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Park at the Tourist Information Centre, located in the car park at the entrance to the village of Sainte-Eulalie-d’Olt.
(S/E) Turn left to join the D988. At the Stop sign, turn right towards Bozouls and Espalion. A few metres further on, turn left onto the small road towards Malescombes.
(1) When you reach the stone cross, turn right onto the small grassy path that runs alongside the gardens behind the houses. Be careful not to take the main path that goes over the top.
In wet weather, this deeply rutted path turns into a stream for quite a distance. Make sure you wear good, waterproof footwear. When you reach a meadow, near an old barn, carry on straight across the field (there may be cows with their calves – if so, make sure you close the gates properly and keep your dogs on a lead). Further on, you’ll find a beautiful stone cross on the left, set on a slope. It marks an old path (barely visible, not maintained) which leads back down to Mas de Barthe on the alluvial plain.
(2) Continue by taking the path that runs alongside the meadow behind the fence. It then widens, though the gradient remains steep. When you reach two hairpin bends on the path, you’ll find a crossroads of paths at the left-hand bend.
(3) Leave the path coming from the D988 on your right and continue climbing to the left along the path that runs alongside a meadow. You’ll reach a small stone house; from there, the slope levels off.
(4) At the next three-way junction, take the path on the right. The one on the left is a possible return route. After a short climb with hairpin bends, you’ll reach the Malescombes plateau. Keep going straight on, passing behind some farm buildings to arrive in Malescombes Haut.
(5) At the junction with the road, turn right towards the cemetery. At the cross, turn left to see a beautiful, restored stone house – this is the former vicarage adjoining the chapel. Walk behind the chapel to take a small path that leads you back to Malescombes Haut.
(6) At the junction with the road, cross over to the opposite side via a covered passageway to walk between the houses. Walk past the old village bakery and leave Malescombes Haut, where the road turns into a path.
At the first junction, by the iron cross, ignore the path coming from your left and carry on straight ahead. You’ll reach another junction.
(7) Here, there is the option of a shorter alternative route (see ¶ Practical information).
Turn right to quickly reach Malescombes Bas; after two hairpin bends, ignore the path coming from your right and continue straight down towards the houses. You’ll come to a farm building on your left.
(8) Turn left (towards Sainte-Eulalie, signposted in yellow on a slate). After passing a small shelter, you’ll reach the little ‘boxwood path’, which lives up to its name – sadly, the box tree moth has taken its toll. At the bottom of the path, you’ll come to a small road.
(9) Turn left onto it and continue downhill to reach the original crossroads.
(1) Turn right and follow the same route as on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).
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