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Starting point: from Issoire (A75, Exit 13), follow signs for Sauxillanges (D996) then, at the entrance to
Parentignat, take the D999 towards Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat and enter the village. Car park at Place de la Mairie.
Signposting: Yellow (for the most part) Pic d’Usson
(S/E) From the start sign, located on the bus shelter after the Town Hall, head towards the fairground then turn right onto Rue H. Pourrat.
At the end of this street, turn left, then take the second street on the right, Rue des Vignerons. Take the first street on the right and then immediately the one on the left, Rue du Chanvre. Continue straight on to Place de L’Ormeau.
(1) After the square, turn right into Rue de la Forge, go round the church on the right, then take Rue de la Reine Margot.
At the end, turn right, then, at the junction with Rue de la Victoire, turn left.
(2) At the junction of the D708 and the D123, carry on straight ahead towards Usson, then turn right onto the first grassy track.
At the crossroads, turn right, then follow the track on the left towards the Pic d’Usson until you reach the first houses in the hamlet of Montaigner.
(3) Turn right, cross the hamlet and, at the end of the street, turn left. As you leave the hamlet, turn right onto a track. At the next Fork in the road, turn left, then turn left again towards the castle.
(4) At the castle, turn right, then walk alongside a property (Bois Rigaud, 17th century). Turn left at the next three junctions until you reach a road. Turn right, then immediately left, and head uphill towards the village.
(5) At the cross and the fountain, head right. At the village wall, go under the archway, then veer left and follow the road between the houses. Just before the cross, turn right onto the path leading up to the top of the village of Usson. Continue to the church.
(6) From the church, climb to the top of the Vierge d’Usson site (360° view) then turn back.
(6) Head down into the village via Rue de l’Église Saint-Maurice. At the bottom of the street, turn right twice, passing the Town Hall. At the wash house, turn left and take Rue du Colombier opposite, continuing to the junction.
(7) Turn right onto Rue de la Génerade. At the Fork in the road, take the left-hand road and continue to the first houses in the hamlet of Côte Rouge.
(8) At the junction, turn left onto a wide path, first stony then grassy. Pass through the hamlet of La Rigaudie and continue to a vineyard. At the vineyard, turn right and follow the stone wall.
(9) At the crossroads, take the path on the right, cross the road (D123) towards Vernède Castle. At the entrance, keep to the left and cross the bridge over the stream.
(10) At the fork in the road, take the grassy path on the left to the village of Saint-Rémy-de-Chargnat.
(11) Turn right, then carry on straight ahead to return to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
