The hillsides of Ayen

Ayen is a nature destination between Limousin and Périgord!

In the past, these well-oriented, sunny hillsides were used for vineyards, but today they are home to fruit crops: the Limousin apple route passes through Ayen. You will cross walnut groves: Ayen, the birthplace of the Corne variety, has been listed on the "Périgord Walnut" route since 2002.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 298 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 290 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 377 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 237 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ayen (19310)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 45.246322° / E 1.326485°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2034E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) With your back to the Michel Peyramaure municipal media library, turn right onto Rue des Écoles and walk past the church. After the petrol station and mini-market, turn left into the small lane. At the end on the left, walk past the Font du Jars wash house and continue towards Ayen Bas.

(1) At the square in Ayen Bas, turn left and walk past a cross. After walking alongside the castle grounds, take the path on your right, then turn left onto the road until you reach the crossroads.

(2) Cross the road and take the path opposite which leads up to the wash house.

(3) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the wash house and head towards the hamlet of Le Mas.

(4) At Le Mas, turn left twice, cross the farm and take the path that climbs up through the meadows alongside the pond. At the foot of the hill, turn left onto a path that winds its way up the hillside. You will come to a path; continue climbing. You will reach another wider path on the right, which leads to a road. Take the road on the left for a few metres, then climb up to the right.

(5) Pass in front of a shed and continue to the departmental road, follow it to the right for 50 metres.
At the crossroads, turn left onto the road that descends towards Les Jendelles for 300 metres. At the shed on the right, turn left in a hairpin bend towards the isolated houses (Les Jendelles).

(6) In front of the gate of the first house, take a small path that climbs (north) onto the plateau and leads you to the road. Take this road to the right for 300 metres. Then take the path on the left that climbs and continue straight on to the village of Le Temple.

(7) At Le Temple, join the D2 at a bend. Cross and take the path on the right that descends steeply.

(3) At the bottom, turn right until you reach the road (same route as on the way there, do not go back past the wash house).

(2) At the road, turn right and climb towards Ayen.

(8) At the entrance to the village, turn right until you reach the old garage, then climb up the hiking trail, go up a few steps and take a very pretty path that leads you to the telecommunications relay station.

(9) Continue straight ahead to the orientation table.

(10) Retrace your steps back to the relay station.

(9) Turn right onto the wide path that will take you back to your starting point through the village streets (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 308 m - Ayen Tourist Office
  2. 1 : km 0.84 - alt. 252 m - Ayen bas
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 238 m - Route D95
  4. 3 : km 2.05 - alt. 281 m - Path running alongside the wash house
  5. 4 : km 2.59 - alt. 250 m - Le Mas
  6. 5 : km 3.79 - alt. 331 m - Hangar
  7. 6 : km 4.83 - alt. 339 m - gate of the first Jendelles house
  8. 7 : km 6.51 - alt. 346 m - Village of Temple
  9. 8 : km 8.21 - alt. 295 m - Turn right towards the old garage.
  10. 9 : km 8.58 - alt. 356 m - Telecommunications relay station
  11. 10 : km 9 - alt. 377 m - Orientation table
  12. S/E : km 9.76 - alt. 308 m - Ayen Tourist Office

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
flégeolois
flégeolois

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

difficult access to the orientation table, very steep. It is possible to get there by road, taking the car. Otherwise, a very beautiful hike, beautiful scenery with magnificent weather.

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StefEd
StefEd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Well-marked route, beautiful scenery

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jean luc Bor
jean luc Bor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, excellent signposting
Beautiful scenery, pretty village

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georgette.francon
georgette.francon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike with beautiful views.

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Krifop
Krifop

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike.
The signposting is excellent, as is the GPX track.
There is a bit of tarmac to connect the different paths, but given how busy it is, this isn't a problem.
There are some beautiful views.
We were also lucky enough to spot a young deer at a bend in the path.

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Mat Hieu
Mat Hieu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant, peaceful walk with good signposting.
Be very careful about 400 metres after point of interest no. 6 on the route (coordinates N45.234214°/E1.331388),
unfenced house on the left at the end of the dirt road, black and white sheepdog-type dog, untethered and very aggressive.
it came out of nowhere and lunged at me with the intention of biting me, and if it spots you from a distance, it won't hesitate to come and attack you! Be especially careful with children. 50 metres before this house, there is a grassy path on the right with some bushes. It is best to take this path (the bloody dog came back for more, but its owner called it off when I shouted at it...). Continue straight ahead for about 150 metres, go under the fence in front of you, cross the field and rejoin the route (small tarmac road).

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Marc Vandevelde
Marc Vandevelde

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Easy walk through the fields around Ayen. Except for lower Ayen and a few pretty landscapes, not particularly interesting.

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edouardo17
edouardo17

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We went on three hikes using your information sheets and everything went very well.
These hikes took place in May 2018.

We plan to do more in September 2018.

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Lachris37
Lachris37

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Well-marked trail, half under trees and half in full sun.
Best avoided on very hot days.
Magnificent views and pretty hamlets to pass through.
The final climb is a bit tough, but the view at the end is well worth the effort.

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thegilbert
thegilbert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Stunning views of the surrounding valleys. The route is very well marked. The lower Ayen is a remarkable route to do in mid-season, especially in autumn.

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