The sparkling spring of Bois du Four

In search of the spring in the forest, this is a short but challenging hike that starts by following the Sianne valley and continues towards the hamlet of Chantejail through the woods that cover the ridges of the Pic du Chambon.

Details

1401077
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 229 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 226 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 696 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 534 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point: From Blesle, take the D20 towards Auriac l'Eglise but park 100m after the hamlet of Terret, near the starting point of the hike.

Markings: Yellow (PR® 492).

(S/E) From the car park, head south and take the path towards the La Sianne river. Cross the bridge and continue.

(1) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead (south-south-west). Cross a stream and continue straight ahead (south-west) until you come to a wide path on the left.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the left, ignore a path coming from the right and pass under the power lines. Descend the winding path to reach the Roulier stream and the Source Pétillante. Continue along the path for about 200 metres.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left and climb up towards the hamlet of Chantejail.

(4) Before entering the hamlet, take the path on the left and continue straight ahead (north). Climb Le Chambon (ignore a path on the left) and continue to the hamlet of Le Ranquet.

(5) At the entrance to the hamlet, turn left between the houses and go around the farm. At the crossroads, take the leftmost path, pass under a power line and descend into the forest.

(1) At the crossroads you took on the way out, turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 536 m - Parking on the D20 road. Cross the - Sianne (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 543 m - Crossroads Outward and return
  3. 2 : km 1.34 - alt. 554 m - Intersection - Wide path on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.68 - alt. 596 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 3.1 - alt. 657 m - Chantejail
  6. 5 : km 4.21 - alt. 659 m - Le Ranquet
  7. S/E : km 5.66 - alt. 536 m - Car park on the D20 road

Notes

Hiking boots and one or more walking sticks are recommended for the ascent and descent.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
bartoche
bartoche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The sparkling spring! The name is appealing, but the spring itself is nothing special! Let's just say we didn't know the history of the place, but anyway, the walk is pleasant, mostly through the woods.
A refreshing 1 hour 40 minute circular loop.

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GJMdc
GJMdc

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Good for a walk in the forest, but disappointing in terms of the "sparkling spring".
There is no sign, written directions or markings to help you find the "bubbling spring". We didn't see it. When we reached the bottom of the valley, we thought it must be where we had seen a large puddle blocking the path further up. :-(

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alain42
alain42

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello, apart from climbing up and down paths where there is nothing but rock, there isn't much to see.
Don't miss the spring.
The hike is really not very exciting.

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Iliade
Iliade

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

While passing through the region, we spent the night in a camper van at the start of the hike, and we were lucky enough to hear the deer bellowing! We went hiking the next morning. The sparkling spring is amazing, and you can see the landscape from several places along the hike. It's a very pleasant route!

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bcg243
bcg243

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike of easy to moderate difficulty. When we did it, there were horse riders dressed up for Halloween at a bend in the path in the woods 🥴🥶, which was both strange... and very entertaining.
Don't miss the spring below the path, hidden in the vegetation.

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fpeyrissat
fpeyrissat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did it the other way round: a steep climb at the start, but a short one.
Varied landscapes. Beautiful river and streams. Beautiful views.
Used by motorbikes, but you can hear them coming from far away.
We almost missed the source, but it is clearly marked on the map and can be spotted thanks to the brown colour of the river caused by the iron-rich water.
Thank you for this hike.

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bcg243
bcg243

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Pleasant hike with moderate elevation gain and beautiful points of interest.

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randomyriam
randomyriam

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A short but effective hike.
We loved it.

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