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The hike starts at the abandoned site on the edge of the D997 road. There is space to park. It is not directly accessible when coming from Saint-Dier-d'Auvergne; you have to go to the next junction towards Billom and make a small U-turn.
(S/E) Head south on a small road.
(1) At thefirst junction, turn right onto a wide dirt track. You will see the Lapeyrouse children's home on your right. At a T-junction (elevation 437), turn right.
(2) Cross the bridge over the Madet stream. On your left, you will see a tiny village nestled at the bottom of the Brelet valley. Then, at thefirst crossroads (elevation 381), turn left. This is an easy climb on open terrain, offering beautiful views of the Puy de Dôme, the Limagne and the town of Billom.
(3) At the first crossroads, turn right until you reach the D9 road.
(4) Then turn left. After 100 metres, turn right onto the dirt track. You will see Montmorin Castle opposite. At the crossroads just after the town hall buildings, turn left and follow a wide, shaded path. At the next crossroads, turn right towards the castle. You will come to a small road; turn right and it will lead you to the castle entrance.
(5) Turn right, passing in front of a large granite statue of a Gaul, to go behind the château. Continue along the path, which narrows, to pass between the chapel.
(6) Then pass the castle walls and arrive at a large terrace.
(7). Leave the terrace via the road at the foot of the castle and turn right onto the road that descends to the village.
(8) Between two houses, turn left onto a grassy path, then turn right.
(9) At the crossroads, take the path that descends to the right towards the D301 road. There is a beautiful view of the castle. At the junction with the road (Billon town recreation centre), turn left. At the next fork, turn right onto the small road signposted "Puyfoulhoux".
(10) When the road turns sharply to the right, take the dirt track going uphill opposite. Follow this track south-south-east for about 2 km, ignoring the other tracks, until you see the Étang des Maures lake through the trees.
(11) Continue south and then turn right along the lake. This private, fenced-off lake is not accessible from here.
(12) Turn left onto a path that leads to a meadow on the edge of the pond (a good place to stop).
(13) As it is not practical to go around the pond, retrace your steps.
(12) Then take the uphill path you took on the way there.
(11) At the crossroads, turn right. Pass L'Epanlerie and continue to a crossroads.
(14). Then take the path on the left, which initially runs alongside a small pond. You will arrive at Maisonneuve, where the path crosses the D9 road.
(15) About 150 m after crossing the road, turn right at a right angle onto a path that is not very easy to see. This narrow path widens as it goes on and is well shaded. After turning left, the path heads north and, after a short climb, arrives at the village of Le Pereyret, which the path crosses. There is a beautiful view at the exit of the village.
(16) Cross the road. There are a few signposts pointing towards Arlanges. During the descent to this village, on the right, there is a view of the Forez and the Château de Mauzin. From Arlanges, at a place called Les Maisons Basses, the path descends steadily.
At the crossroads, turn left then right onto the road that climbs up to a hiking trailhead (car park and water point).
Take the road slightly below the crossroads to the village of Train, cross the village and, between two houses.
(17) Take the grassy path towards a mound. This path rejoins the D307 road, which you follow to the right. Turn right to the village of Lasteyras
::18:. At the entrance to the village, the path passes in front of the Escolore CAT. Pass in front of the buildings to find the northernmost path, which leads to a residential area of Barnoux. Turn left between the houses, then right, to reach a square with a fountain
(19). Turn left to return to the crossroads at the start of the hike.
(1), then right to the starting car park (S/E)
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
