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Access: the car park is located on Allée des Frênes in Saulzet-le-Chaud, along the A400 on the left just after the large bend when coming from Clermont-Ferrand. It is next to a cross.
(S/E) Take the path leading to the tunnel that goes under the main road (signposted). On the other side, take the road that climbs up to a four-way junction. Continue climbing straight ahead through the forest and, at the end, you’ll reach a flat area.
(1) Take the path on the left marked by a post with a Yellow Circle. 200 m further on, turn left onto the PR® to reach a signpost.
(2) Turn right and continue straight on to the summit of Puy Giroux.
(3) Take a moment at the summit to admire the view over the Chaîne des Puys and Mont Dore. Head back down the same path to return to the signpost.
(2) Turn right and continue straight on for 500 m. Turn right onto a wider path to reach a road.
(4) Go right for a few metres, then take the first path on the left. Follow this path to Opme.
(5) In the centre of the village, in front of a low wall, turn right, then immediately left onto Rue Côte du Champtout. Then head down a street on the right which turns into a path. The path levels out then climbs very gently to a T-junction.
(6) Take the path on the left and continue downhill to Chanonat, which you reach via Chemin de Cimard. When you reach the first houses, ignore the streets to the left and right, cross the D52 with care and continue straight ahead.
(7) Head down the Route d’Opme to the right until you reach the Place de la Mairie. Continue straight ahead, then turn right onto Rue du Chabris. Just before the bridge, turn right onto Rue du Sault Guillaume. Follow the Auzon river and turn sharply right up a steep incline.
Turn left, cross the Auzon and keep to the right. The path overlooks the Château de la Batisse, which you can admire on your right.
(8) Continue climbing steeply, keeping the same direction until you reach a hairpin bend to the right. Climb even more steeply to the left to reach another T-junction. Continue to the right until you reach a bend that turns sharply to the left.
(9) Take the small path on the right, which descends steeply. The path curves slightly to the left and climbs gently this time to rejoin the Auzon at Chaos de la Flore: note the natural dolmens on the left just before the junction marked by a large tree in the centre.
(10) Turn right, cross two streams and turn left onto a path that climbs quite steeply. Continue for 800 m: the path turns into a road that bends to the right.
(11) At the second bend, take a path on the left which climbs between two hedges and leads to a T-junction. Take the road on the right for 200 m and join the D52.
(12) Walk along the left-hand side of it and cross the village of Varennes. Carefully cross the main road at the pedestrian crossing, then continue straight ahead along Chemin de Redon Varennes to reach the Redon plateau.
(13) Turn right towards Redon Bas. Walk past the Redon farm and go round it by turning right towards the east. Walk down to a cross overlooking the main road.
(14) Continue downhill, turning left into the woods. Walk past a few house gardens and arrive at Parc de la Gazelle. Head to the crossroads on the right, then take Rue de la Gazelle on the right. At the fountain square, continue straight ahead along Rue Saint-Verny, ignore the streets on the right, then head up to the left via Rue du Puy Giroux to reach the A42 and the Saulzet-le-Chaud car park (S/E).
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