The ‘Electric Dordogne’ in Saint-Sauves-d’Auvergne

In Saint-Sauves-d’Auvergne, park in the car-share/cemetery car park.

Unmarked

(Start/Finish) Walk past the cemetery entrance, cross the D922 (the village’s main road) and enter the sports ground. Take the path on the left, then turn right to pass between the sports pitches and reach a tree-lined lane. Follow it to the right, continue straight on along the gravel path and you’ll come out onto a street. Follow it to the left and you’ll reach the Tilleul de Sully. Facing the lime tree, turn right. At the junction by the wash house, look out for the ‘Route de Malroche’ signposting.

Signposting for the Route de Malroche

(1) Turn left, then left again at the Fork in the road onto Rue de la Banne d’Ordanche. Follow this street until you reach the D31 (not the most pleasant part of the walk).

(2) Cross carefully and take the path opposite to reach the hamlet of Hors.

(3) Follow the road to the left, turn right at the junction and continue straight on along the track once the tarmac ends. Go through the tunnel under the D922, ignore the track on the right, follow the road to the left and go through the tunnel under the railway line.

(4) At the junction, follow the road to the right (it is wide but has very little traffic). You’ll reach the hamlet of Chez Chabozy.

(5) Ignore the two roads on the left, then follow the path branching off to the right and, 100 metres further on, go through a tunnel under the railway line and continue south-west.

(6) At the entrance to a field, take the path on the left. About 100 m further on, look out for a sign at another field entrance directing you to enter the field on the right. Go through the gate, then on the other side, turn left, following the edge of the field, and go through another gate to leave the field. Continue along the path until you reach the D996.

(7) Walk along this road to the left, on the wide verge on the left-hand side, for about 100 m; cross it very carefully, then take the small road opposite leading towards the hamlet of Le Lac. Cross the Dordogne and then leave the hamlet on your left.

Green signposting

(8) About 100 m further on, at the end of the tarmac, you’ll reach a Fork in the road. Temporarily leave the ‘Route de Malroche’ markings and head right for a return trip to the dam on the Dordogne. Look out for a green marker on a tree trunk to follow on this route. At a gate on a private track (not shown on the map), keep to the right. At a fork in the road, keep to the left. Further on, by a scree slope on the right, a footbridge takes you across a wetter area.
The path approaches the Dordogne, continues along a ledge, crosses a few more footbridges and joins a road.

(9) Continue along the path opposite and walk to the small dam and its reservoir.

(10) Retrace your steps until you come across the ‘Route de Malroche’ signposting.

Signposting for the Route de Malroche

(8) Follow the path to the left. You’ll come to a road; follow it to the right. Enter the hamlet of Châteauneuf.

No signposting

(11) At the junction, temporarily leave the signposted route for a short detour to the right, towards Puy de Châteauneuf, as indicated by a sign. At the end of the tarmac road, continue along the path which leads to the Oratory and the Cross of Saint-Roch. Viewpoint.

(12) Retrace your steps back to the junction in the hamlet.

Signposting for the Malroche Route

(11) Follow the road to the right. On leaving the hamlet, turn right between two houses. Join the D922, cross it very carefully and continue straight ahead. At the T-junction, turn right.

Signposting for the Pré de l’Eau Route

(13) Just before the bridge over the Dordogne, leave the Malroche Route signposting and take a sharp left-hand bend onto a small road (note the Pré de l’Eau Route signposting). Continue to the next junction.

(14) Follow the signposting to the right towards La Vergne. Cross the Dordogne via the bridge, then, shortly afterwards, take the path that branches off to the right at the bend in the road and climbs up to the village of Saint-Sauves-d’Auvergne.

No signposting

At the top, follow the street to the left, passing the media centre and then the post office on your left. Take a few steps to the right to admire the beautiful portico of the old church, then retrace your steps and turn right to reach the main road (D922) which runs through the village. Follow it to the left to reach the cemetery (S/E).

Moderate difficulty hike. Standard hiking kit.
For those who dislike tarmac: a few stretches along roads (admittedly very quiet ones).

Photo gallery here

The Sully lime tree in the village of Saint-Sauves-d’Auvergne (at the start of the route) and also a beautiful carved stone archway (at the end of the route), with lovely views over the Dordogne valley, the Sancy Massif and the Banne d’Ordanche, particularly from the Croix Saint-Roch viewpoint; a lovely woodland path running along a ridge overlooking the Dordogne.

More walks along the Dordogne here