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In Fontfreyde, park in the car park running alongside Place du Coudert, to the south of the village centre.
No signposting
(S/E) Continue along the road, heading south-west, with your back to the village centre. At the arched gateway of a ruined house on the right-hand side of the road, take the path to the left of this gateway. Further on, you’ll come to a disused road; follow it to the right. Ignore the paths leading off to the right into the forest. You’ll reach a meadow on your right.
(1) Take the path on the right, which runs alongside the meadow on your left and then enters the forest.
(2) Further on, at a junction of paths, keep to the right (the path on the left appears on the OSM map but not on the IGN map; it joins theGR®®). The path goes round a meadow on the left and comes out into a clearing. Continue straight on towards the entrance to another meadow and follow the path leading off to the right.
(3) At the T-junction with a track, walk a few metres to the right, then follow the path leading off to the left. A little further on, you’ll come across a stile on the left.
(4) Cross it to enter a meadow that has more or less turned into heathland. The Visorando app is useful here. Follow the most obvious path. You’ll come to a row of drinking troughs. Carry on straight ahead to descend into a more open part of the meadow, which is often occupied by a herd of cows. Opposite stands a hedge of trees; veer slightly to the left to cross to the other side, where you’ll immediately find a wide opening.
(5) Follow it to the right, uphill, to reach the entrance to the meadow. Pass the step-over (in poor condition, as noted in the notice dated 01/10/2026; take care; if possible, use the gate) on your left and continue along the path, which soon leads to a road. Follow the road to the right, along the fairly wide verge, for barely 100 m.
(6) Take the path branching off to the left. Further on, ignore the footpath joining from the left. Continue along a section of a fitness trail and ignore the few paths branching off to the right. You’ll reach a wide path.
Yellow Disc markings
(7) Follow it to the right. At the Fork in the road shortly afterwards, keep left. The path passes through vast summer pasturelands, the Palles Hautes, and offers unobstructed views of the neighbouring peaks and the Puy de Dôme. Further on, ignore a path to the left and you’ll reach a junction of paths at the ‘Les Palles Hautes’ signpost.
(8) Turn right towards Fontfreyde.
(9) At the crossroads, turn right into a patch of fir trees. About 300 metres further on, take a sharp left-hand bend. You’ll come out onto a road.
(10) Carry on along the path opposite, through the mixed woodland. The path becomes a track lined with old low walls.
(11) Further on, pass by a Forest Art area on your left. You can enter this area to explore the artworks. Then continue along the footpath until it joins a track.
(12) Follow it to the left, past some farm buildings, then leave the track for a footpath which climbs to the right and joins a road. Follow it to the right until you reach the “Fontfreyde” signpost.
(13) Turn left onto the track, heading towards La Cassière. You’ll soon come to a street; follow it, going round a house with red shutters. At the junction, leave Rue du Levant on your left. Carry on straight ahead to Place de la Fontaine (fountain and washhouse), then follow the main street to the right to reach Place du Coudert and the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
