Moissac Bas pond and bog

Following this route, you will pass successively through forest, fields and pastures. You will discover the volcanic activity of the village of Moissac Bas, its pond and its forming peat bog.

Details

1847038
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,181 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,178 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,982 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,919 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the bottom of the village of Saint-Didier-sur-Doulon, on the banks of the Doulon. To get there, walk past the inn and head to the right of the church.

(S/E) Walk up from the car park, turn left and cross the bridge over the Doulon.

(1) Turn right, head towards a large house and take the dirt track that runs to its left. Cross the Ruisseau des Lavanches.

(2) Ignore the path on the left that goes uphill. Turn right.

(3) When you reach Le Vialard, turn left, ignore the tarmac road on the left and take the dirt track towards a wooden shed.
Ignore the path on the right and carry on, passing to the right of a house. Further on, the path crosses a pasture and passes to the right of a farm shed.

(4) You are now in front of the peat bog surrounding the Étang de Moissac Bas. Continue to the left.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right towards the village, then turn left in front of the ‘Maison de la Béate’ and, at the next crossroads (with a cross), turn right onto a county road. Turn right again.

(6) Cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de la Gazelle and take the dirt track on the left which climbs into the woods. Turn left and continue uphill. Reach the summit of the Knoll de Garde, then descend towards the village of Lugeastre-Bas. Pass through the village, keeping to the left.

(7) At the crossroads, turn left, then immediately take the path on the right heading towards Lugeastre-Haut. In the hamlet, at the three-way junction, turn left.

(8) Turn left and ignore the two paths on the left.

(9) Continue to the left, then left again towards Moissac Haut, heading due north.

(10) At the crossroads, turn left. Do not go through the village but walk alongside it on the left. Take a path on the left to enter the forest, heading due north-west. The dirt track leads down to the village of Souvy.

(11) Turn right, then left at the hairpin bend, and follow the tarmac road towards Saint-Didier-sur-Doulon.

(1) Turn right and cross the bridge over the Doulon to reach the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,919 ft - Car park by the - Doulon (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Senouire
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 1,942 ft - Junction shared by the outbound and return routes
  3. 2 : mi 0.79 - alt. 2,090 ft - Lavanches stream
  4. 3 : mi 1.1 - alt. 2,208 ft - Le Vialard
  5. 4 : mi 1.77 - alt. 2,316 ft - Peat bog
  6. 5 : mi 1.93 - alt. 2,326 ft - Junction, turn right
  7. 6 : mi 2.22 - alt. 2,300 ft - Bridge, then path to the left
  8. 7 : mi 3.53 - alt. 2,638 ft - Crossroads, turn left
  9. 8 : mi 3.85 - alt. 2,789 ft - Crossroads, turn left
  10. 9 : mi 3.98 - alt. 2,858 ft - Crossroads, turn left
  11. 10 : mi 4.5 - alt. 2,920 ft - Moissac Haut, on the left
  12. 11 : mi 5.14 - alt. 2,497 ft - Road, on the right
  13. S/E : mi 6.62 - alt. 1,919 ft - Car park on the banks of the Doulon

Notes

The only refreshment point is the Auberge du Doulon. Part of the route is through forest, so it is shaded in summer.

Worth a visit

Visit to the village of Saint-Didier.
If it is open, you can visit the Haitian art gallery.
(3) Before reaching the village of Le Vialard, look out for the well on the right-hand side of the path.

(4) Moissac Bas peat bog
Moissac Bas: House of the Blessed.

(9) Panoramic view: (from left to right) the Margeride, Cantal and Cézallier mountains, and the Sancy range.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 5804250

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with most of the trail through the woods, which is very pleasant when it's hot. The climb is quite challenging but the views are worth it. There are no particular difficulties along the route. It took us less time than indicated (2.5 hours instead of 4 hours) and we are not experienced hikers.
We returned to Saint Didier with a quick stop to dip our feet in the cool water of the Doulon River!

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Thierry63400
Thierry63400

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike. The paths were impassable in places due to the huge ruts left by forestry machinery on the soggy ground. Some points of interest: the bog and pond, the beater's house, numerous wells and several hamlets.

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grandin
grandin ★

randobaissac
I have forwarded your request. Next time, it would be better if you went through the forum.

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randobaissac
randobaissac
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, with sections through forests, open countryside and small traditional hamlets. You can leave the road and take a marked path on the left on the descent before the finish.
Magnificent views.

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike with no difficulties.

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yves charlemagne
yves charlemagne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant route in this region, with an original layout that avoids the usual paths.
In wet weather, choose your footwear carefully as the route often passes through tall grass.
After point 11 and a few hundred metres, you can leave the road by following the yellow-marked trail on the left.

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