The Monne Valley

A medium-altitude hike through pastures and farmland, sheep and cows; a countryside dotted here and there with volcanic rocks. The walk follows the course of the Monne and Ribeyre rivers and offers splendid panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys.

Details

1619110
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 260 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 258 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,015 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 840 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access A75, exit 5, towards Aydat (D213). After 10km, take the D788 towards Cournols, cross the village and continue to Fohet.
Parking on the square in front of the church.
Markings: Yellow La Vallée de la Monne.
Please note: Shared section and junction in the village with the Les Pierres Levées hike, also marked in yellow.

(S/E) From the car park, go down the path and join the intersection between the Cournol and Rouiilas roads, continuing west.

(1) After 50 metres, take the street on the left and continue straight ahead until you reach the fork between the two trails.

(2) At the fork, turn right onto the D145 road. At the road, turn left, then take the first path on the right and continue straight ahead.

(3) At the T-junction, turn left, join the road (cross) and turn right. Cross Prades.

(4) 300 metres after the hamlet, turn onto the first path on the left and go around the Moulin de Prades. Cross the bridge over La Monne, then take the first path on the right and join a road.

(5) At the road, turn right and after 300 m, turn left onto a path that leads to a T-junction.

(6) Turn right, pass in front of a farm and at the next intersection, turn right towards the hamlet of Fontmarcel.

(7) Cross the hamlet and take the path opposite, which winds down to the river and then climbs back up to the hamlet of Monne.

(8) At the entrance to the hamlet, turn left, then take the second right. At the fork, turn right towards the fountain and wash house. Follow the path that climbs above the wash house and turns west.

(9) At the three-way junction, take the path on the right and continue straight ahead on this wide, natural path.

(10) At the T-junction on the plateau, turn right towards the east, join the Ribeyre valley and continue to the crossroads between four paths.

(11) Turn left onto this path which climbs, joins the D788 and continues towards Fohet to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 895 m - Car park in front of Fohet church
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 894 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 0.49 - alt. 905 m - Fork between the two hikes
  4. 3 : km 1.66 - alt. 875 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 843 m - Path 300m after Prades. Towards the bridge at - la Monne
  6. 5 : km 3.61 - alt. 899 m - Turn right onto the road.
  7. 6 : km 4.53 - alt. 946 m - Turn right at the T-junction.
  8. 7 : km 6.06 - alt. 988 m - Fontmarcel
  9. 8 : km 7.13 - alt. 946 m - Entrance to Monne
  10. 9 : km 7.55 - alt. 968 m - Go straight ahead at the three-way junction.
  11. 10 : km 8.55 - alt. 1,015 m - T-junction
  12. 11 : km 10.36 - alt. 909 m - 4 paths
  13. S/E : km 12.99 - alt. 895 m - Car park in front of Fohet church

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
annieben
annieben

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

No interesting scenery apart from a view of the Chaîne des Puys.

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Bérengère63
Bérengère63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with varied landscapes. There are not always signposts, but with the Visorando route map, it is impossible to go wrong.

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Pot au feu
Pot au feu
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route was described in an old Chamina guidebook and has been updated with a new description. There are no signs at the start. The yellow markings are clearly visible except in the hamlets you pass through (Fontmarcel, Monne). The plateau is exposed and was very windy on the day of our hike. It must be very hot there in summer!

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ayrton 12
ayrton 12

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike, beautiful views of the region's mountain ranges,
Very few people use this trail, so the markings are sometimes faded.
I recommend it for walkers who are good at finding their way and don't like crowds.

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mariefrancoise6
mariefrancoise6

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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63Vincent
63Vincent

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A magnificent hike with beautiful panoramic views and a very passable route, even if the yellow markings on the route are fading. You say 4 hours and 25 minutes, but I think it's more like 3 hours and 25 minutes...
In good weather, like yesterday, Saturday 16/10/2021, we had a glimpse of the superb Sancy mountain range.
Piche 63

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Cathy76
Cathy76

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Difficult to find the start of the hike. No signs, no indications.
The route is very poorly marked.

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claudekiko
claudekiko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike in the open air on rolling paths. Given the season and the light fog, the view wasn't great, but we'll happily do this walk again in spring or summer, as the view over these vast expanses must be superb. We found the elevation gain to be 294 m. However, the duration can be reduced by an hour.

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