Payrols Circuit

Circuit between the Lot valley, combes and viewpoint over the village of Albas.

Details

466593
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 195 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 192 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 283 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 92 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Albas (Lot) (46140)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.468314° / E 1.236581°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2038E, 2038O, 2039E, 2039O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) At the start on the village square in Albas, take Rue de la Carrière towards the river.

(1) Head right and follow the riverbank to Cambou.

(2) Head back up towards the hamlet, then on the small square, take the small road on the right until you reach the RD8.

(3) Continue straight ahead towards Les Payrols (wooden sign). The path passes near the houses and then behind the cellars. Cross a small paved road, go straight ahead and continue on another small road.

(4) At the three-way junction, turn left onto a gravel path and continue along the Ruisseau des Payrols.

(5) At this point, 20 metres to your left, you will see the famous payrols, limestone basins made up of petrified leaves. Return to the route.

(6) At a hairpin bend, leave the road and take a narrow path on the right which will take you to the hamlet of Souleillat. At this hamlet, turn left (Route des Igues) after a beautiful house on the right, then take the first road on the right (south).

(7) At the bend, enter the woods and continue straight ahead until you reach a small road. Follow it to the left to rejoin the D37. Continue to the right for about 100 metres.

(8) Turn left onto the small road which further on becomes a track and joins a three-way junction.

(9) Go down to the right, cross the RD37 again (be careful, blind bend) and head opposite towards the viewpoint. Enjoy the scenery. Go down to the left, below the viewpoint, and continue in the same direction as the arrival on the ridge (north-east).
(10) Turn left onto a narrow track. Join Rue du Couvent, then turn right onto the D8. Turn left towards the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 122 m - Albas village square
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 98 m - Turn right towards the river
  3. 2 : km 1.99 - alt. 95 m - Turn right towards Cambou
  4. 3 : km 2.65 - alt. 109 m - Cross the D8
  5. 4 : km 3.45 - alt. 123 m - Turn left at the three-way junction
  6. 5 : km 4.88 - alt. 166 m - Payrols
  7. 6 : km 5.08 - alt. 184 m - Turn right at the bend
  8. 7 : km 6.29 - alt. 262 m - Turn left into the woods
  9. 8 : km 6.96 - alt. 249 m - On the left, take the small road
  10. 9 : km 8.03 - alt. 275 m - At the cross on the right
  11. 10 : km 9.33 - alt. 212 m - Turn left towards the village
  12. S/E : km 10.14 - alt. 122 m - Albas village square

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 33 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
JMB46
JMB46

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with stunning views of the Lot countryside and a lovely descent towards the village of Albas and the Lot Valley.
A walk without any major difficulty.

Machine-translated

Vincent CLEMENT
Vincent CLEMENT
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, Nice walk with a few minor issues regarding the route description.
Information such as: at point 6, "after a beautiful house", given that there are several
or at point 9, "go down below the viewpoint and follow the ridge", lacks precision.
It's true that on the paper map I had, some points are hidden by the number, which doesn't help

Machine-translated

adaniset
adaniset

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk with scenic bridges, vineyards and forest.
One downside is a tricky section near the Château Eugénie estate, where the path is very narrow, poorly maintained and runs right alongside the buildings.

Machine-translated

nanouk00
nanouk00

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes. Interesting waterfall.

Machine-translated

Patria46
Patria46

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty route. The natural site of Les Payrols is worth a visit: there was water.
Very good description: 10/10

Machine-translated

Vendinielle
Vendinielle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After reading the comments, I expected better on the ground. There are only views in the last quarter of the circuit, which is a shame.

Machine-translated

Gisèle Lallement
Gisèle Lallement

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy and well-marked route.
Unfortunately, the stream was dry.

Machine-translated

aa37
aa37

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with no particular difficulties
Beautiful view of the Lot
Yellow signposting is adequate

Machine-translated

ledaron95
ledaron95

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After the information board, the start of the trail is not very visible

Machine-translated

françois monique
françois monique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
It's a shame that all the little streams are dry, so there are no waterfalls at the Payrols site.
Very beautiful view of the Lot valley from the orientation table.

Machine-translated

PatBal
PatBal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike. One of the most beautiful I've done in the region. The route passes through the pretty village of Albas, near beautiful renovated houses and farms, in the forest where the moss-covered branches are eerie, near the Lot, on quiet paths and roads. An easy hike for the whole family.
Thank you!

Machine-translated

albasi jean paul
albasi jean paul

A beautiful hike of moderate difficulty, best done in good weather

Thanks to visorando for the GPX download, which allowed us to follow our route and know our location
jean Paul

Machine-translated

albasi jean paul
albasi jean paul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike of moderate difficulty, best enjoyed in good weather

Machine-translated

albasi jean paul
albasi jean paul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike, moderate difficulty

Machine-translated

Pat8211
Pat8211

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

just a quick note about the circuit: two areas need repainting. Otherwise, it's a very good and beautiful course

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.