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In Mezel, park in the stadium car park, not far from the D1. Note the sign for the "Puy de la Poule" hike marked in yellow (Balirando), which the route proposed here largely follows, but be careful, not always!
Yellow markings, lines and smallPR®® signs
(S/E) Head towards the D1 (opposite the sports ground, on the left), cross it very carefully, and take the small road opposite. Turn onto the first path on the right. Stay on this path when it turns left, ignoring the path that goes straight ahead. You will come to a wide path. Follow it to the left for a few metres, then immediately take the path that branches off to the right. After a short circular loop alongside the Allier, the path leads back to the same track, which you should follow to the right. You will arrive at an intersection at the Les Gravières signpost.
No signposting
(1) Leave the yellow markings and continue straight ahead towards Malmouche. After about 100 metres, turn onto the path on the right, which joins the bank of the Allier, then veers left and becomes a trail. You will arrive at a pebble beach facing the Malmouche cliff, a veritable hotel for swallows in the summer.
(2) At the end of the pebble beach, turn left to return to the undergrowth and find a path. Follow it to the right, staying as close as possible to the river. After a wide left turn, which follows a bend in the Allier, you will arrive at another pebble beach. Continue along the path for a few metres, then turn left at the intersection of paths (not shown on maps). At the T-junction with a path, turn left, then turn right at the next T-junction. You will come to the wide path (which you left earlier) and follow it to the left to return to the Les Gravières signpost.
Yellow markings, lines and smallPR®® signs
(1) Follow the yellow markings again, turning right towards Mezel Bourg. Further on, ignore the small road leading off to the left and continue straight ahead on the path until you reach the next intersection.
(3) Turn onto the path on the left. Further on, ignore a path on the left and immediately turn onto a path on the right. Join the D1.
(4) Cross very carefully to follow the street opposite and immediately turn right onto the road towards Saint-Bonnet-lès-Allier. After about 100 metres, take the path on the right. Further on, you will come to a road opposite a dog training centre.
(5) Cross carefully, walk a few metres to the left and immediately take the path on the right. You will arrive at a small picnic area at the entrance to Saint-Bonnet-lès-Allier.
(6) Follow the street to the right (note the monoliths symbolising the "gateway" to the village), then cross it and take the first street on the left, Rue de la Fontaine Madeleine. Stay on this street, keeping to the right at intersections, until you reach the intersection with Rue du Château. Follow this street to the left, keep to the left at the next intersection to walk past the old church and go straight up, then follow the bend in the street to the right and you will arrive at the entrance to a castle.
(7) Continue by taking the first path on the right. Further on, at a fork in the road, keep right and you will immediately come to a path.
(8) Follow it to the right for about 20 metres, ignore a path on the right, then, at the fork in the road, turn left and immediately ignore a path on the right. Climb up alongside a vineyard, then ignore the path that branches off to the left and continue climbing up to Puy de la Poule. Begin to descend slightly and you will arrive at a T-junction.
(9) Turn right. Further on, the path turns left twice and leads to a road.
(10) Follow it to the right for about 50 metres, then turn onto the path furthest to the left, ignoring the one that leads to the Domaine de Sainte-Marcelle (which is also marked in yellow). Climb up to an intersection with an information sign about Sensitive Natural Areas.
No markings
Leave the yellow markings, ignoring the path that branches off to the left, and continue climbing for about 150 metres along a young educational orchard until you reach another intersection.
(11) Turn onto the path on the left. Further on, at a fork in the path, keep left. You will reach the end of a street in Mezel and find the yellow markings again.
Yellow markings, lines and smallPR®® signs
(12) Continue straight ahead on the street until you reach a small square with a fountain colonised by a few blue creatures. Turn right to follow Rue de la Font Grande. Pass an old wall fountain on your right, then turn left onto Rue Marmondieu. Follow this street straight ahead until you reach the corner of the old castle (restaurant).
(13) Turn left, then immediately right under a vault. Walk past the church on your right, note a cross, and continue straight ahead until you reach a street opposite a café, with the Fontaine de la Tête d'Ail fountain on your right. Walk a few metres to the left, then down a few steps to the right and continue along the street until you reach a crossroads with a large mission cross and below the town hall.
No markings
(14) Leave the yellow markings for a round trip: take the street on the right, then turn left to pass in front of the town hall. Continue straight ahead into the courtyard to see the old fire engines, then turn left to enter the town hall park, an esplanade with an orientation table. Don't miss a close look at the back door of the building! Retrace your steps to the crossroads at the mission cross.
Yellow markings, lines and smallPR®® signs
(14) Follow the yellow markings again and go down Rue de la Côte de Peine. At the bottom, go straight ahead for about 20 metres, then turn right onto Chemin de la Cotte. Further on, you will find the stadium car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
