Lavoine walks

Winding its way between forests and pastures, this walk leads to the foot of Rocher Saint-Vincent, the protective power of Lavoine and the Sichon valley.

Third stage of the Rez de Sol circular route, straddling the Monts de la Madeleine, the Bois Noirs and the northern Livradois. There is a stark contrast as you cross from the Allier into the Puy-de-Dôme: from pretty mid-mountain hamlets as far as Lavoine, then a landscape dominated by forests cascading down deep gorges from which a few hilltop villages emerge, seeming timeless, towards St-Victor-Montvianeix (a very extensive commune covering 4,500 ha). An optional detour takes you to the Rez de Sol (1.6 km). Omitting this route reduces the length of the stage by the same distance.

The Giant of the Bois Noirs, whose summit is often shrouded in clouds or mist, can be approached from Lavoine or Saint-Priest-la-Prugne. For this walk, we chose to approach it via Palladuc. It is a fairly strenuous walk, but one that guarantees peace and quiet, wide open spaces and sweeping views over this part of the beautiful Auvergne region.

For much of this route, it is clear why we are walking through the Bois Noirs, as the light sometimes struggles to penetrate the foliage. In other places, however, tree felling has opened up the view, and the number of logs stacked along the paths is impressive.

A pleasant little walk through meadows and woods with, on a clear day, a view of the volcanic range.

Departure from the Loge des Gardes sports centre. Start the day in the beautiful beech undergrowth of the Assise State Forest, above 1,000 metres altitude, before descending to the more open plateaus of La Tuilière and Cherier, with beautiful views. End at the Refuge du Point du Jour lodge (overnight stay and meals made with farm produce) (altitude 870 metres).

Stage4 of the circular mid-mountain loop linking the Monts de la Madeleine, Bois Noirs and the northern Livradois – picturesque hilltop villages nestled in deep gorges carved out by rivers, from the beautiful Muratte Dam to the village of Arconsat: explore the wooded and unspoilt countryside on the Auvergne side of the Puy de Montoncel. This stage very often follows the routes of the Espace VTT Bois Noirs, guaranteeing that you’ll find open, signposted trails.

This hike takes us through the woods of Pierre Châtel (Saint-Nicolas-des-leat) to the Druidic Stone (Loge des Gardes). The return journey takes us through isolated hamlets and farms.

The fifth stage of the Boucle du Rez de Sol route, where you leave the Auvergne to return to the Loire region by crossing the Col Saint-Thomas, famous for its sign reading “Here ends France, here begins the Auvergne”. You leave the Bois Noirs to pass through the pretty hamlets of Chausseterre and then Saint-Just-en-Chevalet. A long climb leads up to the Pras plateau at an altitude of 1,000 metres (in the commune of Cherier), involving a 400-metre ascent in the second half of the day, along lovely little shaded paths well maintained by the Urfé Community of Communes. Discover numerous isolated houses, beautifully restored by those who love solitude.

A family-friendly route for a breath of fresh air in the Dole forest at Chausseterre. A shaded route, very pleasant on hot days. It has its charms in other seasons, too. This is a route marked by Urfé Random and the Pays d’Urfé Community of Communes with the number 28.

Hidden in the heart of the Bois Noirs, the Pierre aux Deux Yeux (Two-Eyed Stone) watches over the unwary hiker. If you escape it, the majestic old oak tree will grant you some of its serenity. Then take a break at the foot of the Roc du Guet rock formation, a place conducive to meditation.

A lovely walk offering a chance to discover a variety of landscapes and flora: beech and coniferous forests, and the peat bogs of the Verrerie plateau. Discover the famous avenue of gnarled beech trees and the Pierre Châtel rock-climbing site.

This walk takes us through woods to the Verrerie plateau and its peat bog.

This short hike takes you past two remarkable sites: the Pierre Châtel with a beautiful view from its summit and the mysterious "Allée des Sorcières" (Witches' Alley) with its twisted beech trees.

This hike takes us on a journey between modernity (the wind turbines) and the past (the old glassmakers' village, the Château des Hormières) and offers beautiful views of the surrounding valleys.

A short route for a first taste of the Verrerie plateau on snowshoes.