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From the D941, in the centre of Fontaine du Berger, follow the D773 towards Ternant for about 500 m and park in the hikers' car park on the right-hand side of the road. Montlachat sign at the end of the car park.
Marked by directional signs, see description.
(S/E) Opposite the Montlachat signpost, turn right onto the path towards Fontaine du Berger. When you reach the tarmac, walk a few metres to the right, then follow the path leading off to the left (just before you reach the road). When you reach the D941, cross carefully at the pedestrian crossing (located slightly to the left), then take the path opposite which crosses a former military site (and an alternative hiker's car park).
(1) Go straight ahead between the old barracks. At the fork in the road, go straight ahead towards Col de Ceyssat. Ignore a path on the right further on (not shown on the IGN map). At the next intersection, find the Pariou Ouest signpost and follow the direction of Parking des Goules on the right. Further on, at the Chemin du Pariou signpost, ignore the path on the left (which goes up to Pariou), then arrive on the D941 opposite the Parking des Goules car park.
(2) Cross carefully at the protected crossing, continue straight ahead for a few metres, locate an information sign about Puy Pariou and turn right to pass in front of this sign. Join the tarmac access road to the car park, continue a few metres to the right and then, at the Parking des Goules signpost, follow the path on the left towards Montlachat. Join a wide path and follow it to the left. Leave the forest buildings on your left and arrive at a crossroads, at a signpost with no name. Follow the path furthest to the left, with no direction indicated, which goes around the forest property.
(3) At the T-junction, turn right towards Puy des Goules. Further on, ignore the path on the right that climbs up to the Grottes du Sarcoui (a possible option for a return trip, steep climb). You will come to an unnamed signpost with a path leading off to the right.
(4) Ignore this path for now and continue climbing towards Puy des Goules. Almost at the top, you will find a signpost at a path junction.
(5) Follow the sign for Tour du Cratère, turning left. After an initial open section (with numerous viewpoints), the path crosses a lime tree arbour and rejoins the previous intersection.
(5) Take the same route back as you took on the way up to the previous intersection.
No markings
(4) Turn left onto the steeply descending trail. At a crossroads (not shown on the IGN map) of four paths, continue straight ahead and, shortly afterwards, at another crossroads (not shown on the IGN map) of four paths, continue downhill straight ahead on a narrow path. Ignore a path on the left and then, just after, at the intersection with a path, follow it to the left. You will arrive at a crossroads of four paths.
(6) Follow the path that branches off to the right at a right angle. Further on, ignore a poorly maintained path on the left. You will arrive at a crossroads of four paths, next to a beautiful beech tree on the left.
(7) For a short round trip, walk a few metres along the path on the right (not the one that turns sharply) until you find a path that is passable enough to go left into the undergrowth, which will quickly take you to the site of an old quarry. Retrace your steps to the four-way crossroads.
(7) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, passing to the right of the large beech tree. At an intersection with a poorly maintained path on the left, follow the path that turns right, passing through an open gate. Shortly afterwards, ignore a path closed by a gate on the left. When you reach a road, cross it and follow the D775 opposite towards Chanat.
(8) About 150 m further on, between plots 78 and 74, follow a wide path to the left. At the next crossroads with multiple paths, follow the first one on the right, at a right angle, which descends slightly. You will arrive at an open space with a wide path leading off to the left and the road to the right. Turn left for a few metres, at the crossroads of paths, turn right for a few metres, then follow a path on the right through the grass to rejoin the road.
(9) Cross over to take the path opposite, at a small sign for Chanat la Mouteyre, Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne. Further on, ignore the path on the right marked "private property". You will come to a T-junction with a path.
(10) Turn right. When the path makes a right-angle turn to the left, continue straight ahead across the fields (the wide passage is well marked; you will see the Puy de Dôme in the distance if it is not cloudy). At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead.
(11) Cross a small road, continue straight ahead and, at the fork just after, keep left.
Yellow disc markings
(12) At the crossroads, take the second path on the left (not the one that goes around the bend). At a bend in the path on the left, heading towards Ternant, continue straight ahead on a grassy path through a passageway.
(13) Further on, a detour to the left takes you to the foot of the Croix de Ternant: a viewpoint and information panel about this curious cross-antenna! Retrace your steps.
(13) Then continue left on the path that leads directly back to the hikers' car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
