 90% of the route is on paths and through woodland.

A pleasant walk in the forest, in all seasons and in all weathers.Please note: from 30 November 2024 to 31 January 2025, the path between (5) and (6) will be closed for forestry work.At the Beauregard farm, take the road between points (3) and (6) and continue the route.

Covering approximately 330 hectares, Lake Saint-Pardoux is the second largest body of water in the Haute-Vienne department. Due to its irregular shape, the tour of the lake is no less than 24 km long. This hike is more accessible in length and takes you along the northern shore of the lake after climbing through the countryside to the outskirts of Chatenet Colon.

The Puy de Massert (and its remarkable beech trees) served as a lookout point for the Bayeux Maquis (named after the first town liberated by the Allies).

A very easy walk with no significant elevation gain. Less than 600 m on the road.

A lovely walk in the woodlands along the Ligoure and Briance rivers, with a visit to Chalucet castle. This walk has been created in memory of Bernard, from the Amis de Chalucet Association and a great Camino walker who also walked to Rome and Bremen.

A mainly forest route, on paths lined with low walls, skirting a few meadows and passing through a few quiet hamlets.

An easy walk with a slight elevation gain, access to a shepherd’s hut, two viewpoints and less than 100 m of road. It’s a shame the pond is private and inaccessible.

This short walk through woodland allows you to explore the listed site of the Châtelard oppidum. It is a Gallo-Roman fortified settlement on a barred spur, consisting of a platform covering around ten hectares and side terraces, now entirely wooded. The route features a steep climb over the first 600 metres, followed by a flat path around the perimeter of the site.