The Decauville Tunnels in the Orle Valley

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route that I enjoyed doing again. It can be done in hot weather as it is mostly in the shade. We continued on to the Hounta hut with its remarkable views that are not to be missed.

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike. We pushed on to the hut at the foot of the pass. Be careful in the tunnels; bring a headlamp to avoid bumping into the rough rock. Otherwise, it's a very beautiful hike that changes as you go through the tunnels

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike with beautiful panoramic views.

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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

A great route for lovers of mining heritage!
We set off from the Pucelle car park, where we spent the night in our van.
The route is easy with beautiful views on the first climb. Then, the succession of tunnels and the remains of mine carts is enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing.

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Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

You have to cross several fords, which are quite muddy even after good weather. It is probably best not to do this route after heavy rain.

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Date of your route : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After a four-hour drive to reach the Pucelle car park, this hike was perfectly suited to our group of hikers. With the clear directions and modern technological aids, it was very easy to follow the route, and with the weather being rather unsettled at the end of summer, the cool temperatures and blue skies were very welcome. There were no brambles, but the nettles were well fed by the recent rain, which made those who had chosen to wear shorts sing a little. The adults had a little more trouble in the tunnels, of course, but no bumps or bruises to report.
We did the Tuc du Coucou the next day, and this tunnel circuit was an excellent warm-up for that.
A little bonus at this time of year... a few mushrooms, cloves and parasol mushrooms are sprouting.

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A blue sky storm and very pleasant temperatures were on the agenda for this enjoyable hike.
The road to the car park is narrow, but with a bit of luck you'll only encounter a dog and two cats 😉 Be careful with your car though... there are a few branches hanging over the road..
The trail to point 3 is easy going, apart from a few nettles to avoid!
After this point, don't hesitate to continue to the Hounta hut. There's a bit more elevation gain, a steep, muddy slope and a stream, but it's cute, functional and has a trowel in the wall as a coat rack: good DIY 😊
We preferred to eat near the stream, where there was shade, air and a pleasant trickle of water.
Back on the trail, from point 4 there are five tunnels to go through. There are no particular difficulties, except that you need a headlamp and sometimes have to bend down.
From point 7 to the car park, the path is not uneven or stony and, as there is a fairly steep descent, you can run down it quickly and safely if you watch your step
We only came across four or five hikers on the way back.
There is a picnic area in the car park and a stream.
Thanks for this hike, the route is reliable, I recommend it!

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Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Almost alone in the world on this trail in the middle of August
We continued past point No. 3 to the Hounta hut to eat. Again, there were few hikers, five I think.
We returned to point No. 3 to resume the circuit.
If I remember correctly, there are five tunnels of varying lengths that require you to bend down a little, and a torch is essential.
Forget about using your smartphone torch

The route description is very good and it's easy to find your way around.
After the tunnels, it's a bit long and monotonous to the car park.
Most of it is in the shade and cool, which is pleasant at this time of year
A few wild strawberries and mushrooms to boot!
The access road is quite narrow and the junctions are tricky, but it's in very good condition.
Nice picnic area in the car park with a place to dip your feet

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Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant and interesting. The different tunnels are enjoyable. Headlamps are highly recommended. Be careful at this time of year as leaves have accumulated in some places and can be slippery.
However, the mileage data is clearly inaccurate, showing almost 15 km less than the actual distance.
A hike for everyone.

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Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

For those who enjoy exploring old mining sites, with passages through tunnels from a bygone era, this is great. Don't forget your headlamps.
It's a shame we don't know the distance to the funicular wheel.
Fairly easy hike.

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Date of your route : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed this Sunday in scorching heat.
No difficulties, approximately 90% of the route is shaded, plus refreshing tunnels, which were greatly appreciated :-)
The path was very well maintained throughout.
The start of the descent is a little steep, but nothing too difficult.
Definitely worth doing.

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Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Fun route.
No significant difficulty.
Magnificent view of the peaks at the start.
Worth doing.

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Date of your route : May 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 2 May in 4 hours, including breaks. We set off at 10.30 a.m. and there were no vehicles in the car park. No particular technical difficulties, mainly shaded route. Fun for children (but not toddlers) because of the tunnels (bring a torch or at least the light from a mobile phone). The start of the last tunnel is a bit muddy, but only for a metre or two. You just need to duck down a little and then you can stand almost upright, as in all the other tunnels. Ideal for getting back into shape as there isn't much elevation gain. There are one or two narrow passages near the edge where you need to be careful when following the contour line where the mine carts used to run. There is a nice picnic area at the start or end, depending on your route, near the river. There are numerous streams to cross, providing water for your four-legged friends. Please note that the D704 road leading to the Pucelle car park is very narrow and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to pass other vehicles.

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Date of your route : Mar 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in March in beautiful weather
We climbed up to the Hounta hut at 1,470 metres for lunch. A great view. Then we retraced our steps. The advantage of hiking in March is that there is no one around and the trees have not yet come into leaf, so you can admire the landscape. In short, a superb walk. One thing to watch out for is that the leaves on the ground form a carpet up to 40 cm thick, which makes it difficult to walk on the narrow path as the trail is no longer visible. The end of the hike is less pleasant as the descent is quite steep over a short distance, but nothing serious. Our only regret is that we didn't have the courage to find the funicular wheel

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through the forest, taking 4½ hours. The descent to the car park is very steep, so take care in wet weather

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