The Allier between Saint-Yorre and Abrest

A lovely walk in any season in fine weather, whether on your own or with the family. You can explore the banks of the River Allier and its magnificent waterholes. The route is largely shaded during the summer months. You can also listen to the song of a wide variety of birds.

This route is similar to the “Circular Source Trail” listed by Vichy Community: a fully developed route with rest and picnic areas.

Important: Since 1 June 2026, (6) the footbridge running alongside the tracks on the railway bridge at Abrest has been closed to all traffic. This closure is for an indefinite period.

Details

964134
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 66 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 95 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 909 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 827 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: entrance to Nicolas Larbaud Park (car park 100 m away, Rue de Verdun, or Rue N. Larbaud).

(S/E) From the entrance, follow the path northwards to the first houses, running alongside the former bottling plant site.

(1) The path is circular and loops round towards the buildings on the right (a large house with a shed). Do not take this circular path but continue straight on along a newly laid path. On the right is a small building housing an old bread oven; a few metres further on, a spring feeds a pond: a watercress bed. Continue to the road, turn left to go under the railway bridge and turn right a few metres further on.

(2) The memorial stone marks the start of the André Monnot trail (named after a former athlete). The path runs alongside the River Allier on your left and the Vichy–Puy-Guillaume railway line on your right, all the way to Abrest. Go under the railway bridge spanning the River Allier, continue for about 100 metres, then take the underpass on the right beneath the railway line.

(3) Turn right, go under the railway line and climb the steps to the Place de l’Église.

(4) Turn right, then left, and walk down Impasse de la Liberté, then take the path leading to the railway bridge. Cross the bridge using the footbridge provided.
At the end of the bridge, take the path leading down to the left. Please note: do not follow the sign for “Les sources chaudes”, but head left at the foot of the bridge pier and go down the steps to the path running alongside the river.

(5) Follow the newly built path (Via Allier de Vichy Communauté), leaving the village of Hauterive on your right (do not take the path leading there on the right), and continue straight on until you reach a sharper bend to the right.

(6) At this point, temporarily leave the main path (for about 400 m) and follow the narrower path on the left, where you can enjoy the riverbank and the birdsong. After rejoining the main path which runs alongside a field, cross a stream via a wooden footbridge as you enter a wooded area.

(7) When you reach the Boire (known as the Marceau to fishermen), turn right and follow it along: the views of the Boire are more interesting here.

(8) At the end of the stream (you’ll rejoin the footpath), follow the tarmac road to the end of the building on the right. Turn left onto the footpath and follow the river.

(9) Take the footbridge to cross the stream and turn left. Follow the path between the fields and the river.

(10) At this junction, take the path on the left to the Saint-Yorre bridge. Please note that this is a designated fording point which is usually dry but has a fairly steep gradient! You will enter a wooded area.
(11) Cross the bridge and turn left onto Avenue des Sources. Follow this road until you reach Rue de Stalingrad. Follow Rue de Stalingrad to the right until you reach the entrance to Nicolas Larbaud Park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 889 ft - Entrance - Parc Nicolas Larbaud
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 850 ft - Former bottling plant site.
  3. 2 : mi 0.69 - alt. 850 ft - Memorial to André Monnot
  4. 3 : mi 2.66 - alt. 840 ft - On the right, under the railway line
  5. 4 : mi 2.74 - alt. 909 ft - Place de l’Église
  6. 5 : mi 3.05 - alt. 840 ft - Staircase - Allier (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 4.44 - alt. 846 ft - Sharper right-hand bend
  8. 7 : mi 5 - alt. 846 ft - Boire de la Marceau
  9. 8 : mi 5.5 - alt. 853 ft - La Boire exit
  10. 9 : mi 6.2 - alt. 853 ft - Footbridge
  11. 10 : mi 6.4 - alt. 853 ft - Crossroads
  12. 11 : mi 6.77 - alt. 866 ft - Saint-Yorre Bridge
  13. S/E : mi 7.3 - alt. 889 ft - Entrance - Parc Nicolas Larbaud

Notes

There are no water sources along the route, so be sure to bring what you need.
There are areas set up for taking a break and having a picnic.
In the event of a storm, it is possible to take shelter under the Nicolas Larbaud park shed, under the railway bridge in Abrest, or under the Saint-Yorre bridge.
As of July 2020, this route is similar to the "circular des sources" hiking trail listed by Vichy Communauté: the route has been completely redesigned with rest and picnic areas.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Before setting off, you can view reproductions of posters from the heyday of the Saint-Yorre mineral water industry. These are located 200 metres away on Rue de la Mairie, in four blind windows of the town hall building. (https://www.ville-saint-yorre.fr/actuali...).
At the start, you will cross the magnificent Nicolas Larbaud Park, following the avenue of lime trees.
To your left is the railway line and beyond that the bottling plant for water from the Vichy basin.
The right bank of the Allier is a very pleasant walk, shaded when the vegetation is in full growth, with several footbridges crossing small streams, magnificent plane trees and wild apple trees...
The view from the Abrest railway bridge is well worth a detour.
On the left bank, the route is further from the river, but you can get closer to it at times.
The Marceau stream is a beautiful, peaceful spot, perfect for taking a break and watching the birds or the fishermen at work!
In the fields of Hauterive and Saint-Priest-Bramefant, on the left bank, look out for the small brick huts with an electricity pole nearby. These are the boreholes used to extract mineral water.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
novy03
novy03

Thank you for your comment and the warning.
Enjoy your walks on Visorando.

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Maqroll
Maqroll
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

WARNING
The wooden footbridge between 6 and 7 (mentioned in the description) no longer exists. The work that was supposed to take place between autumn 2024 and the end of June 2025 (information found on site) has not been carried out and a diversion has been put in place. This diversion begins 2 km before the stream (between 5 and 6) and ends near point 7 (two barrier tapes block the path). The diversion route seems much less pleasant than the original route (far from the river, on paths with no shade). We chose to follow the original route but almost regretted it. Even though the Maroulde stream is dry at this time of year, crossing the ditch is dangerous and requires a bit of climbing. We strongly advise you not to follow the original route and to take the diversion, despite its likely lack of interest (or wait for the new footbridge to be installed). Otherwise, it will be at your own risk.
END OF WARNING

We did this hike in July on a hot, sunny day (a Friday). We particularly enjoyed the path, which is very shady with beautiful views of the river. The path is wide and easy, except between 6 and 7, where it is very narrow and cluttered with brambles, nettles and hawthorn... Crossing the Allier River on the railway bridge is unique and will delight railway enthusiasts. The path is flat, except just before and just after the bridge. We only encountered a few hikers, runners, cyclists and electric scooter riders. However, there were no mosquitoes

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novy03
novy03

Thank you for your comment.
We wish you enjoyable walks with Visorando.

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PEB77
PEB77

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful, very easy hike
Magnificent scenery

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novy03
novy03
• Edited:

Thank you for your comment. I wish you many wonderful hikes with Visorando.

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PhilRS
PhilRS

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

How peaceful! A pleasant hike, despite the mosquito attacks (frequent rain at the beginning of July).

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novy03
novy03

Thank you for your comment. We wish you enjoyable hikes with Visorando.

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tishtosh
tishtosh

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike offering several types of terrain (forest paths, cycle paths and roads). You are mostly sheltered from the sun, but bring a hat and water in summer anyway.
Please note: some paths are currently impassable due to the Allier river overflowing. We had to wade through the water to get past one spot.

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novy03
novy03

Thank you for your reply. Indeed, the route is not marked as indicated in the general information.
When the Allier river is in flood, some sections may be flooded.
We wish you all the best on your Visorando routes.

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Sherman
Sherman
• Edited:

Unmarked route (unfortunate) with three fords, two of which are flooded at this time of year:

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novy03
novy03

Thank you for your comment. We wish you happy travels.

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cflachard
cflachard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk along the Allier river, which is flat and therefore accessible to all. We did it in the middle of August during a heatwave, so we set off at 7am and didn't suffer from the heat.

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Carole63
Carole63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk, a really wonderful discovery thanks to this website. Many thanks to Visio Rando.

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VOLVESTRUM
VOLVESTRUM

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Monotonous but easy and accessible to all.

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novy03
novy03

Thank you for your comment.

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