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Leave your vehicle at the Col de la Ventouse car park, accessible from the D2089.
No signposts
(S/E) Go to the yellow directional signs and follow the signs for Saulzet le Froid. The trail starts at the south-east corner of the car park. It then runs alongside a large meadow on the right-hand side and joins a crossroads with other directional signs. Ignore the directions indicated and turn right onto a path that runs along the other side of the meadow, with the slopes of Puy de Charmont on your left.
(1) Further on, the path veers left to go around Puy de Charmont, still on your left. Ignore a path on the right, then take the next path on the left. Further on, ignore a path on the left and, a hundred metres further on, you will come to a T-junction. Turn right onto the path that descends and, shortly afterwards, ignore a path on the left. You will come to a T-junction and see a red and whiteGR®® sign.
Red and whiteGR®® markings
(2) Follow the path on the left. Turn onto the first path on the left, ignore a path on the left, then a path on the right (not shown on the IGN map), and arrive at a wide path, Chemin de Charmont (marked by a wooden sign).
(3) Follow it to the left. At a fork, ignore the path that branches off to the left and continue on the right, Chemin Ferré (wooden sign indicating that this is an old Roman road).
(4) Cross the D213 very carefully and continue along the path opposite. Almost immediately, at the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the right and go straight ahead to Carrefour des Pierres (wooden sign).
(5) At the edge of the forest, note the menhirs set back in the meadow on the right, then ignore the path that branches off to the right and continue straight ahead on the same path into the forest.
No markings
(6) Just after a storage area for agricultural equipment, at a four-way crossroads, leave theGR®® markings and follow a path on the right. Ignore a path on the left.
(7) At a fork in the path, take the left-hand path, marked VTT n° 7 and 8. Further on, ignore a path on the left and continue along the balcony overlooking Lac de la Cassière, eventually arriving at a street in the village of the same name.
(8) Continue straight ahead on the streets closest to the lake until you reach the public area by the lake, where you can (finally) get close to the water (picnic table).
(9) Retrace your steps along Rue du Lac until you reach the first fork in the road and continue straight ahead along Rue Roland Brousse. At the top of the street, at the intersection, you will find the GR®® markingsagain.
Red and whiteGR®® markings
(10) Follow it to the left, onto the cul-de-sac, and shortly afterwards turn onto the path on the right. Pass under the D2089 and, on the other side, continue to the right to join a road. Follow it to the right and then, at the car park, turn onto the path on the left. Ignore a path on the right further on, then another (not shown on the IGN map). Continue to an intersection with a path on the left, marked with a red and white cross and a green cross.
No markings
(11) Follow this path for about 500 m, then pay attention.
Reversed mountain bike trail marker no. 8 (moderately useful)
(12) When you see a mountain bike trail marker No. 8 straight ahead, turn right. About a hundred metres further on, at a three-way junction, take the left-hand path, then ignore a path on the left (marked with a mountain bike sign).
(13) When you hear the noise of the D2089 road, ignore the first path on the left, then the following ones until you reach the edge of this busy road. For safety reasons, hikers are advised to follow the path parallel to the road to reach the car park. Cross very carefully at the first pedestrian crossing to reach the Aire du Col de la Ventouse on the other side (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
