The Mills Route in Saint-Gervais-d’Auvergne

Public transport
Train: Riom-Châtel-Guyon SNCF station, then bus route P62 – Riom-St-Gervais – St-Gervais Mairie stop
https://www.laregionvoustransporte.fr/li...

Car
Parking spaces are available on Rue du Castel in Saint-Gervais d’Auvergne. Further spaces are also available on Place Raymond Gauvin and Place de la Mairie.

(S/E) Take Rue du Castel heading north-west. At the four-way junction, continue straight ahead onto Rue du Pont aux Canes, then follow Avenue Jules Lécuyer as it continues.

(1) After passing the Lycée Agricole des Combrailles, at the roundabout, take the second exit towards Pionsat and Gouttières, crossing at the pedestrian crossing. Head to the right, then turn left to cross the old railway line. Then turn left onto the D532 and follow it carefully for a few hundred metres. Pass the road leading to the recycling centre on your left and continue for a good hundred metres.

(2) Turn left onto the tarmac road to reach the hamlet of Montarlet. The route offers magnificent views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dore.

(3) The road continues, veering slightly to the left, then turns into a track and leads to Neuvialle.

(4) Turn right at the junction, walk past the castle and continue along the grassy path opposite, leaving the road at the bend. You’ll rejoin the tarmac road at the Moulin de Neuvialle (private property).

(5) Continue to the right, cross the bridge over the Chalamont and follow the road to the junction with the road leading to the hamlet of Les Combes.

(6) Carry on to the right along the track.

(7) At the junction further on, turn right onto the track until you reach a crossroads of paths.

(8) Turn right again onto the track leading to the Moulin de Pierrefort. Pass the mill and cross the Chalamont again.

(9) When you come out onto the RD532, keep to the right and proceed with caution for about 200 m. Then turn right onto the small tarmac road to return to Montarlet.

(3) Turn left and follow the outbound route in the opposite direction to reach Saint-Gervais-d’Auvergne and the car park on Rue du Castel (S/E).

Recommended kit: walking shoes or trainers.
Difficulty: an easy route along paths, tracks or roads.
The route can be shortened by approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour by leaving Saint-Gervais-d’Auvergne by car via the Route d’Espinasse (D532), then, after passing the turn-off to the left leading to the recycling centre, park on the next road on the left leading to the hamlet of Montarlet ((3)). Please note: there is no designated car park, so please park in such a way as not to obstruct traffic. This option also allows you to avoid the section of the route that involves walking alongside the D532.