From the Col du Béal to the Col des Supeyres

(S) From the Col du Béal, head west along the path that passes in front of the car park on the Loire side and continue along the path on the right. Halfway along, turn right and walk 100 m.

(1) Head up to the left and join the^GR®®3. Follow the signposts and use the red wooden posts placed along the entire climb to Pierre sur Haute to find your way.
Pass Peyre Mayou (1,542 m) on your right, then the Signal de Procher (1,544 m). Descend to the Col de la Chamboite (caution: tricky descent over scree).

(2) Climb back up to Rocher Pavé (1,551m) before reaching the military road that leads to the summit.
Go round the radio masts on the right, then climb up to Rocher de la Chaize (1,597m), the highest point of the hike. Descend south-east towards the Burons de la Richarde, which you will leave below you on your right.

(3) Then turn left, heading south-west, onto the Plat de la Richarde towards Pradoux.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left, heading north-east towards Garnier. You cross the Loire and catch sight of the Jasseries de Pégrol in the valley on your right.

(5) At the next junction, head south on the^GR®®3(you can make out the rooftops of Garnier below, due west).
Further on, you’ll reach Plan Chevalat on the^GR®®3.

(6) Continue on and, further on, discover the Source du Vizery (or Vizézy) after the path that winds through the forest.

(7) Source du Vizery (or Vizézy). On your left is the Grande Bazanne. You can leave the^GR®®3and take the path through the pasture that leads there.

(8) Return to the^GR®® and continue to the left. Descend to Combes Basses (you are now back in the Puy-de-Dôme).

(9) Turn right, leaving the^GR®®3on your left, which heads south-east towards Baracuchet.
Continue to follow the path down through the peatland of Grand Sagne to join the D106 (three-way junction/Baracuchet). Turn right and follow the tarmac road for 1 km.

(10) At the entrance to Sichard, after the^firsthouse, take the path on your right that winds its way up to Esparots and joins the D139 (Saint-Anthème/three-way junction).

(11) Cross the D139 and immediately turn left onto the path that descends, beneath the Jas du Mas, to the River Ance.

(12) Cross the river via the bridge. Altitude 1,173m – the lowest point of the walk.
Head back up to the Grand Genévrier shepherd's hut and the Coq Noir car park.

(13) Turn left, heading west, onto the Sentier du Colporteur, which runs parallel to the D106 leading to the Col des Supeyres.
500 m from the summit, join the road and follow it to the Chalet des Gentianes. Caution: do not take the path that cuts across the final bend and descends to your right, as there is peatland! (risk of getting stuck in the wet ground) (E).

Please remember to book your places and those for your horses in advance at the lodges:

1- Lodge and Auberge du Col de Béal: 63480 Saint-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne. 1,390m.
Contact: Christine Coissard: 04 73 72 09 37 / 06 85 08 65
Accommodation for riders in single rooms or dormitories. Horses accommodated in the meadow (paddocks + tack room). Picnic basket.

2- Chalet des Gentianes at Col des Supeyres: 63600 Valcivières. 1,365m.
Contact: Karine Brugneaud, Guillaume Laudoux: 04 73 82 00 95
Accommodation for riders in single rooms or dormitories. Horse facilities in the meadow (paddocks + tack room). Picnic basket.
Lodge rated Frete = 2 roses, 2 horseshoes.

Important information:

1- You will be trekking in low mountain terrain; please check the weather forecast before setting off.

2- You are in a pastoral area and will be crossing private agricultural land:

• please close gates,
• keep dogs on a lead,
• do not trample the vegetation, as these may be pastures or hay meadows.

3- Watch out for peat bogs and peatlands: wet and marshy areas.

4- Certain species of flowers are protected; picking them is prohibited: martagon lily, mountain arnica, sundew, etc.

5- The military road leading to Pierre sur Haute, starting from the Col du Béal and running alongside the^GR®®3, is strictly closed to traffic.