Moulins (Allier) walks

A round trip on the Sentier aménagé des Castors (Beaver Trail) from Moulins, along the banks of the Allier.

On the agenda for a busy day: a visit to the unmissable National Centre for Stage Costumes, which alone is worth a detour to Moulins; you'll still have time to cross the Allier to stroll through the shopping streets and the historic district, perhaps visiting one or two other museums.The time indicated for this trip does not, of course, take into account visits to the various museums.

A circular route through the Souvigny countryside, with the first part passing through large cultivated fields and the second part through more rural and wooded areas. Beautiful opulent farms and manor houses line the route, not to mention, of course, the beautiful village of Souvigny.

Circular walk to enjoy the countryside. Starts and finishes at the Étangs des Baillys. The route follows mainly rural paths through the hedgerow countryside of the Sologne Bourbonnaise, with sunken lanes that are damp or even wet in places, old oak trees, and wild flora and fauna – keep quiet and observe...This route becomes technical in winter or after wet weather, which adds to the charm of the old paths...

Circular walks, in the shape of a figure of eight, along sunken paths, through pastures and hedgerows with lovely views of the countryside.

A walk through the bocage landscape of the Nivernais region. Here, the hedges that border the meadows have been preserved, giving the surrounding countryside a certain charm. Throughout this circular route, you may see horses, donkeys and cattle grazing, the latter mainly of the Charolais breed.

Hike starting from Jaligny secondary school, mostly on farm tracks and paths with around 35% tarmac, passing through the village of Chatelperron where you can see the fortified castle, listed as a Historic Monument: private property, not open to visitors. Beautiful scenery in good weather on the Colombier ridge. Beautiful view of the castle on its rocky outcrop on the descent from La Roche. A small museum of local prehistory and a restaurant are located on the route at Chatelperron station. The return journey is partly along the "Chemin du Tacot", an old railway line.

A family hike that passes through the vineyards of Saint-Pourçain.

Route along the Loire, via Île de Caqueret and the old town.

An easy hike in the hills overlooking Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, west of the Allier valley, partly following the GR®300 trail with a few short stretches on minor roads. Easy, well-marked and signposted paths. Beautiful views of Saint Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Unshaded route, best avoided during heatwaves.

A short walk around the village of Saint-Léon, including a stop at Puy Saint-Ambroise to admire the exceptional panoramic view.

Le Puy Saint-Ambroise overlooks the plateaus of the Sologne Bourbonnaise. At an average altitude of 436 metres, it offers a vast panorama, to the north over the Morvan, to the south-east over the Monts du Lyonnais, and to the south-west over the Chaîne des Puys and the Massif du Sancy.

Long tour of the village of Saint-Léon, ending at the summit of Puy Saint-Ambroise.

A circular route in the commune of Montaigu-le-Blin, voted the most beautiful village in the Allier in 2012. This route allows you to take a leisurely afternoon stroll to discover some of Montaigu’s heritage, including the large wash house, the fortified castle, Presles Castle, the Roman road, the Celtic cross and St Anne’s Church. It has been created by combining several ‘heritage routes’ offered by this small village, where time seems to stand still out of season. On this easy-to-moderate route, which takes just under 3 hours, the effort is sustained and mostly on tarmac, but the breaks to admire the local heritage treasures and the panoramic views allow you to recover. Only the grassy slope between the wash house and the fortified castle is more demanding, but it can be bypassed by climbing up to the fortified castle from the village centre rather than directly from the wash house.

Walk around Fleuriel. A bit of tarmac but on a quiet road, a bit of woodland, a bit of meadow. A varied landscape for a walk during which you can bring a picnic.

A circular loop around Mars-sur-Allier, on flat terrain, offering the chance to see cranes or storks at certain times of the year.