Maurines walks

A short route to explore the Gorges du Bès From Valiette, this route descends past the dam before entering the gorges, offering superb views of the valley.

Over the centuries, the Truyère has carved out deep gorges which, with the rising water levels caused by the construction of the Grandval and Lanau dams, have given way to a natural landscape of surprising and contrasting beauty: islands and peninsulas, cirques with distant shores, mysterious meanders, narrow gorges opening onto vast expanses of water, a wooded valley… Following the PR la Mourache route, the walk offers magnificent views from the embankment supporting the Alleuze road. Walking the route in the opposite direction offers more shade, but do keep an eye out for the signposting – which, to be honest, is rather sparse.

From Montchanson, with a rucksack on your back – in place of the schoolbag that children of yesteryear used to carry on their backs to get to school in one of the villages of the Arcomie Valley – let’s follow in their footsteps to discover the hamlets and local heritage. On the way, don’t forget to climb up to the Trois Croix du Bloc du Recoux for an exceptional view, before trying your hand at making the Pierre Branlante de la Roche wobble, north of Saint-Marc.

Route through rolling countryside with views of the Lanau dam. Magnificent houses in Orcières.

Setting off from the charming village of Saint-Just, numerous granite boulders are scattered here and there across the landscape. The most unusual is undoubtedly the Recoux Calvary, an imposing mass of granite topped by three majestic crosses, a testament to the skill of local stonemasons and to an era when men erected calvaries to the glory of God. On the way back, you cannot miss the Roc del Burre, better known as the Pierre Branlante. It’s up to you to find the right spot to make this 400-tonne boulder move with just one hand.

Starting from Loubaresse, near an exit from the A75 motorway, this route follows the GR® de Pays circular Boucle de la Truyère and a variant that "turns" around the Truyère river to the village of Chaliers, which is well worth taking the time to explore. The route takes small local roads on both the left and right banks of this river with its wild gorges, crossing it twice via footbridges at Valadour and Terran. The actual duration of the route is 4 hours and 40 minutes (GPS watch data), including a short stop in Chaliers.

Take a break from the A75 for a pleasant and informative stop!

This walk allows you to explore a large part of the hamlets around the village of Oradour, following well-maintained farm tracks and footpaths. It passes through the hamlets, alternating between meadows and fields, woods and views over the countryside and the Truyère valley. When passing through Chabannes, be sure to climb up to Le Cheyla to admire the panoramic view (orientation table) stretching as far as the Aubrac to the south. The walk starts and finishes at the village square in Oradour, which is well worth a visit and where you can have a chat and enjoy a drink at the community-run bistro on the village square.

A short, idyllic walk along farm tracks, through a lovely wood of pine and beech trees, before returning gently downhill towards the village of Lavergne and its old farmhouses, typical of 19th-century Auvergne rural architecture. You can take a break on the sturdy stone bench, which is also your starting point. It is only 40 years old and has nothing in common with a menhir apart from the raw material from which both monuments are made! A lovely walk, ideal for families or to start your day!

Discovery hike around Paulhac, very easy and ideal for those new to mountain biking, especially children. It is also accessible to pedestrians, horses and even people with all-terrain pushchairs (3 wheels).

Second stage of the Saint-Flour Planèze tour. This is the shortest and highest stage. It takes place in the foothills of the Plomb du Cantal and crosses the wildest parts of the circuit.

The ‘Grande Randonnée’ trail in the Pays de Saint-Flour allows you to walk several circular routes around the capital of the Planèze and Margeride regions and passes through the village of Paulhac. The circular route crosses the Narse de Lascols from south to north, starting from Cussac, passing the Puy de Mercou, and heading back up towards the Bois des Fraux via the mountain pastures. The route described below is inspired by this, offering a wonderful exploration of the Planèze de Saint-Flour by combining the GR® de Pays and PR® trails around Paulhac.