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In Royat, park in the sports complex car park to the east of the village. Follow the yellow disc markings for almost the entire route.
(S/E) Head west along the path that runs along the south side of the tennis courts. The path quickly turns into a cool woodland trail and soon runs along the Tiretaine stream.
(1) Further on, the path veers south-southwest. Continue along the Tiretaine. On the other side of the stream, there is now a small road.
(2) The path descends to the road; follow it to the left. Almost 200 metres further on, turn left and back onto the path that enters the Arboretum. At the fork just after, turn right, heading south. About 300 metres further on, take a sharp left turn, ignoring the path that branches off opposite. Continue straight ahead until you see the yellow signs for "Forêt de Royat".
(3) At this fork, follow the signs for "Charade direct" to the right and ignore the two paths that branch off to the left just after. Further on, pass the tree-top adventure course before arriving at a car park (marked "Charade").
(4) Follow the small road on the right and then, at the fork, continue right towards Manson. Continue on the path that extends the road until you reach a larger road.
(5) Continue to the right until you reach the roundabout and go around it on the left, crossing the CD5F and then the D767 with caution. Turn left onto the access road to the Charade Route and then immediately turn right onto the path. Further on, cross the road and continue straight ahead. You will come to a road at the entrance to Manson. Follow it to the left.
(6) At the crossroads, at the sign for "Église de Manson" (Manson Church), turn right and then take the first road on the left. At the fountain, turn right and then take the second street on the right, which quickly turns into a path.
(7) At the foot of Puy de Manson, at a fork, ignore the path on the left. Further on, pass under the power line and then the path veers north.
(8) At the fork (elevation 904 m), turn right to pass under the power line again, then continue on the path, which heads north again.
(9) At the crossroads just below the power line, continue straight ahead. Further on, ignore a path that branches off to the left and back before joining a wider path that climbs to the right to Château de Montrodeix.
(10) Take this path for a round trip to the basalt columns. The cliff is located at the pumping station. Caution! The site is not secure and, as the cliff is poorly maintained, rockfalls are possible. Then retrace your steps.
(10) Continue right on the path to reach Montrodeix. On your left, you will see a power station. The Tiretaine resurgence is nearby. At the entrance to the village, you will come out onto Route de Manson. Follow it to the right for about a hundred metres and note the Volvic stone fountain and wash house on the village square on your right.
(11) Go down to the wash house and continue straight ahead between the houses on Rue de Sagne Vida to return to Route de Manson. Opposite, you will see a somewhat ruined wash house surrounded by small streams that are part of the Tiretaine water basin. Take Route de Manson back towards the village, heading north, and turn right at the first street, Rue du Lilas Clos. Then take the first street on the left, then left again, and notice another fountain-wash house on your left, fed by the Tiretaine. Continue straight ahead to Rue des Fonts Vieilles. Opposite you, notice the fourth wash house in the village. Continue to the right, then turn right at the next street, Rue de la Cote Folle. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead on the same street, which turns into a path that goes around the houses on the right.
(12) You will come to Rue de la Tour. Follow it to the right, then continue right onto Rue de la Combe to reach a larger road, Route du Puy de Dôme. Just before reaching this road, cross over the Tiretaine, which flows under the houses and feeds a fountain on your right. Follow Route du Puy de Dôme to the right and, shortly afterwards, you will see a beautiful wash house fed by the Tiretaine stream on your right, a few metres back from the road. Continue along the road for about 100 metres until you reach the second street on the left.
(13) Turn left onto Rue des Fauvettes. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, then ignore the streets on the left and right and you will come to a larger road, Route des Dômes. Follow it to the left for a few metres, then turn right onto Rue du Tourne Roue. Then turn right, then left, then right again for a few metres to return to the Tiretaine and the old mills.
(14) At the bridge, turn back and continue straight ahead on Rue de la Cascade to return to Route des Dômes. Follow it to the right until it curves to the left.
(15) Leave the road via the path on the right, Chemin des Crêtes, which heads east. At the fork 400 metres further on, continue to the right. Then continue along this beautiful, well-marked path, generally heading east, ignoring all the paths branching off to the right or left. The path, below the southern ridge, overlooks the Tiretaine valley. It descends towards Royat in a Mediterranean atmosphere. Upon arriving in Royat, the path widens and you will see a few houses.
(16) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead and follow the road that extends the path in a long right-hand bend. Opposite the Résidence du Paradis, continue downhill to the right on Avenue du Paradis and stay on this street until you reach Royat's main street, Boulevard de la Taillerie.
(17) Follow it to the right for about 50 metres, then turn into the first street on the left, Rue Victoria, then into the second street on the right, Rue de la Pépinière, to go up towards the sports complex. At the end of the street, continue in the same direction on Avenue Pasteur. Shortly before the roundabout, turn left towards the car park (S/E).
The route is very good, but the description is a bit vague in places, especially in the villages. So here are a few clarifications/corrections:
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