Mont Mézenc as seen from Borée

To reach the car park, head for Borée. In the village, take the D738 towards Chanéac (signposted, though not very visible if you’re approaching from the south). About 1 km from the centre, you’ll see a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the village and a large car park.

(S) To start, look out for the Chier (pronounced ‘tchière’), a pile of around 70 stones set just at the edge of the path. Take the path that descends to the left (west-north-west) towards the village. Join the road and follow it to the left to reach the village centre.

(1) Opposite, take a narrow little street. On the left, on a guttering about 1m high, you’ll see a Yellow Cross and a Red Cross (this is to warn those following the^GR® de Pays not to confuse it with the path we’re about to take). Take this path; 200 metres further on, leave the track leading up to the Roches de Borée on your left. Walk for about 1 km through woodland and meadows until you reach a main track.

(2) Take the path straight ahead. You’ll enter the forest at a place called l’Escupier. On your right, you’ll see a farm and some yurts. A little further on, you’ll come to a Y-junction.

(3) Take the right-hand branch, which climbs only slightly (the left-hand one climbs steeply). Continue along the side of the valley (on the right bank of the Saliouse) for about 2.5 km. You’ll reach the farm at the hamlet known as Le Rachet. Occasionally, livestock graze on the paths (as the electric fences run alongside them...). There are few residents in this hamlet, but there are dogs – rather unwelcoming, though they are chained up. Leave the track and continue to the right, heading north-east, until you reach the D410 road, then follow it to the right for about 600 metres.

(4) Leave the road and turn sharply left to continue along a path, the^GR®73, which has a fairly steep section before joining the D400 road. Follow it straight on until you reach the Croix de Boutières.

(5) You’ve reached civilisation with a car park; this is also the starting point for short walks to Mezenc. Make the most of the nearby orientation table. Leave the road and set off on the final north-north-easterly climb; the path is well marked, slightly different from what’s shown on the maps, but you can’t go wrong.

(7) Just before the twin-peaked summit, you’ll pass a signposted path on your left – you’ll take this later on. Head up to the right towards the clear, unobstructed summits of Mont Mézenc and enjoy the view.

(6) From the summit, you can begin the descent to the junction, which you’ll recognise.

(7) Take the path opposite, then follow this lovely, wide forest lane which leads to the road (D274) at the Croix de Peccata (E).

Do remember to leave a car at the end of the route, at the Croix de Peccata.
There is no water along the route, apart from at Borée at the start and at two farms along the way.

Visit the village of Borée, as well as the drystone shelters. Enjoy the views and the two information boards at the Croix des Boutières and Mont Mézenc.
The cliff face of the Cirque des Boutières is what remains of the crater of an ancient volcano.
The walk took us to the bottom of the cirque, then up its slopes.