Meije Coste - Le Falgoux

(S) From Buron de Meije Coste, a short climb to warm up (150 m elevation gain) leads to a fork in the trail that takes you left to the Col de Rombière.

(1) Continue to the right, crossing the hillside in the shade to reach the Col de Cabre.

(2) Continue straight ahead for a long, gradual climb, crossing the source of the Jordanne along the way. Reach the ridge at an altitude of 1637 metres.

(3) Please note that the route to the Col d'Eylac and the Burons d'Eylac has been changed. You will need to go a little further to begin your descent, but it is very well signposted. Turn left onto this magnificent ridge, which offers 360° views of the Cantal countryside.

(4) The passage through the Brèche de Rolland (which the GR® will cut across) requires a little caution. "To descend the steep path with large steps, put away your walking sticks and use your hands and feet. To climb back up, the GR® has been diverted to the left to bypass the climbing section, but you still need to be careful on this narrow, steep path: a handrail secures the route. Once you have passed the breach, the route continues to the foot of Puy Mary: along the way, you will see the fork towards the Col d'Eylac, indicated by a sign."

(5) At this point, you can either climb Puy Marie (choose your route) or go around it via a visible, well-marked trail to reach Pas de Peyrol. The climb is very steep and follows a stony path, which has been framed to prevent damage from people walking on it and reinforced with steps.

(6) Passage du Puy Mary. The descent on the other side, towards Pas de Peyrol, is via a very wide gravel-covered concrete path with a few steps. This is the traditional ascent from Pas de Peyrol for tourists: rest stop possible.

(7) The GR® trail starts again behind the restaurant buildings and leads gradually uphill to the Puy de la Tourte.

(8) After a picnic break with a 360° view, begin the descent to the Suc de la Blatte, then cross over to the fork in the GR® towards Le Claux.

(9) Continue along level ground, then climb slightly to cross the Pas Rouge. This is followed by a long traverse towards the Luchard plateau, via the Rocher de l'Aygue bypass. You will reach a stream and a cattle trough for water, if you have a filter.

(10) Continue to the edge of the plateau and begin the descent on a wide track that winds down in a few hairpin bends.

(11) Leave the track for a path on the right and continue downhill to a junction.

(12) Turn left. The descent becomes steeper and leads to the end of the paved road leading to Le Coin.

(13) Ignore the road and take the partially shaded path on the right, which leads to the hamlet of Cher Soubro and the D12.

(14) Turn right and follow the tarmac road for about a kilometre to reach the village of Falgoux (E).

(8) Pas de Peyrol: food available, toilets (non-drinking water) Le Chalet du Puy Mary

Hôtel de voyageurs: accommodation, breakfast, picnics, lots of services for hikers: friendly and welcoming, thank you to our hosts Nathalie and Stéphane!

Le Falgoux grocery store: thank you to Laurence for her kindness and all her help... and the ice-cold water!

Communal lodge(run by the town hall): very spacious, very well equipped. Thank you to Stéphane for the welcome!

* The lodge can be reached by following the GR® trail at the bottom of the village, at the EDF transformer, over a small bridge and you're there!