Le Creux de l’Oulette and the Montpeloux rock formations

Park in one of the available spaces around the church (a car park is also signposted towards the cemetery). The Visorando app or a GPS device may be useful on certain sections.

Followthe yellow markings in the opposite direction to that described (see Practical Information)

(S/E) From the rear of the church, take Rue du Pontet towards the cemetery. Before reaching the cemetery, turn right onto Chemin de la Bichelonne. You’ll come to a small road in Bichelonne, near a small iron cross, and immediately take a path on the right.

(1) Further on, cross the D256 and follow a grassy path opposite. You’ll soon reach a stone cross, the Croix de Fangody (information sign), and continue along the grassy path furthest to the left. Cross the road again and continue straight ahead along the grassy path. Just before you reach the same road again, ignore a path on the left and follow the road to the left to enter Le Mont.

(2) Take the road branching off to the left to cross the hamlet. At the end of the hamlet, continue along the path that extends from the road. Ignore a path on the left near a logging area, then, at a left-hand bend in the path, ignore a fork leading off to the right. The climb becomes steeper now along a path through the woodland and, as the signposting is in the opposite direction, the app is useful; you can also turn round regularly to check the signposting. You’ll reach a junction of paths with a sign indicating the Creux de l’Oulette.

(3) For a round trip, turn right and head down to the stream, which has a waterfall on a rocky scree slope. Retrace your steps back to the signpost.

(3) Continue climbing to the right, until you reach a path running perpendicular to the one you’re on; follow this to the right and you’ll soon come to a signpost indicating ‘Creux de l’Oulette’ and the waterfall.

(4) Set off on a round trip towards the waterfall and reach its base. Retrace your steps back to the signpost.

(4) Continue to the right, climbing amongst large boulders. At a junction, turn right onto a steep path that is easy to miss (Yellow Cross straight ahead). You’ll come to a flat area by a fence; follow the fence on your right. You’ll reach a wider path at a signpost indicating the waterfall; turn left. At a signpost indicating a ‘Direct Waterfall’ route to the left, carry on straight ahead, then turn onto a path on the right about fifty metres further on (Yellow Cross straight ahead). You’ll come to a wide path; follow it to the right, then ignore a path branching off to the right. Shortly afterwards, ignore a hairpin bend to the left (signposted ‘Pierre Posée’).

(5) Immediately after this, at a hut, turn onto a forest track to the left, leaving the wide track. The track narrows to a path before widening again. Ignore a track on the left and you’ll reach the D257.

(6) Cross the road and continue along the path opposite. At a fork in the road, head left and you’ll come out onto a road in Montpeloux.

(7) Follow it to the left until you reach the junction with a track branching off to the right, at a signpost indicating ‘Volcan de Montpeloux’. Take this track and you’ll soon reach a grassy car park.

(8) For a round trip, follow the signs for ‘Volcan de Montpeloux’, taking the ramp and then the concrete path to the right. You’ll come to a wooden building with a few information boards, then continue to the right along a wide path lined with information boards on the geology and history of the site, arriving at the viewing platform by the pond, facing the basalt cirque. Climb the steps on the left for another view of the whole site and further information boards. Retrace your steps back to the grassy car park.

(8) Turn right and follow the path in the same direction. Keep an eye out for a tiny water resurgence about 200 metres further on, in the middle of the path, which seems to bring tiny gold nuggets to the surface! You’ll come to a road; follow it to the left to reach a junction with the D139.

(9) Take the path opposite which leads down to the left. Further on, it becomes tarmac and joins a road. Follow this straight on for about 300 m.

(10) Turn right onto a small road towards Bostfranchet. In front of a ruin, turn onto the path on the left and then, at the Fork in the road, take the one on the right. You’ll arrive at the banks of the Ance.

(11) Continue along the path on the left bank, ignoring the bridge. Further on, the path moves away from the river (at a lovely spot; a short return walk straight across the meadow is possible). Ignore a path on the left and another further on, just before joining the D256.

(12) Follow it to the left to enter Merlonne. At the crossroads after the farm, take a sharp right-hand bend, then immediately take the path on the left. Join a road, follow it to the left to enter the village of Saillant. Arrive at the circular fountain, ‘note the Sully lime tree’ and return to the church and the car park (S/E).

If you prefer to walk down steep paths rather than up them, or if you prefer to follow signposts, then you should do this walk in the opposite direction to the one described here. It is a well-signposted walk by the Conseil Général, and the ‘Le Creux de l’Oulette’ signpost is located on the south side of the church.
Le Creux de l’Oulette, the Montpeloux Volcano and the banks of the Anse are all very beautiful spots. They are linked by forest tracks which, in this logging area, are very often in poor condition – at the very least muddy, but sometimes also very cluttered. Please take care.

Discover more walks in this area, with descriptions or via the Visorando app here, and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Photo album here
A very beautiful waterfall and impressive rocky outcrops at the Creux de l’Oulette (the Oulette is the name of the stream).
The Montpeloux Volcano site is impressive, although by no means natural. There’s plenty of information on site about the geology and history of the place. A festival is held there in August; details here
The Ance is a lovely river, offering a soothing end to a walk along forest paths that are sometimes in a state of disrepair, as is often the case in the region.