Les Hautes Chaumes: from the Col du Béal to La Ramie

Start at the Col du Béal.
(S/E) Follow the road towards St-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne, pass a small stone shelter by the roadside and take the path on the left a little further on; this is a variant of the^GR®3, marked in red and white.
Head slightly downhill through the blueberry bushes and reach a crossroads of paths at Le Replat.

(1) Turn right onto a narrower path at the signposts (this section is a bit steeper and stonier). Cross the Ruisseau des Roches Brunes and join the Col du Béal road.

(2) Cross the road and take the flat path opposite, which runs alongside a small stream on your left.
Ignore the paths on your right; the path will gradually descend. At each junction with a small road, cross over and head straight on.
You will then reach the entrance to St-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne, with the village visible on your left.

(3) Walk alongside a large, flat meadow on your right and a house.
Walk past the house and follow the path, which curves slightly to the right. Ignore the paths branching off to the left; continue along the path on the right.
You’ll reach a small road at the Croix des Igonins.

(4) Cross it; there is a cross and the path to follow is opposite.
Pass the road on your right, where there is a large farm at the junction (Bauchaud), and take the middle path – which is unpaved – crossing large, flat meadows.
At the next junction, keep left and enter the forest.
You’ll come to a junction of five paths at the Croix du Poux; there’s a wooden garage on your right and a large fir tree in front of you.

(5) Take the first path to the right of the fir tree – a flat, dirt track.
You’ll arrive in the hamlet of La Ramie; the path is tarmac. Head downhill and continue to the left; the road passes in front of the house (E), which is just a little lower down than the other stone houses in La Ramie.

There is water available throughout the route. The descent is sometimes steep, and we usually walk a short stretch to give the horses a rest.
It’s not difficult, though.

The route follows some beautiful little streams; the start at the Col du Béal offers superb views, and the finish at La Ramie gives you another chance to admire the Sancy massif and the Puy de Dôme.