In the forest at the foot of the Puy de Dôme

In Laschamps, park on a gravel area (carpooling area) on the west side of the village, at the crossroads between the D52 and D767 roads on the edge of the Col de la Moréno road. This car park is generally less busy than the "hikers" car park located about a hundred metres away on the D52, on the other side of the crossroads.

No signposts

(S/E) With your back to the crossroads, immediately take the small road, Chemin Combeta (no vehicles over 6 tonnes), between the car park and the Laschamps exit sign, which branches off to the right (north-north-west). Ignore the street on the right and, further on, continue on the path that follows the tarmac road. When you reach the D942, cross it with caution (dangerous road).

Red markings (forest discovery trail)

(1) On the other side, follow the path opposite, which is closed to motor vehicles and marked with a red arrow. After about a hundred metres, at a fork in the path, take the right-hand path (IGN map is incorrect at this point). Join a wider path and follow it to the right , ignoring the red arrow that invites you to turn left (to return to a car park at the end of the circular route). About twenty metres further on, take a red-marked path on the left. At the intersection of three paths, turn right and continue straight ahead at the next crossroads. Further on, the path joins the road.

(2) Follow it to the left and arrive at an intersection with a path going up to the left, marked with a red cross, and a red-marked path going down to the right.

No markings

Continue straight ahead on the path, ignoring these paths. About 200 m further on, ignore a path on the right, then arrive at a fork in the path. Continue to the right and then ignore a path on the right just after. The path descends steeply. You will come to a fork in the path (the right-hand path is not shown on the map) and continue to the left. Ignore a path on the right just before you reach a T-junction with a path marked^GR®®441.

^GR®® Red and White markings

(3) Follow it to the left. Further on, at a clearing, ignore a path on the left. Shortly afterwards, be careful to leave the path and take a trail on the right. You will come to an intersection at a young plantation.

(4) For a round trip, continue straight ahead and discover a superb avenue lined with hundred-year-old beech trees. Continue for about 250 m until you reach the next crossroads (with private paths).

(5) Retrace your steps to the previous intersection, at the young plantation.

No markings

(4) Leave the GR® markings and turn onto the path on the left. Shortly afterwards, you will see another beautiful beech tree and a field of horsetails. Stay on this wide path, ignoring any vague side paths. You will arrive at the D68.

(6) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead for a few metres until you reach the sheep pen (which is also a landing area for paragliders). Follow the path on the right, facing the Puy de Dôme, which occupies the entire horizon here, along the pen.

(7) At a fork in the path, keep to the right. Further on, at another fork, keep to the right on the less rutted path. Continue uphill and join a path marked by the^GR®®4, at a signpost.

Red and white^GR®® markings

(8) Turn right and head towards the Col de Ceyssat and the signpost of the same name.

(9) This is a busy spot as it is the starting point of the Chemin des Muletiers trail leading up to the summit of Puy de Dôme. At the marker, go straight ahead to join the road, passing in front of the inn. Follow the road to the left for about 50 metres until you reach the signpost indicating an altitude of 1,060 metres. Turn right towards Laschamps, taking the middle path (there are three paths leading off to the right).

(10) Take care at the^GR®® bend to the left, downhill. At the next intersection, go straight ahead. You will come to a fork, near a plantation of young fir trees, and keep to the left. You will arrive at the D942.

(11) Cross it very carefully and follow the path opposite. You will come to a road.

(12) Follow it to the right towards the village of Laschamps. You will come to a crossroads opposite the church. Opposite, take the street to the left of the church and walk around the building, passing between a beautiful fountain-trough, topped by an oven, and a large wash house. Back on the main street, follow it to the left and return to the car park (S/E).

Hike of moderate difficulty, fairly easy, standard hiking equipment required.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Photo album here

Trails and paths in forests consisting mainly of conifers, beeches and hornbeams. Some superb specimens of beech trees can be seen on the way there and back (4), and some beautiful ash trees between (S/E) and (1). Views of the Puy de Dôme at the start and end of the hike and, above all, when passing along the meadows just after (6).
Discover a beautiful fountain-trough, oven and wash house in the village of Laschamps at the end of the hike.