Between the Plateau and the Chaîne des Dômes

Park in the car park of the Maison du Parc des Volcans, at the Château de Montlosier. Unless otherwise indicated, the directions mentioned in this description are indicated on the ground by yellow signs.
Please note! This hike is not signposted as such, nor is it signposted in its entirety.

(S/E) At the yellow signs at the car park entrance, take the path that runs alongside the D5 with the picnic area on your left (heading north-east). Go down a few steps, then turn left and follow the sign for "Puys de la Vache et de Lassolas" indicated by a wooden sign. This path, marked with a yellow disc, goes around the Montlosier estate, leaving the castle on your left. At the intersection, turn left, leaving the "Puys de la Vache et de Lassolas" sign and the yellow markings.

(1) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead towards Puy de Boursoux. Ignore the two paths on the right further on. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead towards Puy de Boursoux.

(2) When you reach the slip road for the D2089, turn right, ignore the road on the right to pass under the D2089 and, on the other side, continue to the right. Turn onto the first path on the left. At the next T-junction, look for yellow signs but ignore all directions and follow the path on the right.

(3) At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead. At the next T-junction, turn left, then right at the next junction. Drive past the cemetery and a rest area on your left.

(4) Cross the D561 and follow the road opposite towards the village of Aurières and its church, whose bell tower is visible. Pass a drinking trough on your right and continue straight ahead on this road, leaving the church on your left. At a fountain on your left, continue on the road to the right.

(5) Take the path on the right, just in front of the farm buildings. Then turn onto the first path on the left, then left again at the next intersection.

(6) Just before a small bridge over the Gigeole (a stream that may or may not be flowing depending on the season), take the path on the right. Further on, ignore a grassy path on the right. Our path approaches the Gigeole, then runs alongside it on the left.

(7) At the next intersection, turn left to cross the stream. Then cross a road and continue on the path opposite, which descends towards the Gorce valley. Join the^GR®®30and follow the red and white markings until further notice.

(8) Turn right to walk along the heights of the Gorce valley. When you reach a small road, walk a few metres to the left to find yellow signs, then take the path on the right towards "Recoleine". Cross the Gigeole again and continue along this path, ignoring a path on the right further on, then a path on the left just before the first house in Recoleine.

(9) Turn right to follow the D2089 (do not cross it) on the small road. Further on, take the passage under the D2089 and, on the other side, at the intersection, take the road on the left, leaving the GR®® for the moment^. Further on, ignore Rue du Bac on the right, at a small cross. At the next intersection, continue along Rue des Jardins, passing the fountain on your right. You will soon see the^GR®® signpost again and follow Rue des Trois Bergers on the left.

(10) At the fork in the road just after, leave the^GR®® which goes left and take the road on the right, between a house and a garage. Further up, just after a right-hand bend, take the path that goes left. Cross the meadows and you will come to the entrance to the woods that cover the slopes of the Puy de Pourcharet.

(11) Turn left and keep left at the more or less distinct intersections just after. About 200m further on, ignore a path on the left, then another one about 100m further on, at a fallen tree. Further on, leave the woods and cross an area of summer pastures.

(12) At the end of this meadow, go through a green gate (on the left of the enclosure) to reach a crossroads, and turn right, following the GR®® signs again^. At the next intersection, at the yellow signs, leave the^GR®® and turn left towards "Puy de Boursoux" and "Montlosier" (green sign). Further on, ignore a path on the right. You will come to a crossroads of paths that you took on the way there.

(1) Keep left towards "Montlosier" to return to the car park (S/E) via the same route as on the way there, turning right at the next crossroads.

This is a moderately difficult hike requiring standard hiking equipment.

This hike is not difficult and has a small elevation gain for the region. However, be careful as there are no markings, so you will need a map to find your way, mainly in the undergrowth of Puy de Pourcharet, between (11) and (12). The Visorando app is useful.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Some photos here

On the plateau, there are beautiful views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dore.

Typical rural architecture of the region in the villages of Aurières and Recoleine.

From May to October, exhibition and shop at the Maison du Parc des Volcans in Montlosier.