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Moderator update on 07/07/2020: Please note! Several reports indicate that the path between (12) and (13) no longer exists. Suggested return route: between (11) and (12), take the D205 on the left to join the D20, then follow it to (13). This is a longer distance on the D20... If you find any alternatives, we'd love to hear about them.
Parking is available in the large car park at the foot of the village of Lavaudieu, on the banks of the River Senouire.
(S/E) At the far end of the car park, at the foot of the abbey, take the road that crosses the footbridge on the left. At the end of the bridge, take the second path on the left (east) and follow the sign for "route de l'Abbaye de Lavaudieu", marked in red and white (GR®®300), red and yellow (GRP®® Robe de Bure et Cottes de Mailles) and yellow.
These markings are valid until you reach Dompeyrat Castle.
(1) After 500 metres, you will come to a small road. Follow it to the left for 1.7 kilometres until you reach the hamlet of Gourd. There, the road veers to the left, descends towards the Senouire and becomes a track.
(2) Immediately, at the fork, take the track on the right, staying on the same bank without crossing the ford. Ignore a turn-off on the right and, at the fork that follows immediately after, turn right. Continue on the main track, following all the markings for another 500 metres until you reach the hamlet of Les Coudiers.
(3) At the track junction, take the left track. 500m further on, at the new junction on the edge of the Senouire, continue to the right. The track quickly becomes a small tarmac road that climbs up the hillside.
(4) At the crossroads, continue along the road climbing to the right. At the three-way junction, 300 metres further on, take the road on the left. After about 150 metres, when you can see the château, leave the road and follow the track on the left, which continues along a driveway leading to the Château de Domeyrat.
(5) Stay on the lane, which joins a road below on the left. Take this road on the right to descend towards the village of Domeyrat.
(6) In front of the railway line, follow the street to the right for 100 metres to see the old bridge over the Senouire. At the crossroads, turn right without crossing the river, then cross it at the old bridge after about 50 metres. Turn left, then left again to cross the river once more and turn right towards the railway line.
(6) Cross the railway line and continue (still following the markings), first on a road and then very quickly on a path. A small wooden bridge 350 metres further on allows you to cross the Senouire again.
(7) 200 metres further on, at the crossroads with a road, take the road on the left and ignore any markings from now on. After 200 metres, at a second crossroads, follow the road on the left and immediately leave it by taking the path on the right with the bridge over the Doulon (a tributary of the Senouire). Continue to the junction with the road (D564) and continue right on this road for about 200 metres.
(8) Take the first track on the left and walk uphill for about 1 km to the village of Vourlhat. At the entrance to the village, take the first track on the left.
(9) 200 metres further on, at the fork, turn right onto a path (the track coming from the left on the IGN map no longer exists). After 600 metres, ignore a track coming from the left and continue straight on until you reach a small road.
(10) When you reach the small road, turn left and follow it for 1.6 km until you reach the village of Frugières-le-Pin.
(11) As soon as you enter the village, take the small lane on the left, then immediately turn right and head towards the centre of the village in the direction of the church. Then walk back up through the village, staying on the street to the right of the church.
(12) Near the exit of Frugières-le-Pin, turn sharply left and take the track above the last houses on the hillside, not the one that starts at the foot of the houses. This grassy track is marked in yellow.
Please note: after passing under the railway line, turn immediately left to reach the D20 and follow it to the right for 200 metres.
(13) At the next junction, at a place called La Baraque de Frugières, turn left onto the D20 and follow the road signs for "L'Abbaye de Lavaudieu".
Please note that there is an error on the sign: it says 4km when there are only 2km left.
(14) At the fork, at a place called La Baraque de Lugeac, take the small road on the left towards Lavaudieu. Ignore a path coming from the left and, at the fork, turn left to return to the car park (S/E).
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