Le Claux walks

This is the ideal walk if you’re staying at the Claux campsite, as that’s where the walk starts. It’s a moderate walk with some lovely views along the way.

Discover the Burons de la Gardoune and de la Garde, the ridges (GR®4) leading to the Col de Serre with views of the Puy Mary, and a wealth of exceptional landscapes.

A short walk through the Bois du Christ, featuring a wayside shrine rising above the trees, offering views of the surrounding landscape. The walk concludes with a circuit of Lac des Cascades along the nature trail about the wildlife of the Cantal.

Climb to the summit of the famous Puy Mary from the south-east, via a very pleasant trail, leaving your car quite far away to avoid the crowds of visitors who gather at the Pas de Peyrol. Some hikers may find this hike a little difficult, see reviews.

Walk along the Impradine, from pastures to villages rich in beautiful old houses. Like us, you may encounter a herd of horses, deer and a fox.

Visit to a practically perfect cone that could have inspired the builders of the pyramids if they had known the Massif Central and particularly this Cantalian summit.

A very short walk, with water as its theme, to discover a magical place.

Cross the beautiful high-altitude beech forest in the Bois Mary, then follow the path along the ridge of the Monts du Cantal. This hike alternates between shade in the first half and sunshine and magnificent views in the second half.

A long walk along the ridges allows you to enjoy the view of the Puy du Cantal, the Puy de Sancy and the Plomb du Cantal. Pass through the Brèche de Roland and return to the Cirque d'Eylac with the marmots.

Magnificent panoramic views over the Falgoux valley and Puy Mary, passing through the mountain pastures and over a hilltop before descending into the forest near the small cross-country ski resort of Les Chamilloux and arriving at the Étang de Lascourt with Puy Mary in the background. We were able to see numerous flowers on the mountain pasture (notably Martagon lilies, arnica and gentian), a flock of sheep with its Patou dog, as well as a group of horses.

The circuit offers magnificent panoramic views of twelve valleys from the summit. Puy Mary, a veritable pyramid when seen from the sky, rises to 1,783 metres. In the heart of the Cantalien Massif, it is surrounded by exceptional landscapes formed by volcanic activity and glacial erosion, representing the largest volcano in Europe (2,700 km²).

Hike on the mountain pastures of the Limon Plateau, where beautiful Salers cows graze from May to October. From these heights, you will enjoy beautiful unobstructed views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, in particular the Puy Mary. This circuit follows part of the Sentier des Quirous, remarkable for its ancient stone signposts.Visorando app essential

A superb crossing of the Limon plateau along a beautifully marked path, the Sentier des Quirous.

A beautiful three-day hike, sleeping in a bivouac, with interesting variations in altitude.

A lovely three-day hike with wild camping and some challenging climbs.

The third and final stage of my three-day tour of Puy Mary, featuring the ascent of Puy Mary

A very beautiful (and fairly short) stage, partly along the ridge with views of Puy Mary. A magnificent basalt plateau from Le Luchard onwards. The route leads to the Puy Mary lodge, about 1.5 km beyond the village.

The summit of Rocher de Laqueuille is covered with magnificent moorland, ideal for a picnic. To get there, you will pass close to the pretty Château de la Cheyrelle. On your return, don't miss a visit to the beautiful village of Dienne, which has a remarkable 12th-century church with a bell tower and some very beautiful old houses.

Stage 2 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400. A long and challenging stage due to the heat in June. It might be better to split the stages differently. Some very beautiful sections, particularly the arrival on the ridge before Puy Mary, the area around Puy de la Tourte, etc. More difficult sections: the Brèche de Rolland, the Luchard plateau and the long descent to Falgoux. It should be noted that the ascent of Puy Mary is not compulsory.

Round trip above Mandailles, in the vast cirque of Fours de Peyre-Arse and the sources of the Jordanne. Not to be missed: both green and mountainous; magnificent landscapes, moderate difficulty. Climb under the trees, then through the meadows, then walk along an easy ridge path. 360° views in the foreground of the entire Auvergne volcano chain. No difficulty on the route. Marked but regular ascents/descents and a short climb to pass the Brèche de Rolland.

A beautiful, not too difficult walk with magnificent scenery. Ideal for discovering the landscapes of the Cantal.

This loop, which starts a few kilometres from Mandaille, will take you to the Col de Cabre and the foot of Puy Griou. With panoramic views of the Cantaliens mountains and forests, this hike, with its varied terrain, is particularly enjoyable in warm weather.

A short circular loop to discover the best of the Cirque d’Impramau. Breathtaking views of almost the entire Cantal volcano, and a chance to immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the Impramau summer pastures. The first two-thirds follow marked and unmarked paths; the final third is almost entirely off-trail, taking you through summer pastures, over rocks, across numerous streams and through fence gates that you sometimes have to search for, but it’s well worth the effort. You’ll be walking amongst animals—cows, horses and sheep—guarded by livestock guard dogs. If you’re an early riser, it’s common to spot chamois, mouflons and marmots, and sometimes vultures from Lozère. Visorando app recommended

The tour of the Font d'Alagnon cirque, passing by two peaks, is the programme for this walk above the small resort of Le Lioran, which offers beautiful panoramic views of the Cantal volcanic massif.

Fond d'Alagnon will be the starting point for your hike. Follow the ridge towards Puy Griou, passing by Bec de l'Aigle and Téton de Vénus. Along the way, you will enjoy numerous views of Plomb Cantal, Puy Mary, Peyre Arse and many other peaks.

A short walk above the Font d’Alagnon valley, in the family-friendly resort of Lioran-Laveissière. Beautiful views on either side of the Col de Rombière, and the more adventurous can climb Puy Griou. At the end of summer, you can even pick a few blueberries on the sunny slopes.

A relaxing walk through the heart of the forest, following a path that runs alongside the Alagnon, dotted with amusing sculptures. Next, a visit to the Buron de Belles Aigues mountain pastures (Maison du Buronnier), which can be visited, is a must.

Although far less well-known than the Plomb du Cantal, the Puy Mary or the Puy Griou, the Puy de Peyre Arse is nonetheless the second-highest peak in the massif. Nor is it the easiest to reach. From the Font d’Alagnon, you must first head up towards the Col de Rombière, then go round the Puy Bataillouse to reach the Col de Cabre. It is from the latter that the ascent begins, first following the south-eastern ridge, then scrambling as best you can up the final few metres leading to the summit. The return route follows the opposite ridge to a small pass where you rejoin the GR®4, leading back to the Col de Rombière. After this, head towards the Col de Font de Cère for a change of scenery.

An extraordinary ridge route allowing you to visit three peaks and enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the entire Cantalian puys for much of the route.

This beautiful route, starting from the Col de Font de Cère, crosses the pastures of the Cantal and passes successively through the Puy de Griou, the Puy de Bataillouse and, finally, the Téton de Vénus.Throughout this hike, the 360° panoramic views allow you to observe the beautiful mountainous countryside of the Monts du Cantal.

This beautiful route, starting from the Col de Font de Cère, crosses the pastures of the Cantal, passing successively through the Col de Rombière and the Puy de Peyre Arse, ending at the Puy Mary, the second highest peak in the Cantal, via the iconic Brèche de Rolland, a slightly technical passage. Those who are prone to vertigo should take care on this section. Throughout this hike, the 360° panoramic views allow you to admire the beautiful mountainous countryside of the Monts du Cantal.

A short route to a legendary summit, offering beautiful panoramic views of the Puy mountains in the Cantal region.

A superb hike along a ridge with views of the Cantal mountains.

Visit this peak overlooking Super Lioran, avoiding climbing (or descending) the ski slopes. This route via theGR®4is remarkable. Attention hikers: the IGN map shows theGR®4on the Alpins ski slope, but theGR® is now further east on a very pleasant path. To avoid this, follow the route described below.

We set off at a leisurely pace for this short stroll around the little village of Laveissière, in the Alagnon valley, as our original aim was to pick blackberries. We did just that, but this little route was well worth sharing as it’s full of lovely things to see.

The Téton de Vénus is a small, easily accessible peak with excellent views. Its distinctive shape, resembling a woman’s breast, is visible from afar. It offers a 360° view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Tour of the Cantal in seven stages: Murat [Laveissiere] - Meije Costes - Le Falgoux - Le Fau - Mandailles - Le Lioran - Prat de Bouc - Murat [Laveissiere] Very beautiful stages between the Cère, Jordanne and Alagnon valleys. Between the ridges offering unforgettable views (360° panoramas), the ascent of the puys adding a touch of "mountain" to the experience, the summer pastures dotted with flower-filled meadows and encounters with both the flora and fauna and the people who live in this corner of the Cantal and are happy to share their territory.

Stage 1 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400 First "glitch" of the route from Murat. It turns out that the GR®400 route has been changed due to right of way issues (from what we understand). So, instead of climbing from Murat up to the ridges and following them to the Bec de l'Aigle rock, we had to descend to the village of Laveissière and climb back up from La Bourgeade. We decided to start from Laveissière.

A short hike but with a steep climb through the woods, the Roche Percée site is well worth a visit.

Stage 6 of our Tour du Cantal. A beautiful climb from the Lioran resort to the Plomb du Cantal, starting with a forest section, then a steep climb to reach the Puy du Rocher via the Aiguillon; cross over to reach the cable car station and a final (moderate) climb to the Plomb du Cantal.Panoramic views in all directions. Discover the landscapes of several valleys as you pass through. It's a feast for the eyes!

Stage 3 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400. Departure above the hamlet of Récusset, at the end of the long forest track. The upper part of this hike is on open tracks with no shade. The descent, although some sections are shaded, remains exposed.

The summit of Puy Griou has a characteristic cone shape and can be seen from afar. Located in the heart of the Cantalian volcano, it offers a superb panorama. The proposed route, which is fairly short, has the advantage of avoiding the Super Lioran ski resort facilities.

Starting from the chapel dedicated to Puy Griou, a circular route allows you to discover this unmissable summit of the Cantal volcano, crossing forests, summer pastures and hamlets on the slopes of the Cère valley.

A circular walk around Puy Griou, taking in rural heritage, beech forests, mountain pastures, a buron (traditional dairy hut), scree slopes, peaks and views over the surrounding valleys. A very beautiful walk on one of the area’s most famous puys.

After a steep climb at the start, the Puy Griou, the central cone of the Cantal mountains, offers a magnificent panoramic view. The route then becomes easier and, alternating between slight ascents and descents, offers different views of this distinctive dome. The Puy de l'Usclade is a must-see due to its strategic position. It offers a view to the north of the various puys and also of the Jordanne valley.

A short, fairly easy hike from the Puy Mary campsite in Mandailles, which allows you to walk in the hills east of the village and return via the Gorges de la Jordanne (when the water level allows).

A short hike for residents of Mandailles who want to go for a walk without taking the car.

A lovely walk starting from the hamlet of Les Gardes with beautiful views of the Cantal massif. A gentle, steady climb up to the Plomb du Cantal. A route along the ridges followed by a descent into the Ferval valley. The walk passes through mountain pastures; watch out for cows present from May through to autumn.

A lovely route starting from the hamlet of Les Gardes with beautiful views of the Arpon du Diable, the cable car arrival point and the Plomb du Cantal. The route passes through the summer pastures and above the Lioran resort. Watch out for cows in summer and autumn.

Stage 5 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400A forest stage (therefore shaded) with two potential climbs: the Puy de l'Usclade and the Puy Griou. * Editor's note: we have also decided not to follow the original GR®400 route, which makes a long detour to the Col de Pertus, which we don't think is worth the effort. We will reach the Col de Gliziou via the PR® (orange and green markings) which climb up the Ruisseau du Luc valley.

Short hike along the ridges with breathtaking views of the Cantal mountains. You can reach the starting point by taking the cable car from Le Lioran or by following the same route in the opposite direction. After enjoying the view from the highest point in this beautiful department, you will reach the Pas des Alpins by following the GR®4/GR®400 marked trail. You will then climb up to the Puy du Rocher to enjoy another breathtaking view of the Plomb du Cantal and its surroundings. Then you will descend towards the Lioran resort on the ridges. The walk ends in the Lioran forest.Please note: after passing Puy du Rocher, two areas may seem a little difficult for some as they require descending the rock, but aids have been put in place.

A day's walk in magnificent surroundings, using theGR® trails in the area. We are within sight of Puy Chavaroche and Puy Mary.