The Comté Forest by mountain bike

Start from the car park at the junction of the D14 and D49, at the foot of the Saint-Babel hill.

(S/E) With your back to the hill, turn left, heading due west, onto the Chemin des Estrigons and follow it for 500m to the D14.

(1) Cross the road (take care) and take the dirt track opposite. Then turn right and follow the tarmac road up to La Fontille, 250m away.

(2) At the fountain, turn left and cross the village of Roure, then the hamlet of La Courtade. Pass under the high-voltage power line and reach a crossroads (cross).

(3) Turn right and follow the path for 1,800m, ignoring the turnings on the right.

(4) At the crossroads, take the time to visit the Tailleur’s hut (on the left) to enjoy the exceptional views. Turn back.

(4) As you climb back up from the hut, leave two paths on your left that descend through the scree and head straight on along the path marked with a Blue Cross. After a short flat section, the path drops down to join a slightly wider track: follow it northwards for 1 km until you reach the coniferous woodland.

(5) Turn right, skirting the edge of the woodland. After about 100 metres, at another junction, turn right.

(6) At the next junction, turn right and head uphill. Cross a wide track and climb up to the pass.

(7) At the crossroads, turn left heading due north towards the telephone relay mast; follow the path for 1 km whilst enjoying the view. On reaching the D49, turn right towards the Col de la Croix des Gardes, 70 m away.

(8) Take the tarmac path on the left to begin the climb towards the ‘Borne des 4 Seigneurs’ marker. After 1,500 metres, you’ll reach the Pré du Lac crossroads.

(9) Turn left and follow the path for 150m; at a crossroads you will find the first marker – a ‘red chevron in a white square’ – which you should now follow.

(10) At the Borne des Quatre Seigneurs, turn right to follow the path that runs alongside the old ditch.

(11) At the junction (end of the red chevron markings), turn left and follow the path for 500m (Langlade markings).

(12) At the ONF sign (end of the Langlade markings), turn right onto the forest track. After 150m, turn left and take the path that goes downhill.

(13) At the crossroads by the barrier, turn right to follow the forest track.

(14) At the crossroads, turn left to join the D225 after 700m, cross it and take the wide forest track opposite for 650m.

(15) At the crossroads, ignore the path on the right and go straight on to skirt around the Pic des Fleurides for 1 km.

(16) Turn right to reach the Vande after 1100m.

(17) Once you reach the D53 above the Sallèdes cemetery, follow it down to the junction with the D14, 500m away.

(18) At the junction, go straight on along the Route de Manglieu (D310) for 1.2 km.

(19) At this junction, turn right onto the track leading down to Lhomède, which you cross, to reach the hamlet of Le Mas, which you also cross to reach Lassias. Turn left at the last houses.

(20) Turn right onto the dirt track towards Pré Gravière; after 1.3 km you will reach Le Passet.

(21) Cross the D225 and go straight on along the dirt track, following it for 1.9 km.

(22) Near the hamlet of Le Cha, turn right and follow the wide track for 1.7 km.

(23) At the crossroads, turn right; after 400m, turn left.

(24) At the junction, turn right and head uphill for 300m.

(25) At this crossroads, turn left heading due west, with the clock tower on the Saint-Babel hill in your sights.

(26) At the spring, turn left to tackle the final climb.

(27) At the end of the dirt track, there are just 300m of climbing left to reach the car park at the start (S/E).

Walk mainly on dirt tracks, approximately 3.4 km on tarmac roads.
Crossing the Yronde and Buron communal forest. Bypassing the Vic-le-Comte Forest. Crossing the Cheix-Blanc Forest. Bypassing the Bois de Céveloux.
Very few water points; there is a fountain at the start and at La Fontille. Forest house. Sallèdes cemetery.

From the start in Saint-Babel, the tailor’s hut, visible for a long way with the Puy de Sancy in the background, serves as a landmark to guide you. The detour to the restored hut is well worth it for the exceptional views. After the hut, the citadel of Buron and the Puy de Dôme serve as landmarks to guide you.
After the chalet junction, the mobile phone mast serves as a landmark.
Before the Col de la Croix des Gardes, there is a magnificent view over the Val d’Allier and the Clermont-Ferrand conurbation
After the pass, you enter the deciduous forest. The ‘Borne des Quatre Seigneurs’ marker marks a municipal boundary, as does the ‘Saut du Cheval’ marker a little further down. Between the two boundary stones, there is a tricky section at the top of the Saut du Cheval cliff: take care! The path running alongside the Vic-le-Comte Forest has recently been maintained and signposted. This little-known part of the forest, due to its difficult access, features remarkable trees and flowers.
After Puy des Gardelles, the forest tracks are very smooth. Crossing the D225 offers the option of continuing to the Maison des Espaces Naturels, 300m away.
After the forest, a short stretch of road takes you through the hamlets of Salledes and Manglieu. Views over much of the Comté woods.
After the village of Le Chat, there is a beautiful view of Saint-Babel and its hill, with the Mont-Dore mountains in the background.
Before the final climb up to Saint-Babel, you pass the Château du Buisson, which dates from the 17th century.
On arrival, the fittest walkers can tackle the climb up the hill, with an orientation table at the summit.