1. Visorando
  2. Auvergne
  3. 63 - Puy-de-Dôme
  4. Orcival

La Banne d'Ordanche

A hiking trail in the Auvergne summer pastures, on a summit overlooking the spa resort of La Bourboule.

Technical sheet
No. 13138
A Orcival walk posted on 15/10/12 by bernardino. Update : 07/05/20
Calculated time Calculated time: 4h45[?]
Distance Distance : 12.98km
Vertical gain Vertical gain : 354m
Vertical drop Vertical drop : 351m
Highest point Highest point : 1462m
Lowest point Lowest point : 1249m
Average Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point Back to starting point : Yes
Walking Walking
Areas Areas : Massif central, Monts Dore
Location Location : Orcival (63210)
Starting point Starting point : N 45.621477° / E 2.81999°
Map IGN Map (Click to buy) : Ref. 2432ET, 2432ETR, 2433SB
Download : -

Description

Go to the Lac de Guery and park in the large car park at the end of the lake(D) This is where this walking tour in Auvergne starts.

Take the GR®30 path (red and white waymarks). N.B. Contrary to what is stated on the IGN map, this GR® path goes along the right bank of the lake in order to avoid the road.

Stay on the waymarked hiking trail which, after taking you on a path due south to the end of the lake, goes towards the west. You'll reach the summit of Puy Gros (1) Go downhill to the hamlet called Tenon. Here you leave the hiking trail (2)to take a smaller hiking trail (yellow waymarks), going through pastures and leading to a large track at the Col de St-Laurent (3) Take a left to reach the summit of La Banne d'Ordnacge (4) going up the wooden stairway.

Return to the crossroad mentioned before and continue on the track, due East and then due North-East. Go through the farm of Puy Mary ruins (5)before regaining the heritage trail (Sentier Découverte) (6) which takes you back to the car park.

Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 1263m - Col de Guéry
1 : km 0.3 - alt. 1260m - Lac de Guéry
2 : km 5.19 - alt. 1459m - Puy Gros - Puy Gros
3 : km 6.56 - alt. 1342m - Le Tenon
4 : km 7.67 - alt. 1442m - Col de Saint Laurent - Col de Saint-Laurent (1450m)
5 : km 8.28 - alt. 1458m - Banne d'Ordanche - La Banne d'Ordanche
6 : km 10.04 - alt. 1397m - Ferme de Puy May
D/A : km 12.98 - alt. 1262m

Useful Information

No water source on this walk.

We advise taking IGN maps with you on this walk. Click here to buy : 2432ET, 2432ETR, 2433SB.

Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.

During the walk or to do/see around

The summer pastures allow you to catch a glimpse of cows grazing peacefully during this hike. Chalets are no longer occupied, the shepherds now live in camping vans. Further down on La Banne, gentian grows freely, which is used for making drinks such as Suze, local colour known as Avèze (drink in moderation).

Other walks in the area

Walking A circuit around Puy de Sancy
distance 13.84km Vertical gain +922m Vertical drop -922m Durée 6h35 Difficult Difficult
Starting point Starting point in Mont-Dore - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A trip to highest point of the Massif Central.

Walking The Puy de Sancy via the Courre Valley
distance 6.68km Vertical gain +526m Vertical drop -526m Durée 3h25 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Mont-Dore - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A very beautiful hike in a conservation area.

Walking Lac Chambon - Murol
distance 11.78km Vertical gain +321m Vertical drop -317m Durée 4h15 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Chambon-sur-Lac - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A circuit that forms a figure of 8 around Lac Chambon, with panoramic views of the lake and the Sancy range, the Valley of Chaudefour and a section through Murol via its castle.

Walking Puy de Sancy through the Chaudefour valley
Puy de Sancy through the Chaudefour valley
distance 16.34km Vertical gain +907m Vertical drop -909m Durée 7h15 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Chambon-sur-Lac - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

The very secretive and beautiful Chaudefour valley is a classified natural site, closed up by the steep contours of a glacial cirque. Peaks, needles, plumbs are as many natural defences for an intact and preserved valley.

Walking Grand Tour of Lac Pavin
distance 7.81km Vertical gain +223m Vertical drop -224m Durée 2h50 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A Grand Tour of the beautiful and mysterious Lac Pavin, passing by the Puy de Montchal and the Creux de Soucy chasm.

Walking Puy de Lassolas and Puy de la Vache
Puy de Lassolas and Puy de la Vache
distance 4.31km Vertical gain +220m Vertical drop -214m Durée 1h50 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Saint-Genès-Champanelle - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A short hike to climb two volcanoes with their typical open craters to delight amateur geologists and curious hikers. A beautiful view from the top of the Puy de Lassolas on over the Chaîne des Puys to the north and Monts Dore to the south.

Walking The Chiloza falls
The Chiloza falls
distance 4.79km Vertical gain +140m Vertical drop -140m Durée 1h45 Easy Easy
Starting point Starting point in Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

A wander among the underbrush along the Couze Pavin, from bank to bank, flowing in cascades.

Walking Puy-de-Dôme passing through the col de Ceyssat
distance 5.46km Vertical gain +392m Vertical drop -392m Durée 2h40 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Orcines - 63 - Puy-de-Dôme

Just above Clermont-Ferrand, the inescapable climb to Puy-de-Dôme through the col de Ceyssat is a short but intense hike with an astonishing view over Clermont-Ferrand, the chaîne des Puys, paragliders and Millevaches.

Caution, it's a very popular walk so be sure to do it during week days for a bit of peace and quiet.

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.