The Limon Plateau

Parking is available near the church in Dienne.

(S/E) Below the church, go around it on the right and continue with the cemetery on your left. North of the church, you will see signs for "Sentier des Quirous" and "Croix du Gendarme", marked in green and yellow respectively. Continue in the direction indicated on the path. Further on, only the direction for "Sentier des Quirous" is indicated. Continue to follow it on the path that winds upwards.

(1) Below the Croix du Gendarme, you will find directional signs. Ignore the directions for "Nozière" to the north and "Sentier des Quirous" to the left and follow "Drils" (D missing), marked in yellow. Further on, climb to the left towards the orientation table (signs). It is quite damaged, but from the top of this mound you have a beautiful view of the plateau. Descend the path via the same route as on the way up, otherwise you may end up on the wrong path. Continue to the left. You will notice signs off the path on your right, as if the path had moved away from the markings, but continue straight ahead, heading west-southwest.

(2) At the crossroads, continue to the right on the "Sentier des Quirous" marked in green. This section is also marked by the^GR®®4(red and white). Then you literally have to follow the quirous, i.e. the stones standing upright every 20 metres or so, marking a safe path across the plateau dotted with peat bogs and marshes. You will notice^GR®® markings on some of these stones.

(3) When you reach a fence, go through the gate and then, immediately afterwards, following the red and white^GR®® markings, climb a ladder on the left. Continue straight ahead, heading south-southwest, and always along the fences, which you will cross from time to time using ladders, walking with the fence sometimes on your right and sometimes on your left. The red and white markings are visible on some of the fence posts.

(4) Directly below a rocky peak on your left (1,566 metres), climb a ladder and continue with the fence on your left. You will arrive further down below Puy de Niermont.

(5) On your left, the^GR®® markings invite you to cross a ladder, but continue for a hundred metres or so to the right to the top of this small hill, which offers beautiful views. Back down below, cross the ladder. The trail, still marked in red and white, then begins a descent, sometimes quite steep, on a narrow ridge lined with scree.

(6) You will come to a crossroads marked by a wooden post. The^GR®® markings invite you to continue straight ahead. Ignore them and turn left, following the green markings. The path, which is well marked at the start, begins to head back towards the north-east. Further on, the path fades away. You will then need to look for small wooden posts with green markings scattered across the pastures, while continuing to head north-east. Further on, when the markings have disappeared for several dozen metres, look for a higher post on your right on the ruins of a buron (a type of mountain hut) and head towards it.

(7) Do not follow the semblance of a path that descends into the meadow, but stay level with the ruins, veering left towards the north, to find, a little further on, a V-shaped passage allowing you to cross a fence. Then follow the green markings on small posts, dotted here and there, and also on a few rocks, but still without a real path. This will take you diagonally east-north-east.

(8) At the crossroads, signs indicate "Drils" to the right and "Dienne" to the left. Turn left and immediately cross a stile. Continue in the direction indicated by the sign, generally north-east. You will soon notice quirous marking an east-west path, which you will find again at the intersection with the^GR®® and the "Sentier des Quirous".

(2) Turn right onto this section of the Sentier des Quirous that you did not follow on the way there. Descend, from quirou to quirou, towards the bottom of the meadow. Be careful! Look out for the last quirou, near a stable.

(9) It is now time to make a right-angle turn to the left and climb back up to the top of the meadow, veering to the right at a higher point and following the markings in the form of a standing stone (a quirou) on the rocks. This will take you to the foot of the Croix du Gendarme.

(1) Continue to the right to return to Dienne via the same route you took on the way there (S/E).

This is a fairly difficult hike: it is quite long, with a significant elevation gain, difficult navigation, fence crossings and herd management! Standard hiking equipment is required.

This hike is not recommended for people who:
- do not like walking among a herd of long-horned cows, knowing that the bull is present among his harem.
- have difficulty finding their way without signposts and well-defined paths. We met six hikers, two of whom were a little lost and four completely lost!

I recommend that you take at least a compass with you, butthe Visorando app is ideal. It might also be wise not to attempt this hike in foggy weather or when visibility is poor.

Please note that dogs, even on a leash, are not allowed in the mountain pastures. They could make the cows nervous, as they are very protective of their young, not to mention the bull!

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

The Sentier des Quirous is remarkable. Its 181 basalt stones, erected approximately every 20 metres, are very well preserved. This marking was necessary for travellers crossing this plateau dotted with peat bogs, especially in foggy weather. The trail was widely used by the inhabitants of La Claux, Cheylade and Dienne, particularly for transporting cheese on ox carts. The Croix du Gendarme (1) was erected in memory of Gendarme Gandilhon, who died on the plateau after getting lost around 1600.

You will notice the ruins of burons scattered across the plateau and in (7), small stone and slate buildings where shepherds prepared and stored cheese during the summer grazing season.

The village of Dienne is rich in beautiful old houses and a beautiful church with a 12th-century bell tower.