Forêt Domaniale de Pompadour par Saint-Sornin-Lavolps

This hike takes you on an excursion into the Pompadour National Forest.

Details

n°1053966

Creation:
04 Apr 2018

Last update:
22 Jan 2026

Last review:
22 Jan 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 8.95 km
Average duration: 2h 55
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 130 m
Descent: - 122 m
Highest point: 459 m
Lowest point: 377 m

Country: France
District: Saint-Sornin-Lavolps (19230)
Start/End: N 45.377972° / E 1.383287°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2033E
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Description of the walk

Parking near the church in Saint-Sornin-Lavolps.

(S/E) Take the^D7E4, on the right, towards Beyssac, north-east.

(1) At the three-way junction, turn left towards Pompadour, before the two ponds and the mill. Cross the bridge over the railway line and arrive at a place called Les Cabanes. Follow Avenue de l'Hippodrome until you find Rue de la Châtaigneraie on the left, after no. 22.

(2) Take this road, at the three-way junction with a central island and trees, keep to the right. Continue until you reach the junction with Impasse du Friquet. Turn right and continue to the end of Rue du Puy-Friquet.

(3) Turn right (D901) then, after about 50 m, cross and continue left along Allée de la Forêt until the next fork.

(4) Turn left onto Allée des Sources, passing close to the swimming pool, indoor tennis courts and studios of Radio Pompadour Air Campagne, the local radio station. Enter the forest, continue straight ahead and turn right towards Étang du Merle. Walk along the left-hand side of the lake until you reach a road at the corner.

(5) Turn left and at the next crossroads, go right for a few metres then turn left onto the path at the foot of the Route de Vignols sign (after the buildings). Follow this path, walk alongside large apple orchards and reach a road.

(6) Continue left, cross the village of Enségure and go straight on until you reach the end of Route de Lescurotte.

(7) Cross carefully (D901) and take the road opposite, which runs alongside No. 1762. Immediately afterwards, turn left onto the path in the undergrowth, then cross the orchards and arrive at a road.

(8) Turn left onto this road (D31) then take the first road on the right, Impasse de Lys Bas. Reach the 90° left-hand bend at the edge of a pond.

(9) Follow the path that climbs to the right, then turn left a few metres later and reach the tarmac road. Continue to the right, then to the left at the next junction (D31) and join the three-way junction that follows.

(10) Turn left onto Route de la Croix de Mifoire, towards Saint-Sornin. Continue along this road, cross the railway bridge and head for the church (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 388 m - Church of Saint-Sornin-Lavolps
1 : km 0.19 - alt. 377 m - Direction of Pompadour
2 : km 1.74 - alt. 414 m - Rue de la Châtaigneraie
3 : km 2.36 - alt. 438 m - Junction D901
4 : km 2.55 - alt. 432 m - On the left, before the Radio Pac studios.
5 : km 3.85 - alt. 423 m - Étang du Merle
6 : km 5.26 - alt. 417 m - Junction with the road before Enségure
7 : km 6.16 - alt. 439 m - Crossing the D901
8 : km 7.02 - alt. 447 m - Crossing the D31
9 : km 7.43 - alt. 434 m - Pond, path on the right
10 : km 8.06 - alt. 431 m - D7E4
S/E : km 8.95 - alt. 388 m - Church of Saint-Sornin-Lavolps

Notes

Circuit n°4, balisage Rose.

Worth a visit

In Saint-Sornin, the cruciform church is thought to date from the early 15th century. In the sacristy, there was a 17th-century reliquary containing the bones of Sainte-Radegonde de Saint-Donat and Saint-Modeste. In the south chapel, there is a beautiful statue of Sainte-Radegonde and a 15th-century wooden Pietà. The oldest bell dates from 1592. Sainte-Radegonde was particularly venerated in Saint-Sornin-Lavolps.
A fountain in the village is dedicated to her. Its water was believed to cure scabies and skin diseases. In addition, all kinds of miracles were attributed to the village's patron saints. Saint Donat in particular was invoked against storms.
The Chapel of Saint-Roch, in the commune, is a former oratory annexed to the priory of Tulle in 1318. It was moved to its current location from the village of Boissiaux around 1820. It is said to date from a particularly severe outbreak of rinderpest. Few saints were as famous in the West as Saint Roch between the 14th and 17th centuries. A contemporary of the Black Death, from which he was miraculously cured, he was often the last resort for a humanity decimated by the epidemic that killed almost half of Europe's population. In Saint-Sornin-Lavolps, he is celebrated every 16 August with a blessing of the herds. In the past, the priest would also bless a handful of "plague herbs" which were then hung in the stables to prevent the animals from falling ill.

The racecourse hosts 11 flat and steeplechase meetings a year, giving you the chance to try your hand at betting!

And fishing enthusiasts can indulge their passion at the pond located near the village, below the Les Étoiles campsite.

During the summer, take advantage of the Pompadour swimming pool to cool off!

Reviews and comments

4 / 5

Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

Denis26

22 Jan 2026 at 17:13 3600

Thank you for your various comments. I have just revised the itinerary and description of the hike.

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Jade Office de Tourisme

22 Jan 2026 at 09:07 3600

A beautiful hike in winter, with passable paths. Trees have been cut down in the first section of the forest after Les Cabanes Hautes. Corrections to the GPX route: you must go around the Merle pond on the right, not the left, to follow the markings. After crossing the apple orchards with the red houses, do not take the path opposite, which leads to a private company, but continue along the apple orchards on the left-hand side of the road and take the road on the right, Impasse des Lys Bas, to rejoin the path.

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Valan

21 Apr 2024 at 19:00 7200 • Edited: 21 Apr 2024 at 19:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Indeed, between points 2 and 3, the path is no longer passable due to private property. You must continue on "Avenue de l'Hippodrome" from point 2, then turn left onto "Rue de la Châtaigneraie" further up, which will take you back to just before point 3.

From point 8, the trail markers (on the ground) indicate that you should turn left and then turn right further up onto Impasse de Lys Bas. Turn right further down to rejoin the route indicated on the map on the website/app, as if you follow the latter, you will end up on company property.

Otherwise, it's a very beautiful hike, highly recommended!

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Celineetfrederic

31 Jul 2023 at 14:23 7200

I think so, but I'm not sure because we didn't pay attention. I must admit that we took the path through the brambles and barbed wire on the private road (which isn't right, I know). You'd have to check with the tourist office.

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grandin

31 Jul 2023 at 14:19 7200

Celine and Frederic,
So we need to follow the signs on route 4 to get around the private passage?

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Celineetfrederic

31 Jul 2023 at 13:43 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route as described is not entirely feasible. The path between points 2 and 3 has become a private path, which is not maintained and is covered with brambles and fences.
As we were following the GPS route rather than the wooden signs for route 4, we do not know whether the signage has been updated.
At number 8, the path that "goes into the woods" is not very visible at first. Make sure you take the right-hand bend at the end of the field behind the business; do not go left onto the section that joins a road.
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant and varied walk.

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Rcor

22 Mar 2021 at 09:52 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant walk!

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thegilbert

01 Jun 2020 at 10:07 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The walk through the forest is very pleasant. A short detour to Pompadour town centre adds to the heritage interest. The return journey is along roads that are certainly not very busy and offer little or no interest. Please note that some signs have been torn down.

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Author

laurentd19
22 Walks

Visorando member

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