Landes de Fohet

In Fohet, park in the small car park just behind the church.

(S/E) Leave the church on your right and head towards the war memorial, slightly below, and continue along the street slightly to the left to join the D788, turning right.

(1) Turn onto the first street on the left (Rue de Coutias). Pass a street on the left, then, just after, at the crossroads of three streets on a small square (fountain-trough-wash house on the right of this square), follow the street furthest to the left (Chemin du Fort).

(2) At the next intersection, follow the path on the right. When you reach another path, follow it to the left for about 50 metres, then turn right. At the next intersection, leave this path and go up to the right. You will arrive at the top of Puy de Fan. Views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dore.

(3) Continue straight ahead on a grassy path to descend. The path turns left. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead. Further on, you will arrive at a road (hamlet of Chabanne).

(4) Follow it to the right with caution, then, about 200 m further on, turn right onto the first path (Chemin de la Mouteyre). Continue downhill until you reach another road.

(5) Turn right to take the double bridge over the Monne, then immediately turn right onto the path. Continue along this path which runs alongside the Monne, more or less at the same height as the river.

(6) After about 2.2 km, ignore a path that climbs to the left and you will soon arrive at the old Moulin de Prades mill. Continue, crossing the Monne, on the path that climbs up to join a road. Follow it to the right with caution, even though it is a quiet road.

(7) At the entrance to the hamlet of Prades, turn left (Allée des Bruyères) to pass between the houses (traditional, some beautifully renovated), then, still following the same street, rejoin the road you left earlier and continue to follow it on the left, still with caution. Turn onto the first path on the left.

(8) At the next intersection, continue to the left. This path runs alongside a small stream, the Ribeyre. Ignore a path leading up to the left.

(9) Ignore several paths branching off to the left as your path makes a wide turn to the right. Continue to follow it, still in the same direction (east), ignoring all the side paths. You will come to a road, the D788, at the pretty Croix de Ribeyre.

(10) Follow this road to the right with caution, ignoring a road on the right.

(1) At the intersection with Rue de Coutias, which you already took on the way there, continue straight ahead, then turn left to reach the church (S/E).

This hike, rated as moderate because it is over 10 km long, is fairly easy. Standard hiking equipment required.
Unmarked trail.
Perfectly suited to Nordic walking.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Photo album here and here (variant)

Beautiful panoramic views from the heights of Fohet over the Chaîne des Puys and the Monts Dore.
A peaceful hike, far from the region's tourist hotspots. Lots of flowers and their hosts in spring, including columbines and a wide variety of geraniums.