Puy Griou and Puy de l'Usclade circular loop

Depart from the hamlet of Les Chazes and park (in a herringbone pattern) in the small car park at the crossroads at the exit of the hamlet, near the Notre-Dame du Sacré Cœur chapel and Puy Griou.

(S/E) Continue along the road towards the valley, cross the bridge over the stream and take the^first path on the right. Follow this path uphill to a track.

(1) Turn sharply left and continue uphill.

(2) At the three-way junction, after walking a good hundred metres through the undergrowth, continue along the track that climbs to the right, pass two hairpin bends and arrive at a fence. Turn left onto the path that follows the edge of the woods and you will soon reach a fork.

(3) Continue straight ahead on the small path through the broom, which tends to close in a little. This path then crosses a scree slope and, after this, turns uphill and joins a small pass.

(4) Head towards the summit of Puy Griou, taking the lower path that veers to the right. Before reaching the shoulder, turn left onto a rather earthy section. This climbs towards the summit, then veers to the right and disappears when the rock outcrops. Climb more or less along the shoulder on this section consisting of small rocks that serve as steps for about twenty metres before reaching the summit. You may need to use your hands, but the passage is not technical; only the feeling of vertigo may be an obstacle.

(5) After enjoying the view, descend by the same route to the fork at the foot of the hill.

(4) Continue straight ahead, following the ridge line, and you will soon reach the cairn at the top of the hill (elevation 1618).

(6) This spot, halfway up Puy Griou, offers a unique view of the hill itself, as well as Téton de Vénus and the ridge line on either side.
Then return to the foot of Puy Griou.

(4) This time, take the well-marked path on the right, go through a gate and you will come to a fork. Take the left-hand path downhill, walk along the Puy Griou on your left and you will reach the end of a path leading to the pastures.

(7) Follow this path as it turns left and enters the woods. Continue to the next fork.

(8) Continue straight ahead and reach a crossroads at a small pass. Ignore the track on the right and take the one opposite, veering to the right. When this track turns left to cross over to the other side of the shoulder, take advantage of an opening on the right, which offers a view of the Jordanne valley and the Puy de l'Usclade, then continue until you find the start of a track on the right.

(9) Follow this track, which climbs steeply for a few metres and then continues on a slight incline along the ridge. Continue along a path to reach the foot of the cone. The track becomes a little unclear. Climb up the small scree slope, veering slightly to the right, then find a small steep path and follow it to the summit of Puy de l'Usclade.

(10) Enjoy this exceptional viewpoint, from Puy Mary to Plomb du Cantal with Puy Griou in the centre, then return to the previous fork.

(9) Turn right and arrive at a clearing at Col de Gliziou.

(11) Follow the track to the left, then take the right-hand three-way junction downhill and continue to the next three-way junction.

(12) Continue to the right, go around a hairpin bend and down a slight slope, cross the bottom of the valley and arrive at a clearing in the forest. Enjoy this new view of Puy Griou and the Plomb du Cantal mountain range. Continue to the next fork.

(13) Take the hairpin bend to the left, then ignore two secondary tracks on the left, leave the woods and reach a fork at a semi-buried water reservoir slightly below.

(14) Take the small grassy path at an acute angle to the left, which runs along the hillside, more or less following the edge of the woods on your left. When you reach a building, go around it on the left and continue straight ahead, slightly uphill, until you find the start of a path that enters the woods. Continue along this path, cross the footbridge over a^first small stream, then cross a^second stream and arrive at a fence. Go through the gate and continue along a small path slightly downhill to the access road to the hamlet of Les Chazes Petites. Follow it to the left and reach the hamlet of Les Chazes (S/E).

The hike is classified as "difficult". This could be summarised as "difficult" for the return trip to Puy Griou from the small pass and then "easy" thereafter, as most of the rest of the route consists mainly of false flats.

Bring water.

When passing through grazing areas, remember to close the gates behind you.

Dogs are strongly discouraged. Salers cows are very protective animals and will not hesitate to charge your four-legged friend.

(7) The hike becomes largely shaded after the descent from the small pass at the foot of Puy Giou.

(7) It was not possible to climb Griounou on the day of my visit (end of August 2022), and it would appear that this is not possible due to the obstacles in place. An electric fence and barbed wire at the entrance to the pastures mark the boundary of this area.

There are numerous signposts along the hike, so it is possible to shorten the route, particularly from (8) to (3) and from (12) to (2).

(S/E) Notre-Dame du Sacré Cœur and Puy Griou Chapel (open at the end of August 2022).