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Park in the car park on the edge of the D14 at a place called Pont Russe, 1.6 km from the Saint-Babel stadium (signposted).
(S/E) Follow the forest track due west for 380 m until you reach the crossroads amongst the conifers.
(1) Turn left (green and yellow chevron markings), rejoin the GRP® de la Reine Margot (yellow and red markings) and continue to the right until you reach the Puy du Grand Raymond junction.
(2) Turn left to begin the ascent of the Grand Raymond. At the summit, there is a map post. Descend back to the crossroads, turn left and follow the marked path. Further on, leave the GRP® by turning right to quickly reach another crossroads.
(3) Take the second path on the right, follow the green markings to reach the Côte plateau.
There are piles of stones here which may be the remains of a burial ground.
(4) Descend from the plateau, following the base of a basalt cliff amidst vegetation typical of north-facing slopes. You will reach the junction of two routes.
(5) Two options here:
- follow the old route marked with green chevrons, which turns sharply right to return to the start,
- take the new route, marked with red chevrons inside a white square (option shown on the map).
Follow the dry stone wall, marked by boundary stones, which climbs towards the plateau amidst remarkable beech trees.
(6) Turn right towards the north-west and follow the flat path to the Borne des Quatre Seigneurs (origin unknown), situated on the edge of the ditch of the same name. From this point, you walk alongside the forest of Vic-le-Comte, classified as a sensitive natural area; all collection of plants is prohibited
(7) Turn right towards the east and follow the remains of the old ditch; further on, you will come across another very old boundary stone marking the boundary between three parishes. Caution: the route runs along the top of the cliff known as the Saut du Cheval. Follow the recently maintained old path running alongside the ditch to the crossroads of the Croix Chenude or Croix de Fayet, which no longer exists, but where there are ONF signs and boundary markers.
(8) Turn right, south-east, and follow the path then the track, enjoying a beautiful view over the Forez and Livradois. Reach the junction with a path leading to Fayet.
(9) Turn 90° to the right. In the pasture, follow the low fence and go over a stile to enter the forest. Follow the path (still marked with red chevrons) to the hamlet known as Le Gros Fayard.
(10) Return to the forest track and the green and yellow markings; follow it for 500 m to the hamlet known as La Mare. Turn left heading due north, then right after 100 m to reach Puy de Rayat. Here you will find the undated ruins of an old village.
(11) Follow the marked path and return to the first crossroads you passed at the start.
(1) Follow the outward route to the left to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
