Heights and banks of the Sioule upstream of Pont de Menat

At Pont de Menat, on the left bank of the Sioule, park between the campsite and the lodges.
Please note! This hike is not marked as such.

(S/E) Go up the access road to the campsite, heading west, then at the fork, take the road on the left which is restricted to vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. When you reach the hamlet of Navoirat, you will see a well with a drinking trough on the left. Shortly afterwards, at a pretty carved stone cross, ignore the street on the right. Ignore a second street on the right, then, at the picnic area (information panel about the viewpoint and the Natura 2000 site of the Gorges de la Sioule), climb a few steps on the left to reach the Navoirat viewpoint.

(1) Go back down the same path, turn right onto the road and then take the first street on the left. At the T-junction, take the small road on the left and follow it to Menat.

(2) Just before the first houses, ignore a road on the left (towards Les Garennes) and another on the right. At the fork, turn left towards the "30 km/h zone", then follow a small lane on the right towards the church (fountain on the church square). You can visit the church ^and then the cloister, the entrance to which is to the left of the church (currently undergoing renovation). On leaving the cloister, turn right, walk past a turret to reach the town hall square (Fossil Museum, contemporary fountain).
Return to the main street of the village, Grande Rue, follow it slightly to the left, then take a lane on the right, at the corner of a house with a tower. Join a street and follow it to the left, then turn right behind the "sortie de zone 30" sign to resume the outward route until the first crossroads.

(2) Follow the small road to the right, towards "les Garennes, Bougedal". Pass these two places in succession, staying on the road. At the intersection with a road coming from the left, continue straight ahead towards "le Couret".

(3) At the T-junction, near a poultry farm, ignore the sign opposite and follow the road to the right. Pass in front of a pallet factory, then turn left onto the path.

(4) At the four-way crossroads, follow the yellow markings to the left. Ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead at the next crossroads, still following the yellow markings. You will reach marker 450 m at the bottom of the valley.

(5) Descend a few metres to the right to the Ruisseau le Bort stream, return to the marker and continue straight on towards Vendoges. You will arrive at a crossroads. Leave the yellow markings and follow the orange markings on the right. Shortly afterwards, pass under a power line and you will reach Vendoges at the "Vendoges" marker.

(6) Continue straight ahead towards Biesse, ignore a street on the left further on and continue straight ahead, following the yellow markings, which are not always obvious, and the orange markings. First turn left then right, ignoring a path that goes straight ahead, and continue on this path which follows the edge of a wood, then descends into the undergrowth to reach the hamlet of Biesse. Ignore a path on the left at the entrance to the hamlet, then arrive at the "Biesse" signpost.

(7) Follow the road to the left towards "Pont de Menat" (and yellow markings that are not always very obvious but which you will follow to Pont de Menat) and immediately pass by a well topped with a cross. Ignore a road on the left and then, at the intersection just after, follow the second path on the left. Further on, ignore a grassy path on the left and you will come to an information panel about Château-Rocher opposite this site, on the other side of the Sioule.

(8) When you reach the banks of the Sioule, the path ends. Head left through the grass along the river, cross two footbridges, then continue as close to the river as possible, avoiding the mud, until you finally find a better marked path after crossing another footbridge. Continue along this path, which is sometimes a little steep, always along the banks of the Sioule. When you reach the campsite, continue along the narrow path between the campsite fence and the river, then across the grass, until you come to a private property. Turn left, leaving the Sioule, to reach the road

(9). Follow the road to the right for a return trip to the Romanesque bridge ^b. Cross the bridge to take a few steps on the other side of the Sioule, between the houses of Pont de Menat and their pretty gardens by the river. Then cross the bridge again and continue along the road to the left until you reach the car park at the entrance to the campsite (S/E).

Difficulty Medium to Difficult, as the path along the banks of the Sioule at the end of the route requires a little energy.

Be careful! There are lots of small roads at the start of the route. Allergic to tarmac, please refrain!

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Some photos here

Several viewpoints on the heights, in addition to the belvedere at Navoirat.

Traditional architecture and wells in the hamlets you pass through.

Ancient abbey in Menat.

The banks of the Sioule, very wild.

Romanesque bridge at Pont de Menat.