Le Puy Gros from La Bourboule

Start from the coach station car park. Address: 250 Avenue des États-Unis, 63150 La Bourboule. Car parking spaces and arrival/departure point for bus routes P45 in summer and P46.

(S/E) With your back to the station, follow Avenue des États-Unis to the left, then turn right onto Boulevard des Vernières. Ignore the roads branching off to the right and left.

(1) Turn left once you have passed the Ruisseau de la Vernouze (before the Point P shops and the Bourboule municipal workshops). Cross the railway line and follow the path on the left up to the Planches roundabout.

(2) Cross the D996 and follow Impasse des Planches for 100 metres, then take the stony path on the right (marked in red and white).

(3) In the hamlet of Lusclade, head straight up the path and ignore the paths branching off to the right and left.

(4) At the junction, continue straight on to the mountain pastures.

(5) Turn right at the crossroads to take a farm track for 400 metres, then right again onto a bumpy path that climbs to Puy Gros (stunning views).

(6) Head back down the promontory by taking the path on the left.

(7) Then take the path on the right (end of red and white markings) which descends towards the hamlet of Les Planoles (blue and yellow markings).

(8) Continue down the road, pass the cross at the hamlet of Legal, then continue along the road which leads back down to the D996.

(9) Cross it carefully and follow it to the left for 50 metres. Cross the Ruisseau de l’Enfer stream, then turn right. Cross the Dordogne (end of blue and yellow markings) and take the path on the right that runs alongside the river to the Bourboule industrial estate (red and white markings). At the hamlet of Le Genestoux, continue to the left.

(10) Turn left as you leave the hamlet.

(11) Turn left upon reaching the industrial estate (end of the red and white markings), cross the bridge over the Dordogne and turn right. Cross the road and take the path on the left before a house, which climbs up the hillside towards the hamlet of Le Pregnoux.

(12) Turn right, then left onto the road to head back up into the hamlet, then turn right at the square.

(13) Turn right onto the steep path to reach La Bourboule at the hamlet known as La Bughette.

(14) Walk down Rue Henri Pourrat, then turn right onto Rue Desaix until you reach the Dordogne. Cross the Dordogne via the footbridge, then head back up Avenue des États-Unis (S/E).

Water point in the hamlet of Lusclade.

The different vegetation zones, depending on altitude.

Views from the Puy Gros cliff.