Along the Lot from Bouziès to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

Hi, you won’t have any trouble getting to the village, but the second part is a path marked with a cross. I found it passable, but it’s not always well maintained – it’s better to follow the PR signpost and cross the road.

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Date of your route : May 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk was great; there were quite a few people up to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, but after that, the second half was completely deserted – it was very relaxing
A quick note:
- before point 3, the path is not maintained so brambles are encroaching on the route
- before point 6, the vegetation almost completely blocks the path; I took a detour along the road for a few hundred metres
- the climbs can be quite steep for a beginner

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Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note: after St Cyr Lapopie, this route takes a path marked by a cross; the path hasn’t been cleared but is passable, and there’s no one on the trail

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Apparently a must-see in this region.
We left around 9am and it wasn't too crowded yet.
In Saint Cirq, it's a different story. Crowds!
The return trip through the hills and woods allowed us to find some peace and quiet... and a little shade before the descent.

A very pleasant loop

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Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It was a hot day, we left around 9 a.m. and there were a few people on the towpath. A wonderful walk.
Saint Cirq L'Appelle is very pretty... but very crowded just before midday.
After that, the return trip through the woods was nice and peaceful.
Very fond memories.

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A beautiful hike that is not to be missed. Perhaps the signposting could be improved to make it easier to follow.

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Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, we did it in the opposite direction and given the heat in the afternoon, it was perfect.

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Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, partly in the rain, for the section after Saint Circq, with a stop at a restaurant along the way.

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Date of your route : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, first along the Lot river via the towpath, followed by a somewhat challenging climb to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, whose reputation is well established. Then continue along paths lined with old mossy walls on the Causse plateau before descending towards Bouziès...

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very easy hike with no difficulties.
After the towpath, follow the GR trail which runs along the road... not very interesting and a little dangerous. You can continue along the path to the end. You will end up on the road, but it will take less time than expected.

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Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very photogenic and spectacular, especially at the start on the Bouziés side. Avoid at weekends, as it gets very crowded. Lock undergoing restoration, major construction work.

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Date of your route : May 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike that allowed us to discover some stunning sites: Bouziès and its towpath carved into the rock, the busy banks of the Lot, Saint Cirq Lapopie (we had a map for the visit), and the return through largely wooded countryside. We had GPS with the route recorded + Visorando on our mobile phones + a paper map, all for a group of nine people, most of whom were from Auvergne.
The climb up to Saint Cirq can be done via an easier path: continue along the road and after a few hundred metres take the first path on the right (well signposted).
The exit at the top of Saint Cirq towards the car parks could do with better signposting (small signs?). For us, it was OK with our "tools"... However, the yellow markings are there, you just have to pay close attention.

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Date of your route : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Just before point 3, we took the wrong path. In fact, there was only one marker at that spot, but it wasn't the right one. We followed the yellow marker (shown as a dotted line on the map, just before point 3) and realised our mistake far too late...

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Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note that you can park for free at the picnic area before the town entrance sign.
We did not take the return route you suggested because there are yellow signs between car parks 5 and 6 that also lead back to Bouziès and took us back to the picnic area car park.
This route is very beautiful and varied: flat along the riverbank, then steeply uphill towards Saint Cirq, and finally, once past the car parks, the yellow signs lead through the woods.

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Date of your route : Jun 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike that we did backwards, starting from Saint-Cirq-Lapopie via the most challenging section and returning via the rock passage along the Lot, which was very enjoyable after having a coffee in Bouziès.

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