Hamlets in the Ursinian countryside

On the D941, from Vulcania towards the A89, at the Maisons-Rouges roundabout, turn right onto the D62 towards Saint-Ours. About 400m after crossing the railway line, take a small road on the right, at the corner of a house. Park at the side of the road just after passing the level crossing (two or three spaces available; do not park before crossing the railway line, as these spaces are for the former gatekeeper's house).

Please note! This hike is not marked in its entirety as such.

(S/E) Return to the D62 road, crossing the railway line again. Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®®441}until otherwise indicated.

(1) Cross and follow the D62 to the right for about 80 metres (take care) and take the path that branches off to the left, between the road and Chemin des Girolles.

Ignore the path marked "Entre miel et terre" on the left. At the intersection, follow the road to the left to reach the village of Saint-Ours. Pass in front of the town hall and arrive at the church (which you can visit) ^(a).

Walk past the church on your right, ignore the street on the right that passes in front of the church and continue straight ahead to the next intersection. Ignore the road that branches off to the left and turn slightly right towards Pontgibaud.

(2) Leave the^GR®® trail and turn right onto Rue de la Paix and continue to the crossroads of four streets. Continue straight ahead onto Chemin du Puy de Sau. Continue straight ahead on the same street at the next crossroads and continue along the path when the tarmac disappears.

Continue along this wide path, ignoring a few grassy paths (on the left, then straight ahead at a bend (not shown on the map) and left again), most of which are marked with old yellow crosses. You will come to another wide path opposite a memorial to two resistance fighters who died during the Occupation.

(3) Turn left. Further on, ignore a path on the right (not shown on the map) and you will come to an intersection.

(4) Turn right, ignoring the yellow cross signpost. Continue straight ahead, ignoring a path on the right (not shown on the map) until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead towards the houses of the hamlet of Fougères, which you can see. At the beautiful carved cross, follow the Route de Fonfatas to the left (ignoring the^GR®® markings).

(6) Cross the D943 and continue on the path opposite. Continue straight ahead on this path until you reach the hamlet of Chausselle.

(7) At the first intersection, turn right, then take the first street on the left. Then turn right onto Rue de l'Abreuvoir to pass in front of a dry fountain (with a bench inside) and then, at the T-junction, continue along this street which turns right. You will arrive at the next intersection at a beautiful house (Chambre d'hôte des Volcans) and a fountain.

Turn left, passing an old wash house on your right just before crossing the railway line, then turn onto the small road on the left. Continue along the path that extends from it, offering beautiful views of the Chaine des Puys. Ignore the access road to the D941 on your left and continue to the hamlet of La Courteix.

(8) Pass to the right of the wheelwright's workshop, ignoring the streets that branch off to the right. You will arrive at the square with its beautiful cross, fountain and wash house. Keep to the left, ignoring all the streets on the right, to leave the hamlet. Cross the railway line and continue along the road to the hamlet of Beauloup.

(9) As soon as you enter the hamlet, turn left onto Rue des Garennes. At the next intersection, make a very short detour to the right to see the circular fountain, the large wash house (unfortunately dry) and the beautifully renovated communal oven (a little further on in the square).

Return to Rue des Garennes towards the "La Ruche des Puys" eco-museum ^(b) and follow the "Gare au loup" signs (until further notice). Leave the eco-museum on your right and you will soon come to an intersection with a carved cross and a fountain.

Continue to the left, then left again at the next fork in the path. At the fork in the path, turn right and continue to a T-junction with another path, at a cross.

(10) Leave the "Gare au loup" markings temporarily for a round trip to the Captage de Louchadière ^(c) (if you are interested). Return to the intersection at the cross.

(10) Follow the "Gare au loup" signs to the left. Further on, ignore a path on the left at a boundary marker (this path, marked "Entre Miel et Terre", is the same one you ignored at the start of the route).

(1) Further on, leave the "Gare au loup" signposts, cross the D62 (take care) and take the road opposite to reach the intersection with the railway line.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead on the small road and then on the path that extends it, ignoring a path on the right, until you reach a four-way intersection.

(11) Turn right, then ignore a path on the left further on.

(12) Turn onto the next path on the left. Continue downhill until you cross a stream, then head uphill again. The path widens into a track in the middle of pastures, which leads to a wide carriageway.

(13) Follow it to the left until you reach the hamlet of Beauregard.

(14) As you enter the hamlet, you will see a magnificent lime tree. Then take the first street on the right, passing between a tiny spring on the right-hand side of the street and some small drinking troughs on the left. The street turns left. Follow it, passing in front of a beautiful house, to reach the square with its fountain, wash house and blacksmith's forge.

Go around the fountain on the right, pass in front of the cross and then follow the path on the right (^GR®® Red and White markings). At the fork in the path, at a wooden cross, keep left (leaving the^GR®® on the right). Further on, pass a stone cross and arrive at the crossroads marking the start of this second circular.

(11) Continue straight ahead to the intersection with the railway line (S/E) via the same path as on the way out.

Moderate difficulty hike, standard hiking equipment

Shorter hike here

Some photos here
Shorter hike with photos here and here

^(a) Church of Saint-Ours. Inside, several works in enamelled lava: the altar, the Stations of the Cross and the commemorative plaque for the First World War.

^(b) "La Ruche des Puys" eco-museum in the hamlet of Beauloup.

^(c) The Louchadière sub-basalt water collection system is a harmonious ensemble dating from 1953. A 1,800-metre gallery, dug in the 1950s, provides an average flow of around 200 m³/hour, with significant variations depending on seasonal rainfall.