Le Puy de Peyre Arse

A long walk along the ridges allows you to enjoy the view of the Puy du Cantal, the Puy de Sancy and the Plomb du Cantal. Pass through the Brèche de Roland and return to the Cirque d'Eylac with the marmots.

Details

323347
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.72 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 580 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 575 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,800 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,467 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Road access: park at Pas de Peyrol or use one of the valley shuttle buses (summer).

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow the road and then take the path that climbs up to Puy Mary.

(1) At the summit, follow the path along the ridge, visible from the summit. It is marked GR®4 and GR®400 and descends to a junction (sign indicating the difficulty of the Brèche de Roland).

(2) Continue along the ridge trail, reach and pass the breach.

(3) Follow the ridge trail to a fork (return path).

(4) Continue straight ahead on the GR® until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Leave the GR® and continue straight ahead on the ridge trail until you reach the rocky summit of Peyre Arse (highest point of the hike).

(6) Turn back to the previous junction.

(5) Do not take the track on the right indicated on the IGN map as this is a protected area and the map is not up to date. Continue along the ridge on the GR® until you reach the path you spotted on the way up.

(4) Leave the GR®. Descend to the right along this path on the slope and arrive at the Cirque d'Eyla, just before the road.

(7)You may see marmots here. Keep left and climb up the side of the road for 50 m.

(8) Take the GR® trail that climbs up to the left until the next intersection (sign for Brèche de Rolland).

(9) Go up to the left, then turn right onto the path that eventually joins the road, which you follow to Pas de Peyrol (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,577 m - No Peyrol - Petite Rhue (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.76 - alt. 1,779 m - Summit of - Puy Mary
  3. 2 : km 1.29 - alt. 1,605 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 1.79 - alt. 1,633 m - Brèche de Roland (Cantal)
  5. 4 : km 2.65 - alt. 1,632 m - Common intersection for return trip
  6. 5 : km 3.12 - alt. 1,635 m - Common intersection for return trip
  7. 6 : km 4.19 - alt. 1,800 m - Puy de Peyre Arse
  8. 7 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,467 m - Cirque d'Eyla (marmots)
  9. 8 : km 7.3 - alt. 1,475 m - Fork in the trail. GR
  10. 9 : km 7.78 - alt. 1,530 m - Intersection towards the Brèche
  11. S/E : km 8.72 - alt. 1,579 m - No Peyrol

Notes

Difficult passage at the Brèche de Rolland.
Very stony and busy trail.

Worth a visit

Buron (stone hut) at the Col d'Eyla.
Houses on the sites.
Marmots, Salers cows.
Flowers: martagon lilies, arnica, gentian, etc.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 38 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Blp69
Blp69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An exceptional hike starting at 7:30 in the morning, which was a great idea during this heatwave! The views along the entire route are magnificent. A short detour of 5 minutes to reach a second peak next to Peyre Arse is definitely worth the effort. The climb back up to the Pas de Peyrol pass is a little tedious!

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Alinette
Alinette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike from start to finish. It starts off tough with the climb up Puy Mary, but otherwise there are no particular difficulties, just a short climb at Brèche de Rolland.
We started at 7:30 a.m. to avoid the heat and crowds. We hardly saw anyone for three-quarters of the hike. When we returned before noon, however, Puy Mary was quite busy.
We didn't use the route description, we just followed the GPX on our watches, so it was very easy. However, I agree with one of the previous comments: our two watches showed 10.5 km and 650/670 m of elevation gain.
We were lucky enough to see nine griffon vultures flying above us at Peyre Arse, and only two marmots in total (but we could hear them whistling).

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Olivier PEREYRON
Olivier PEREYRON

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hello,

This hike, and the area in general, is magnificent. At this time of year, there aren't too many people. Some climb up to Puy Mary, but few continue beyond that point. I did this hike with two children aged 6 and 8 who are used to walking but not yet to hiking in the mountains. The start of the hike is slow due to the climb and the very steep descent at Puy Mary. The Rolland breach is tricky but with caution it's passable, my daughters really enjoyed this climbing section. After that it's much easier going. Be aware that, according to my watch, this hike is actually 11 km long with a 700 m elevation gain. My daughters managed it but it's quite a difference which could prove problematic.

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D/V12
D/V12

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb route with some stunning views.
There are lots of people at Puy Mary, but far fewer after that (especially after La Brèche).
The Brèche is not difficult for hikers who are used to using their hands, and there is an alternative route that bypasses this short section.
Circuit completed on 05/10/2024

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gll
gll
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike. Breathtaking views all along the ridge.
Perhaps the most spectacular walk in the Massif Central!

There weren't too many people in September.
The passage through the Brèche de Roland is not that difficult and is very short (only 15 to 20 metres of elevation gain).

Please note: the altitude profile on the VISORANDO app and in the description is incorrect for the entire route (for example, the Puy de Peyre-Arse is at 1,806 m, not 1,776 m! The same applies to the other points. The profile really needs to be updated.

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FredB44
FredB44

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route along the ridge and the breach (please note: classified as difficult, with a section that may require climbing for some people who are not used to walking on rocks).

Partial route completed: return to Puy Mary, after the Brèche de Roland, via the first path on the left after passing the metal gate (very well signposted), making a 5.6 km loop completed in 3 hours and 20 minutes. We made numerous stops due to the crowds and the heat, and took our time.

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Alouette Lulu
Alouette Lulu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks to Jomad and Visorando for this superb route. We were four septuagenarians, flatland hikers who only walk in the mountains for one week a year. The climb up to Puy Marie is tiring, and the descent on the other side is a little difficult. It's a stony and slippery path, but it's passable. After that, it's easier until you reach the Brèche de Roland. The Brèche de Roland is a tricky passage, but if you take your time and use your hands and bottom, you'll get there, both going up and down. The view is magnificent. It helps you climb up to Peyre d'Arse. The descent from Peyre d'Arse is still tricky. The return via the Cirque d'Eylac is easier. In the end, we were all proud to have completed this challenging route, which is doable with good shoes, caution and motivation. Even the one of us who was prone to vertigo made it through like the rest of us. This hike is definitely worth it if you love the mountains.

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jll39
jll39

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is simply magnificent.
I came across a few hikers and trail runners, but at this time of year, that's to be expected given the prestige of the location.
However, when I set off at around 8 a.m., there weren't many people around.
A spectacular site.
Reliable information.
Thank you, quite simply.

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le dd
le dd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike. The Brèche de Rolland is not as technical as it may appear online. You just need to be careful. For those who are prone to vertigo, a rope may be useful, especially as there are pitons.
The ridge walk along this route offers some splendid panoramic views
Thank you for this route
The DD

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La chevre 64
La chevre 64

For now, I'm researching hikes for our summer holidays in July. Thank you

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Jean-Pierre TUGORES
Jean-Pierre TUGORES

Thank you for this video. It reminded me of my trip on 5 August 2019. See my description here on that date. It was a great and wonderful day touring the Puys!

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KarLKoX
KarLKoX

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : Yes

I only managed to get to the top of Puy Mary (in 12'50" ): it was impossible for me to follow the path along the ridge.
That doesn't mean the route isn't good! I just wanted to give it a try and there was a misunderstanding
I really need to get over my fear of heights...

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fuster23
fuster23

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent route despite the large crowds. Definitely worth a visit. Views over several valleys. The most beautiful route we have ever taken, with magnificent views and beautiful weather

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Britanicus100
Britanicus100
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route with two very scenic volcanic peaks to discover.
I made a video with panoramic views and the names of the peaks, which shows the key points on the map.
You can see the passage through Roland's breach.
It's here: https://youtu.be/EWgZWhz4Oeg?si=DrXlXTFg...

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pmandre
pmandre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

superb hike, very, very busy! The passage through the Brèche de Roland is easy if you remain cautious. To avoid the return trip to the Puy de l'Arse, you can extend the hike a little and descend through blueberry bushes and a herd of horses towards the Col de Cabre, where you will rejoin the GR and then point 4.

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