Paulhac walks

Circuit no. 1 in the guidebook of walking, horse riding and mountain biking routes in the commune of Paulhac.

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.

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.

An encounter with nature in the heart of the Monts du Cantal, with a complete change of scenery guaranteed.

This is a route that captures the mountain atmosphere of the Haute Planèze – the land of burons and summer pastures – starting from Saint-Maurice, a hamlet of Valuéjols, and leading to one of the few wooded areas in the Planèze. The route follows signposted sections (local PR® and GRP® trails) along tracks suitable for vehicles, which link the hamlets and farms scattered across the area. The Bois des Fraux, meanwhile, is maintained by foresters who have cleared tracks there for walking or cross-country skiing, provided there is still snow in winter.

Third and final stage of the Planèze tour. Entirely on the GR®4. This stage crosses varied environments and allows you to discover some very interesting, albeit little-known, sites. In particular, the route runs alongside the Narse de Nouvialle (a remarkable wetland) and passes close to the Château du Sailhant and the Babory waterfall.

A gentle warm-up walk in the superb Brezons valley. The walk starts in this pretty village, typical of the Cantal region. The Croix de Montréal, our destination, is clearly visible against the backdrop of the forest. There’s a viewpoint overlooking the lovely Montréal waterfall, followed by the climb up to the cross, offering panoramic views across the whole valley. For almost the entire walk, apart from a few short sections, you’ll be in the shade of a beautiful beech forest.

Truly spectacular waterfalls. Well-designed facilities (without which a visit would be impossible), including a vertiginous 30-metre staircase and viewing platforms. A short but steep walk. The hamlet of Laborie is also very charming.

This route is ideal in hot weather. You will enjoy the coolness near the waterfalls and especially in the forest. In spring and autumn, this route will undoubtedly allow you to discover the wild flora and fauna in the Cirque. You will leave the coolness behind at the Col de la Molède, just long enough to descend towards Albepierre. ⚠️ At the point (3) , the hamlet of Raveyrol is replaced by Buron de Joaniol haut. This is a naming error on the IGN map.

A route starting from a charming village that takes you to three waterfalls. The Cascade des Vergnes, the uppermost of the three, is only visible from a viewing point. From here, take the opportunity to visit the Roman milestone a few metres further up. The Cascade des Prés Longs, visible from a viewpoint and then from its base, is far more impressive than its neighbours. The Cascade de Prapsou, superb, with a drop of several metres near the village. Ideal spots offering a haven of greenery and coolness.

This route invites you to discover the pretty village of Albepierre-Bredons and explore the Pays de Murat national forest, which is home to many remarkable trees. In the cool woods, the Prés Long, Vergnes and Prapsou waterfalls are the main attractions of this shaded route. Route not accessible from December to April due to snow.

Les Prés Marty are summer pastures on the slopes of Plomb du Cantal, where beautiful Salers cows graze on lush grass. On the way there, discover three beautiful waterfalls, and on the way back, a renovated buron (shepherd's hut), an oratory and a fourth waterfall. In season, dessert will be provided by the many wild raspberry bushes that line the path.

The Cirque de Chamalière was formed by a glacier that reshaped the landscape after the formation of the Cantal stratovolcano. It is a very pleasant place for summer grazing and, incidentally, for picnics. The small streams that run down its slopes feed into a brook, the Benet. This hike follows the valley of this short brook, a tributary of the Alagnon.

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.

Stage2 of theGR®400, travelling clockwise. Plomb du Cantal and a long panoramic ridge before descending to Thiézac.

The Plateau de la Planèze starting from Prat de Bouc. N.B. Following the route with the Visorando app can be very useful in the forest due to the numerous trail intersections encountered.

Stage 7 of our Tour du Cantal. This is the final stage of the Tour du Cantal, with another change to the GR®400 route: instead of returning to Murat, we head back to Laveissière (where we left our vehicle, see episode 1). Most of this stage is in the shade, but the descent brings the heat..

The highest peak in Europe's largest volcanic complex, the Plomb du Cantal (1,855 m) offers unobstructed views of the Monts-Dore (Puy-de-Sancy) to the north and the Cézallier and Aubrac plateaus to the south.

Hike on one of the must-see sites in Cantal, preferably outside the tourist season, when the Lioran chairlifts are not in operation. After the tranquillity of the summer pastures on the Prés Marty, the Plomb du Cantal reveals superb landscapes. A return trip along the ridge to the Chapelle du Cantal allows you to make the most of these heights.

Its height of 1855 metres make Plomb du Cantal the second highest peak in the Massif Central after the Puy de Sancy. Starting from the Col de Prat de Bouc, this hike initially leads to the summit ascent and descent on the northern slope, followed by a climb up the slopes of the Puy du Rocher before returning to Prat de Bouc.

A ski mountaineering route linking Prat de Bouc to Le Lioran via the Plomb du Cantal (1,856 m).

A partially shaded hike in the Lagnon valley offering views of two waterfalls.

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!

Walk in the hills above Murat. Beautiful views over the Alagnon and Benet valleys. Beautiful old houses in the village of Bredons and the remarkable site of Bredons Church, an 11th-century Cluniac site.

Discover a magnificent mill and a waterfall in an idyllic setting.

To stay largely off the marked and well-trodden paths, the route to the summit starts from a fairly low point, following the very gentle ridge south of the Alagnon. This hike requires a good sense of direction due to the lack of signposting and sections through ‘summer pastures’ without a defined path; a GPS is a great help. The return journey along the lower section follows a fairly long stretch of road, though it is very pleasant and has very little traffic.