Confolent-Port-Dieu – La Bournerie

Access via the D159; park between the church and the town hall

(S) Take the D159 towards Singles for 200 m. At the first junction, turn right onto the Route des Besses, then immediately left onto a path that descends through a magnificent beech forest to rejoin the D159.

(1) Take it to the right, then leave it immediately to the left to join a sunken path leading downhill. Walk past the ruins of a farm and rejoin the D159 at the foot of the Bort-les-Orgues dam.

(2) Cross the road, then turn right onto a track and follow a path trodden more by animals than by people. Walk along the right bank of the lake, crossing several streams before reaching the foot of the first steep climb. Start up this short but very steep ascent.

(3) At the junction with a track, turn left.

(4) Leave the track and turn right onto the faint path, crossing several streams before reaching a small road leading to the former Port-Dieu priory.

(5) Follow the road to the right at a sharp angle. After about 300 m, turn left at a sharp angle onto a path that climbs.

(6) At a junction, turn right and you will soon reach the Chapel of Saint-Martin. Retrace your steps.

(6) Continue downhill to the right. After a sharp left-hand bend, rejoin the road and follow it to the right to reach the Chapelle des Manants on the lakeside.

(7) Walk up the road for about a hundred metres, then take a path on the left that runs alongside the ruins of the former Port-Dieu priory, passes near a fountain, before heading into the hillside where stream crossings give way to steep slopes. Reach the Séparias ravine

(8) Continue to the left and you will immediately come to a tricky section: cross it with care.

(9) You’ll come out onto the Route de Conchette; follow it to the right. Head uphill to reach the hamlet of Las Borias. Enjoy the lovely view of the Sancy Massif from here.

(10) Turn sharply left onto the path. Return to the road and follow it to the left. Continue down the gentle slope to reach the village of Monestier-Port-Dieu.

(11) Turn left to quickly reach the church. Retrace your steps.

(11) Follow the street opposite, passing the post office on your right. Ignore a street on the right and continue along Rue du Haut. Carry on along a path.

(12) Reach a small road and follow it to the right. Pass the Giraudeix house and continue along a path. Descend to the River Dognon.

(13) Cross it and then head back up. Shortly after a right-hand bend, take a path on the left, crossing a meadow on the edge of the woods. Pass between the trees, step over a small stream and then rejoin the Dognon at a footbridge – this is the Vieux Pont des Vanilles.

(14) Head up to the right until you reach a road. Follow it to the left for a few dozen metres and leave it to take a path on the right. Head up and pass the hamlet of Les Plattes.

(15) Come out onto a road and follow it to the left. Immediately ignore a turn-off to the left and head south to reach the village of Feneyrol. Walk through the village and you’ll come to a Fork in the road at the end.

(16) Take the small road to the left; enjoy a beautiful view of the Monts du Cantal and the Sancy here. Continue the descent until you reach the D93.

(17) Follow it to the left. As you come out of the right-hand bend, turn left onto a path to reach the Bournerie campsite (E).

Some sections are quite technical: very steep slopes both uphill and downhill, and sometimes on a slope. Fortunately, these sections are always short.
There is a possibility to refill your water supply in Monestier-Port-Dieu, with a tap on the front of the old presbytery (on the courtyard side, go through the gate), on the right as you head towards the church.
(E) Please note: there is no water source at the chosen campsite; make sure you bring everything you need beforehand.
(E) If you don’t have camping gear, there are several options: either accommodation:
- at the Vie à Monestier-Port-Dieu site
- or carry on to possible accommodation at the Ferme d’Andregeat; to do this, continue on to Le Longeard then turn right to reach Andregeat – allow for an extra 4km or so.

Saint-Martin Chapel: you can continue a few metres further to reach the Saint-Martin spring located beneath the chapel.
(7) Chapelle des Manants, former Port-Dieu priory
The village of Monestier-Port-Dieu, with its farms and its 13th-century Romanesque church of Saint-Cosme and Saint-Damien. Its 17th-century altarpiece is truly remarkable and listed as a Historic Monument.