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Head to the hamlet of Massibrand in the commune of Présailles (follow the D38 towards Issarlès). Park in the hamlet, taking care not to obstruct traffic.
Then head towards the eastern exit of the hamlet, towards Longetrée.
(S/E) After the last houses, turn right onto a wide path that descends, marked by red and yellow markings. Pass a drinking trough and a wash house on the left, then gently descend to the tree-lined banks of the Orcival. Follow the stream until you reach a ford, marked by a signpost.
(1) Cross it (you are now in Ardèche) and tackle the short, steep climb that continues into a pretty beech forest. The path leads to a road in poor condition at the exit of the hamlet of Taulin (pretty farms with slate roofs).
(2) Turn left, still following the red and yellow markings. A long slope leads to the plateau, where you can see, depending on the bends in the road, from left to right, the Roche du Bachat, the Rocher Tourte, the Mont d'Alambre, the Mont Mézenc, the Chaulet, the Knoll de Taupernas and the Knoll de la Lauzière. Pass the hamlets of Le Fustier and Les Combes. You will see the village of Le Béage on your right.
(3) At the intersection, turn left towards Col de Chabanis. Cross the road and take the second right towards Beauregard. Continue to follow the red and yellow markings, which leave the asphalt road and take a pretty path between dry stone walls on the right. Return to the road when you reach the hamlet of Beauregard.
(4) At the entrance to the hamlet, leave the road, which continues downhill, turning right and heading opposite, walking along the houses on the left, on a stony path (do not take the path on the far left). Climb up, enjoying the 360° view, and always keep left at the various forks in the path. The path becomes less obvious but continues straight ahead between two fences and downhill. At the bottom of the slope, take the path on the left and head towards the Grand Grévier house, which you will pass on the right, then arrive opposite the Petit Grévier.
(5) This is where the "off-piste" section begins, as the path has been taken over by the local farmer... Reminder: all dogs must be kept on a leash, even if they are "friendly". If there are herds of animals, keep your distance. Just before the house, leave the path and enter the meadow on the left, cross the electric fence and follow the low stone wall on the right, heading north. After about 200 m, the wall curves to the left and joins a first stream, which you must cross after passing the fence again. You are now at the heart of the Orcival springs. On the other side of the stream, find a path. Cross the stream a second time, this one wider (walk along the low walls to keep your feet dry). Hey presto, you're back in Haute-Loire! Follow the path to the Maison de la Gitade and continue to the road.
(7) Turn right and continue straight ahead at the intersection, towards Freycenet-la-Cuche. At the entrance to the hamlet of Deux Rabbes, turn right after the first house onto the path that climbs towards the forest. Continue climbing until you reach the edge of the woods.
(8) Turn left onto the path that runs alongside it (yellow markings). At the Bellevue house (aptly named), continue straight ahead in the open and then enter the forest, still following the yellow markings.
(9) Shortly after leaving the woods, at the intersection of four paths, facing the village of Freycenet-la-Cuche, turn left onto the path that winds downhill. After passing a rather unusual mini golf course, turn left onto the road coming from the village (red and white markings).
(10) Turn right towards Girard and continue to follow the red and white markings. After the Ribeyre farm, the tarmac road becomes a track and then a path that descends to the Collance torrent.
(11) Climb back up towards the hamlet of Largentière. Cross the departmental road and enter the hamlet.
(12) Just after the first house, leave the red and white markings and turn left onto the path that climbs quite steeply to the hamlet of L'Estrade (yellow and red markings). Cross the Voie Romaine (tarmac road) and continue opposite towards the Lachamp woods along a wide path. Cross the woods, still following the yellow and red markings. When you leave the woods, walk along a pond on your right and then continue along the path through the meadows.
(13) Shortly before reaching a new tarmac road, follow the yellow and red markings which descend to the left through the broom. Caution: the slope is steep and uneven! (It is possible to go to the road and follow it downhill to the left to the starting point.) The yellow and red markings lead back to the hamlet of Massibrand (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
