Le Monteil and Légal from Saint-Julien-des-Chazes

Start from the centre of Saint-Julien-des-Chazes. Parking available.

(S/E) From the bridge over theRuisseau de Darne, next to the café, take the Chemin de la Croix del’Encanné by first turning left then right (GR®470 heading north – red and whitemarkings). Cross the railway bridge where the tarmac ends, then reach the^fourth and final bend at the Croix del’Encanné, with a stunning view over the Ruisseau de Darne valley and the Allier valley.

(1) Continue for 330 metres along the path, known from this point as the Chemin Saint-Pierre, until you reach a junction on the left.

(2)Take this turn-off, passing a wooden gate 10 metres further on,leaving the GR® to follow an old cart track leading to the hamlet of Monteil. Ignore the path branching off to the right and continue straight on towards the hamlet. 100 metres from the hamlet, ignore the path branching off to the right and take the track on the left leading to the hamlet. You’ll come to a crossroads with a drinking fountain opposite.

(3) Take the street on the left. At a farrier’s workshop, carry on straight ahead.

(4) On leaving the hamlet (at the drinking trough), take the Route de Légal (tarmac road) on the left. At the entrance to the hamlet of Légal, take the Passage du Néflier on the left, which is a very wide cart track.

(5) In the hamlet, ignore a path branching off to the right, then cross the stream and continue along the path leading downhill. Ignore a path branching off to the right and continue down into the valley. At the remains of an old wooden cross – of which only the pole and the stone base remain, to the right of the track – leave this wide track leading down towards the stream and take the level track to the right, which is an old cart track, much narrower. Pass close to the waterfall on the Ruisseau de Darne, on the left. Stay on the path, which soon runs alongside a basalt cliff. Note an old building on the left bank of the stream, which used to be a sparkling water factory. Cross the footbridge over the Ruisseau de Darne and turn right. Arrive at Saint-Julien-des-Chazes (S/E) via the Chemin de la Cascade.

Fountains in St-Julien-des-Chazes, at (3) and (4).

The waterfall on the Ruisseau de Darne, about twenty metres from the path between (5) and the finish, is accessible via a steep, narrow footpath.