From Leaves to Needles in Ambrugeat

From Ambrugeat and Lake Séchenailles, discover the tranquillity of the deciduous forests, the mysteries of the coniferous undergrowth, the rugged landscape of the heather moors or the coolness of the waters’ edge! A picturesque walk to enjoy with the family!

Details

n°1476636

Creation:
14 Sep 2018

Last update:
17 Nov 2019

Last review:
17 Aug 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.00 mi
Average duration: 4h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,047 ft
Descent: - 1,073 ft
Highest point: 2,923 ft
Lowest point: 2,067 ft

Country: France
Area: Massif central
City: Ambrugeat (19250)
Start/End: N 45.524542° / E 2.127643°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2233E
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Description of the walk

Start from the car park just above the Séchenailles holiday village.

(S/E) Walk down the road towards the lakeside, crossing the beach.

(1) Continue along the fitness trail through the woodland.

(2) At the end of the lake, turn left and cross the two streams (2 bridges).

(3) Cross the D76 and take the road going uphill opposite (passing the castle on the right) and, at the top of the hill, turn right. Follow this road to the hamlet of Laubard.

(4) At the crossroads in the hamlet of Laubard, turn right onto the path towards the locality known as Les Prades.

(5) After this locality, turn left, walk for about 200 metres and turn left onto the^GR®440B. Continue along the^GR®440Bto the railway bridge.

(6) Cross the railway line (Pont de la Reine); shortly after the bridge, the^GR® turns westwards. Follow it.

(7) After the hamlet of La Goutte Morte, at the junction, continue along the^GR®440B(second left).

(8) At the left-hand bend before Matrillat Haut, take the dirt track which climbs through the woods and joins the road on the other side.

(9) Cross the road to rejoin the^GR®. Continue for about 500m then turn right. The path climbs close to the highest point of the walk (898m).

(10) Leave the^GR®440Band take the path on the left. Walk down to La Gautherie

(11) At La Gautherie, join the D76 on the left, then take the path on the right which descends towards Le Charillou, rejoining the D76.

(12) Turn left towards the church and continue to the junction with the D76, which you follow for about a hundred metres.

(3) Turn right and retrace the outward route in the opposite direction to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,149 ft - Car park near the Séchenailles holiday village
1 : mi 0.25 - alt. 2,073 ft - Edge of the > - Lac de Sèchemaille
2 : mi 0.61 - alt. 2,073 ft - End of the lake
3 : mi 0.74 - alt. 2,083 ft - Crossing the D76
4 : mi 1.49 - alt. 2,287 ft - The hamlet of Laubard
5 : mi 1.9 - alt. 2,129 ft - Les Prades
6 : mi 2.8 - alt. 2,369 ft - Pont de la Reine
7 : mi 3.31 - alt. 2,520 ft - Junction after the hamlet of La Goutte Morte
8 : mi 4.22 - alt. 2,556 ft - Turn before Matrillat Haut
9 : mi 4.4 - alt. 2,664 ft - Crossing the road
10 : mi 5.01 - alt. 2,923 ft - Highest point
11 : mi 6.22 - alt. 2,343 ft - La Gautherie
12 : mi 7.07 - alt. 2,175 ft - Church
S/E : mi 8 - alt. 2,149 ft - Car park near the Séchenaille holiday village

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
2.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

User 9694654

17 Aug 2026 at 10:45

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s a really lovely walk. The description isn’t always accurate: you can’t go round the castle on the right as it’s fenced off; you need to carry on a little further and go round it on the left, then pass behind it to rejoin the path mentioned in the description. Not all the place names mentioned are signposted, so we found our way using the GPS route. Otherwise, the route is very helpful and all the other paths are well signposted.
I recommend the walk, but make sure you use the GPS track.

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21 Aug 2023 at 14:46

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

All clear

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balou17

30 May 2021 at 18:17

I’m sorry, but I’m still asking for this tutorial to be removed. The castle didn’t cross the road; the place-name signs weren’t put up or were removed. Etc., etc., etc.

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neimad42

30 May 2021 at 11:43

Hello, I’m sorry to hear about any problems you may have encountered. I did this walk three years ago now; things may have changed on the ground since then. Kind regards

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balou17

30 May 2021 at 11:23

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, which really captures the countryside of Haute-Corrèze, with a beautiful variety of shades of green. Having paid that compliment, let’s move on to the negatives. This guide seems to have been put together using a map, rather than being checked on the ground (except for point 8). There are too many inaccuracies and errors. Some place names are mentioned in the guide but aren’t marked on the ground, whilst others are marked on the ground but not
in the guide. You never know where you are. This guide must be removed, as it is dangerous; the risk of getting lost is far too high. Set off without a ‘GPS tracker’ and you can’t be sure of getting back on time. Right from the start, the château must be
by going round it on the left.

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