Puy de Vichatel from Fontclairant

Park in the car park of the picnic area/playground in Fontclairant. Take the second access road to the village from the Verneuge roundabout.

No signposts

(S/E) Cross the playground and follow the street going up opposite, indicated by a small arrow with a green cross. You will come to an intersection with a fountain slightly set back on the right. Turn left. At the fork in the road, keep right, following the mountain bike trail markers.

Red and white^GR®® markings

(1) Ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead on the path marked by^GR®®4and 441. Further on, ignore another path on the right and reach a four-way intersection at the Puy de Boursoux signpost.

No markings

(2) Leave the^GR®® and follow the path furthest to the right. Ignore a path on the left.

Mountain bike markings

(3) At the next intersection, keep right and follow the mountain bike markings. Then ignore a path on the right and another on the left.

(4) The path turns right. Further on, walk along a large meadow (for safety reasons, the path on the left, starting at the corner of the meadow and leading to the road, no longer exists). At the end of the meadow, you will come to a crossroads with directional signs.

No markings

(5) Follow the path on the left towards "Laschamps", which runs alongside the large meadow on the other side. You will reach the Col de la Ventouse car park. Cross the car park towards the steps and the D2089, passing the information sign about Puy de Vichatel.

Blue markings

Climb the stairs, still following the direction of "Laschamps", and cross the D2089 at the pedestrian crossing, taking extreme care.

(6) On the other side, turn left onto the path along the road (this is not the most pleasant part, but it is not dangerous). The path then leaves the road and reaches a fork.

(7) Keep to the right and ignore the path on the left, then another one a little further on. Climb gradually through the forest covering the slopes of Puy de Vichatel until you reach the crater.

(8) Take the path on the right towards "Accès sommet" (summit access). At the top, continue along the path (panoramic view) then descend via another path towards "Accès cratère" (crater access).

(9) Back at the crater, follow the path on the right which descends and reaches an intersection at the edge of the D2089.

(10) Follow the path on the right along the road towards "Stationnement de la Ventouse" (Ventouse car park). Return to the pedestrian crossing.

(6) Cross again very carefully to return to the car park.

No markings

Then retrace your steps, crossing the car park and following the path along the large meadow.

(5) At the signposts, continue straight ahead towards "Saulzet-le-Froid".

Mountain bike markings

At the fork in the road, keep right and follow the mountain bike markings. Join the road (D213) and immediately turn right onto Chemin de Charmont.

Red and white^GR®® markings

(11) At the intersection, continue straight ahead on the GR®® marked trail^.

Mountain bike trail markers

At the crossroads, leave the^GR®® trail and continue straight ahead, following the mountain bike trail signs that lead back to the village of Fontclairant. Keep right at the fountain/watering trough/wash house to cross the village and return to the car park (S/E).

Easy hike, standard hiking equipment required.

Please note: crossing the D2089 as safely as possible requires unpleasant detours near this road. Crossing requires caution.

Toilets and picnic area at the Col de la Ventouse rest area.

Le Puy Charmont is covered by forest, so it does not offer panoramic views and its summit is not accessible.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Photo album here

Note the beautiful beech tree at the summit of Puy de Vichatel. Panorama of the Sancy massif.

Information about Puy de Vichatel here