The Oudeyre hut

de fr

My favourite walk in Massiac. Starting from the centre of Massiac, this route allows you, after 400 m, to walk through countryside with no roads, no houses and no fences. On the ascent, it follows the old royal, then imperial, road from Paris to Perpignan as far as the Baraque d’Oudeyre, a ruined former coaching inn. On the descent, it returns along the ridge through heathland and woods of pine and oak trees.

Details

n°12518848
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 262 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 262 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 800 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 538 m
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Photos

Grand Chêne
View of Massiac from Bel Air

Description of the walk

Park in the Place des Pupilles de la Nation car park in Massiac.

(S/E) Head towards Avenue du Général de Gaulle (N9). Turn right and walk up the avenue for about 150 metres to the N9/N122 junction.

(1) Cross the junction at the pedestrian crossing, then take the steps opposite to reach the Bel Air district. Continue along the road (Rue de Bel Air), which offers lovely views of Massiac and its valley, and soon turns into a path.

(2) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring the path on the right, which you will take on the way back.

(3) At the junction, keep slightly to the right and then carry on straight ahead until you reach the ruined hut at Oudeyre.

(4) Just past the ruin, turn right across a meadow for 200 m: be careful, this is the only section without a clear path. Continue to a large oak tree, clearly visible on the ridge.

(5) At the oak, turn right, following a track to the right of the knoll of the Suc d’Oudeyre, then across heathland and woodland. If there is no track, stay close to the ridge. Further on, join a better-marked path and follow it, keeping the same direction.

(6) Where the woodland turns into coppice, follow a path that leaves the ridge and descends quite steeply to the right for 100 m, then more gently, eventually joining the path you came up on.

(2) Take this path to the left to reach Massiac. Go back down the stairs.

(1) Cross the junction at the pedestrian crossing and head straight on along Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Then turn left to reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 538 m - Place des Pupilles de la Nation. Near the - Alagnon (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 546 m - Bel Air Staircase. Near the - Alagnonette (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Alagnon
  3. 2 : km 1.26 - alt. 661 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : km 1.46 - alt. 679 m - Crossroads, turn right
  5. 4 : km 2.89 - alt. 773 m - Oudeyre Hut
  6. 5 : km 3.03 - alt. 786 m - Large oak tree
  7. 6 : km 4.57 - alt. 714 m - End of the ridge path, on the right
  8. S/E : km 6.09 - alt. 538 m - Bel Air Staircase

Notes

Between (1) and (3) in particular: in the open countryside, branches and grass can sometimes be a nuisance. Wear suitable footwear and clothing.

(1) Caution: use the pedestrian crossing as there is heavy traffic on the RN122.

Worth a visit

Between (1) and (2), beautiful views of Massiac and its valley.

Between (1) and (4), the route follows the old royal and later imperial road, which sometimes runs alongside the path on the right.

Near (5), views of the Margeride to the east and the Cézallier to the west.

Before (6), a steep view to the right over the Alagnon valley towards Murat.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Hermione Goury
Hermione Goury

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is very pleasant, mostly shaded, and offers some beautiful views. It's quite moving to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors on the old royal/imperial road. However, the nearby motorway creates a lot of noise, which you can only escape briefly when you are on the other side of the mountain. It's a nuisance that spoils the walk quite a bit.

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florine
florine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame there aren't any coloured markings...

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Bibi43
Bibi43

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We did this route in hot weather; it was pleasant as there was plenty of shade.
We didn’t see anyone as it’s quite a ‘wild’ route – so much so that there’s a section off the beaten track through tall grass – but it’s quite lovely. The first half of the route is uphill; the rest is easy.

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AnneJ15
AnneJ15

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely short walk, the first part of which is a long, gentle climb through the woods in the shade this afternoon, with a fine view of Massiac at the start.
Then you emerge into the sunshine as you reach the ruins, and the view opens up to a 180-degree panorama of grassy hills and hamlets. A break at the foot of the great oak is a must to take in the view.
The route continues along a grassy path near the ridge, amongst a few pines and oaks, with a lovely view.
The descent is then a gentle walk back to the path we took up, before reaching Massiac.

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REDONDIE ARLETTE
REDONDIE ARLETTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, very well signposted, with a lovely climb up to the Baraque d'Oudeyre, offering stunning views over the Allagnon Valley; a magnificent hike through the beautiful woods – definitely one to do again in the spring. Thank you.

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