From the banks of the Senouire in Lavaudieu to the red stones of the village of Buze

Lavaudieu is one of the most beautiful villages in France.
This walk invites you to leave the village and stroll through the surrounding hills, passing through villages such as Buze, whose houses are built of red arkose.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 132 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 126 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 546 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 435 m

Description of the walk

Car parks are located at the bottom of the village on the banks of the Senouire.

(S/E) Go up to the right in the village and take Rue du Portail Bas on the left. At the square in front of the cross and fountain, turn right twice, then turn left, ignoring Rue de Brioude on the right. Continue north-west to the crossroads.

(1) Ignore the path on the left and the road opposite. Turn right. Further on, ignore the road on the right and take the one on the left. You will come to a three-way junction at the edge of a wood.

(2) Turn right and continue until you reach a crossroads with the D20 departmental road. Turn left and follow the path parallel to the road until you quickly reach a crossroads with a footpath.

(3) Turn left and follow the path to the village of Buze, passing a path on your left along the way.

(4) Turn left, then immediately right after the fountain onto the path that runs alongside the woods. Continue until you reach another fork at the edge of the woods.

(5) Turn sharply left, then a few metres further on, turn right to walk along the woods again. You will reach the crossroads leading to the hamlet of La Bageasse.

(6) Turn left and follow the path that runs between the woods and a plot of cultivated land. Further on, pass under the power line and reach the bank of the Senouire river directly below the power line.

(7) Walk up the right bank of the Senouire, then turn away from it as you approach the village of Blanchard. You will reach a road, then a crossroads with a footpath.

(8) Turn right before the village of Jaroussou and follow this path overlooking the Senouire to Lavaudieu via Rue du Moulin, then Rue du Pont.

(9) Continue along Chemin des Estres beside the river, without crossing the Senouire, to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 462 m - Car parks on the banks of the Senouire opposite the ford - Senouire (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.96 - alt. 542 m - Three-way junction. Right
  3. 2 : km 1.77 - alt. 512 m - Turn right.
  4. 3 : km 2.21 - alt. 485 m - Be careful to turn left.
  5. 4 : km 2.95 - alt. 495 m - Turn left and take Rue de la Maison Rouge
  6. 5 : km 3.83 - alt. 474 m - Left right
  7. 6 : km 4.35 - alt. 466 m - Turn left.
  8. 7 : km 5.64 - alt. 436 m - Start of the route along the Senouire.
  9. 8 : km 7.48 - alt. 462 m - Cross Blanchard and turn right.
  10. 9 : km 9.78 - alt. 464 m - Follow the river to the car park.
  11. S/E : km 10.07 - alt. 462 m - Return to the car park via the old bridge

Notes

In case of flooding, avoid this route as the riverbank may be flooded in places.
Refreshments: a bread vending machine in the village and two restaurants.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Mo63
Mo63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant country walk; visit Lavaudieu
Be sure to visit Billanges with its pretty grassy square lined with trees and its stone hut, which is very well maintained by volunteers

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Agnes84
Agnes84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike. There is no problem getting past the fallen tree. You can either go around it or climb over it.
Thank you very much

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User 5804250

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with a large shaded section in the forest and lovely views of the countryside.
Discover the charming village of Lavaudieu, which is well worth a visit.
The only difficulty is the slightly tricky section in the forest along the Senouire.

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bcg243
bcg243

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with panoramic views of the Senouire Valley and stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside. Discover the typical village of BUZE with its red stone buildings. We have already walked this route in the opposite direction and enjoyed it just as much.
Anglers: take a short, light rod and enjoy this beautiful trout river, which has recently reopened after severe pollution. A 1 km fishing trail is also available in LAVAUDIEU, which is worth visiting on your return (ranked one of the most beautiful villages in France) - please note that a fishing licence is required
PLEASE NOTE: along the Senouire in the second part of the route along the river, there is a section along the water that is no longer passable. Well-meaning hikers have put up a rope so that you can climb over a rock (with caution) and rejoin the path, but this crossing point can be very difficult for elderly or unfit people, and is not suitable for pushchairs.
Point 7 states that passage is prohibited. This is a logging site, but we were able to cross safely and without any problems.

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Hervounet
Hervounet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route with stunning views of the mountains and valleys, good quality path

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THIVRIER Alain
THIVRIER Alain

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, The village of Lavaudieu is well worth a visit. The proposed route then climbs uphill (markings are irregular, so pay attention...) to the hamlet of Buze. The descent through the woods, frequented by mountain bikers, leads to the banks of the Sénouire. This is a more interesting and refreshing section of the route, leading to the old stone bridge at the gates of Lavaudieu, where you can return to your vehicle.

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amclg
amclg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

For those who are not familiar with Lavaudieu, I suggest you take this beautiful walk along the Sénouire... with water, of course! And visit the village

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carossine
carossine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied and pleasant landscape, especially along the Senouire, which was very active and high at this time of year. I saw quite a few birds of prey (red kites?) during the first half of the journey, which added to the experience. Lavaudieu is a very beautiful village to boot.

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armelle42
armelle42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

This easy hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys with a variety of trails
It's sad to see the Senouire river practically dry up😔
The village of Lavaudieu is utterly charming

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armelle42
armelle42

This easy hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys with a variety of trails
It's sad to follow the Senouire, which is practically dry 😔
Lavaudieu is a truly charming village

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Geraldine D
Geraldine D
• Edited:

I did this hike during a heatwave, so I particularly appreciated the shaded section along the Senouire. I loaded the GPS track onto my Garmin watch and everything went smoothly. The start of the hike is a bit boring, but the second part is quite different and leaves a very good impression.
This circuit is a pleasant complement to a visit to Lavaudieu, so I recommend this beautiful, easy walk.

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Anette
Anette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The circuit is 5.5 km long..

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Frando
Frando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

pleasant, shaded route.

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BFQT
BFQT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route, shaded which is appreciated in hot weather.

No marked route, which could cause confusion with other existing routes.

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Cessi43
Cessi43

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant hike that is easy to navigate. The landscape is beautiful and varied. Ideal for a family outing! I highly recommend it!!!

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