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Park in the hikers’ car park at the foot of the Puy de Louchadière, accessible from the D943 via the D576 towards Beauregard.
(S) Head towards the southern corner of the car park and take the path heading south-east, which runs parallel to the road at the very start (sign saying ‘No vehicles’). Further on, at the junction with another path, continue straight ahead.
(1) At the next junction, at the “945m” marker, turn left towards the Puy de Louchadière. You will soon enter a beech forest. Look out for yellow markings, which you should follow carefully all the way to the summit of the Puy. Further on, a small yellow PR® sign indicates that you should turn left (contrary to the Yellow Cross markings for the other two paths, which are not shown on the maps). Further on, ignore a path on the right (Yellow Cross) and you’ll come to a junction with a faint path on the left, near an iron post bearing a very faded green inscription reading “Aller”.
(2) Follow this path to the left; it is poorly marked in places, winding in switchbacks or cutting straight up the slope where possible (check your GPS position regularly). Continue climbing, ignoring any paths branching off to the left further on. Higher up, the path is better defined. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with the rather lovely view offered by the Puy de la Louchadière, which is otherwise heavily wooded.
(3) The descent follows a path heading generally south; check your position from time to time using the app’s GPS. Further down, you’ll reach the junction you passed on the way up, at the iron post.
(2) Carry on straight ahead for a few metres following the yellow markings, then immediately leave the marked path to follow the track on the left (marked with a Yellow Cross). Although the path is not signposted, it is clearly marked. Further down, ignore a forest track on your right near a young fir plantation, then leave the forest. Walk alongside a meadow on your right to reach a wide path.
(4) Turn left and carry on straight ahead along this path. Pass the ‘Forêt de Beauregard’ sign and continue between the fir and beech woods. At a Fork in the road, keep right (yellow markings).
(5) At the next fork in the road, ignore the yellow-marked PR® path on the left and keep right, following the direction of the “Puys de Jumes et de la Coquille” route (yellow sign). Further on, ignore a path on the right at a sign prohibiting mountain bikes.
(6) At the next junction, join the GR®441 and follow it to the right, also following the yellow markings and the sign for “Puy de Jumes” (yellow sign). The path climbs steeply and reaches the edge of the crater. Continue to the left to go round the crater, through a wood of hornbeams. Pass a small yellow sign indicating the altitude of Puy de Jumes as 1,161 m.
(7) To the south of the crater, continue westwards along the crater’s rim to quickly reach an open clearing, which offers a beautiful view from the highest point of Puy de Jumes.
(8) Retrace your steps.
(7) Carry on to the right along the signposted path. This path, which features numerous steps, descends and then climbs again to reach the sign indicating the altitude of 1,152 m at Puy de la Coquille. Continue along the path, which heads south.
(9) Further on, turn right onto a path leading to a promontory at the summit of the Puy de la Coquille, which offers a fine view.
(10) Retrace your steps.
(9) Turn right onto the signposted path, which descends steeply.
(11) At the first junction, continue to the left (GR®) then, at the junction a few metres further on, at the signpost marked 1022 m, continue left again towards “Bois de Clermont”.
(12) At the next junction, ignore the path opposite and follow the bend to the right. The path then bends to the left to go round the Puy de Clermont. You will reach the “Bois de Clermont” signpost. Continue to the left towards the Puy Chopine. About fifty metres further on, ignore a path on the left and you will reach a junction opposite the “Forêt de Fontêtes” sign.
(13) Continue along the GR® marked path to the right. At the next junction, at the “Puy Chopine” signpost, head up to the left towards the Puy des Gouttes. Walk through a beech forest, then follow the path—which has been laid out to minimise erosion—and cross a stile. Further up, you’ll reach the edge of the Puy des Gouttes crater.
(14) Walk round the crater along the path, which offers sweeping views, then continue along the path which descends steeply through a beautiful beech forest. Make sure you follow the GR® markings closely. At the bottom, head diagonally left and then go through a stile at the signpost marked 969 m.
(15) On the other side, continue to the right towards the Puy de Chaumont. At a Fork in the road shortly afterwards, at the “Puy de Chaumont” signpost, veer left and leave the GR® markings. Follow this path, ignoring the few branches to the left or right. Pass the “Forêt de Chanat” sign and you’llreach the D559 road.
(16) Continue along the path opposite. At the four-way junction, carry on straight ahead. At the T-junction, turn right and then ignore a grassy path on the right. You’ll reach a crossroads near the D977, which runs to the right and is quite noisy.
(17) Keep to the left. The track soon bends left, heading north. At the junction, leave the track and follow the path on the right. This path, which follows the valley floor, is not signposted but is clearly visible. Stay in the valley floor, ignoring the few side paths. You’ll reach a junction with a track at a yellow sign.
(18) Take the path on the right which climbs to the summit of the Puy des Goules.
(19) At the top, you’ll find further signposts; follow the direction marked ‘Tour du cratère’. There’s a clear view. This circuit takes you back to these same signposts.
(19) Then retrace your steps along the same route you took on the way up to head back down.
(18) Carry on to the right. Leave the path leading up to the Grotte du Sarcoui on your left. Further on, pass through a gate, then a sign reading ‘Montgoulède, no groups or mountain bikes allowed’, and you’ll reach a junction.
(20) Turn left. At the next junction, keep to the right. You’ll reach a junction where several paths meet, marked by directional signs. Follow the wide path to the right towards the Parking des Goules, passing through an area with timber storage and forestry buildings. Please note: before reaching the D977, make sure you turn right onto the path leading to the car park. Continue across the car park towards the west to reach the edge of the D977 at the pedestrian crossing and a yellow signpost marked “Parking des Goules”.
(21) Head towards the Col de Ceyssat, carefully crossing the D997 to take the path opposite. Turn sharply right, then left, and look out for another signpost marked “Chemin du Pariou”. Continue to the right, through the woodland. Further on, you’ll come to a junction marked by a signpost.
(22) Turn left towards the summit of Puy Pariou and reach the edge of the crater. Unobstructed view.
(23) Turn left onto the marked path to go round the crater and reach the top of the long flight of steps. Take these to descend from the Pariou.
(24) At the bottom, at the junction of the paths, turn right. About 150 metres further on, veer left onto a path; a sign points to the Cliersou Caves.
(25) Further up, at a small clearing, take the path on the right towards the caves and the summit of the Cliersou. It is a steep path leading to the caves.
(26) Walk past the caves and continue along the easier path which climbs to the summit of the puy.
(27) Continue along the path, which is circular and takes you back to the caves.
(26) Head back down via the same route you took on the way up.
(25) Carry on to the right, along a steep path which, in places, is little more than a flow of pozzolan. Pass through the pass between the Grand and Petit Knoll. Further on, pass below the Petit Knoll caves and arrive at a junction of paths.
(28) Turn right. At the junction further down, look for the GR®4 and 441 signposts and turn left. Following the signposts, you’ll reach the crossroads of paths and the GR® du Traversin (there’s a fountain here, but it’s only open during the summer).
(29) Turn right and, shortly afterwards, you’ll find a signpost for the GR®441 as well as a sign for the Chemin des Chêvres, which you’ll follow to climb to the summit of the Puy de Dôme. It passes between the Creux de la Berte and the Nid de la Poule and, further on, is laid out as a flight of steps. You’ll reach the Panoramique des Dômes railway line and the old road.
(30) Follow it to the left. Further on, leave the road and continue along the tarmac path to the right, which soon leads to the summit of the Puy de Dôme. Just before reaching the Panoramique station, temporarily leave the GR® markings to take a circular route around the summit of the Puy. Take the steps leading up to the right. Pass to the right of the Temple of Mercury, look out for the first set of orientation tables, then go round the antenna to the right, heading down slightly. You’ll reach the second set of orientation tables. Continue along the tarmac path towards a third set of orientation tables which you can see to the south-west (there are several paths you can take to reach them). Then head for the Panoramique station and climb up to the esplanade, where you’ll find a fourth set of orientation boards.
(31) After descending from the esplanade, leave the summit of the puy by taking the path – which begins with a few steps – on the left, signposted by a yellow ‘Maison de Site’ sign. You will also come across the GR® markings. You are now on the Chemin des Muletiers, which descends quite steeply. Information boards are available at certain hairpin bends.
(32) Further down, cross the railway line and continue along the path opposite to reach the Col de Ceyssat and the car park for your return journey (E).
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