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Departure from the hamlet of leat (commune of Saint-Bonnet-des-Quarts), near the Church of Saint-Jacques, where you can park your car.
(S) Head south on Chemin Maridet, which leads back to the D26.
(1) Keep right until you reach the bridge over the Malgoutte.
(2) Leave the road via a small path on the left, cross the D9 and take the forest path opposite.
(3) At the next intersection, ignore the two paths on the left and continue on the GR®3A on the right.
(4) When you see the first farm in Goutaudier, turn right onto the tarmac road that descends to the village and the departmental road, which you should follow on the left until the first path on the left.
(5) Take this path, which runs alongside the road and descends further on. When you reach the road again, continue straight ahead to the hamlet of Fayot.
(6) Take the road that descends to the right into the hamlet and follow it southwards. Continue along the road that extends the street and admire the magnificent hundred-year-old twin beech trees as you pass. The road returns to the main road at the hamlet of Les Hormières.
(7) Follow the road to the right. After the castle, turn right onto the path that runs alongside a beautiful lake and climbs up to the large crossroads overlooking the village of St-Nicolas-des-Biefs, the highest commune in the Allier (930 m above sea level).
(8) Follow the road that descends southwards towards the village and, after the bridge, turn left onto the street that climbs up to the church.
(9) Turn left in front of the town hall and continue right along Rue Joseph Pignaud. At the end, turn right onto Rue des Toines, which leads to Boffet.
(10) Continue straight ahead and, at the next intersection, keep to the right.
(11) At the intersection, continue straight ahead on the path that descends into the forest.
(12) You will come out onto the D477; follow it to the left. Further on, leave the road and take a path that climbs to the left. Follow the fantastic Allée des Géants (avenue of giants, with twisted beech trees several hundred years old) to the second intersection.
(13) Take the path on the left that climbs further into the forest: a steep climb followed by a rocky section to climb the famous Pierre Châtel (climbing site and oratory). Don't miss the beautiful viewpoint at the top of the rocks.
(14) Leave the forest via the path that climbs upwards. Pass the Boffet picnic area (toilets, drinking water, shelter) and rejoin the road.
(15) Follow the road to the right and, when it turns left, continue straight ahead on the path that runs alongside a chalet on the right. At the next intersection, go straight ahead until the next one.
(16) Turn right onto the path that climbs gently, passes 1000 and leads, 1.5 km further on, to the Route de la Verrerie, staying straight ahead.
(17) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside it and joins it at Trêve Robin.
(18) There, turn right into the forest, following the GR®3A markings. At the next intersection, follow the path to the right that goes around Petit Coin.
(19) At Remillard, continue to the left and at the next junction, turn left again onto the famous Sapey descent, a stony section that ends at a stream.
(20) Continue down this descent.
(21) At the bottom, cross the Sapey over the bridge and climb up opposite to the hamlet of Jean-Jacques.
(22) There, leave the GR® and cross the road to take the Rez des Grioulets (small holly trees in local dialect) climb on the left. At the top, rejoin the GR®.
(23) Follow it to the left until you reach Chemin de Jean-Jacques.
(24) Turn right onto this path. It leads straight to the Loge des Gardes sports centre. The "La Belle Verte" hotel and restaurant, where you can stop for a bite to eat, is the first chalet on the left as you leave the woods (E).
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