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In Aurières, park at Place de la Gigeole, a compacted earth area used as a car park, on the village side of the D561, not far from the cemetery on the opposite side of the road.
(S/E) Cross the D561 and head towards the cemetery entrance, then go round the cemetery to the right via the Chemin du Patural. Continue along this path, ignoring two turn-offs to the left.
(1) At the junction of five paths, carry on straight ahead, leaving two paths on your left and one on your right. A little further on, you’ll cross a stream, the Randanne (a stream channelled to feed the Étang de Montlosier). Ignore a path on the right, then another on the left.
(2) Cross the D983 with care. On the other side, look out for the memorial stone honouring the first gliding flights. Continue along the path opposite. Further on, ignore a path on the left. You’ll reach a crossroads of four paths marked with the Puy de Boursoux hiking signpost.
(3) Turn right towards Les Quairas. This path is marked in red and white by the GR®441 and GR®4 routes. Further on, a path branches off to the left. In 2026, this path – a recently constructed forest track – is signposted ‘Puy de la Rodde’ (and whilst it is not listed by the IGN, it appears on OSM).
(4) Turn left, immediately ignoring a path on the left to follow the path marked “Puy de la Rodde”, continuing along it to the summit, whilst immediately ignoring a path on the right – this is the return route for the circular route. The path climbs gently. Ignore a hairpin bend to the left, then leave the path heading straight down the hill to follow the hairpin bend to the right. Pass the summit and enjoy a few clearings offering views of the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy massif.
(5) The path then descends; follow the signs for “Retour parking” and join an older path, which you should follow to the right to reach the start of the circular path. Turn left onto the GR® path.
(4) Continue to the left. Please note: about 200 m further on, make sure you follow the GR® as it leaves the track and takes a path to the right, which goes round a campsite. You’ll come to a crossroads with four paths. Leave the GR® here and turn right; a wooden sign points to “Puy de la Combegrasse”. You’ll reach a hiking marker, a path and a picnic area on the right.
(6) Head right towards Puy de la Combegrasse, and climb straight ahead, ignoring a grassy path on your right – this is the return route. Pass close to a water intake, then past a small disused quarry (on your right). Shortly afterwards, veer left into a meadow, then turn right straight away. Join the path built to prevent erosion on the slope and head uphill to the left. Reach the first summit of the Combegrasse: the “Chaîne des Puys” orientation table, then continue along the path.
(7) At the signposts, set off on a round trip towards “Panorama sur le Massif du Sancy” and head for the “Massif des Monts Dore” orientation table on the second summit of Combegrasse. Retrace your steps back to the signposts.
(7) Turn right towards “Retour parking”. Further on, ignore a hairpin bend to the left and head through the woodland to the picnic area, then follow the path to the hiking marker.
(6) Carry on to the right and ignore a path branching off to the right shortly afterwards. You’ll arrive at the Combegrasse car park, where there’s an information board about the peak of the same name.
(8) Cross the D983 with care and continue along the path opposite, slightly to the right. The path climbs and reaches a crossroads where four paths meet. Carry on straight ahead.
(9) Turn onto the first path on the left and continue uphill. Take the first path on the right, which leads downhill to the hamlet of Couhalion. Turn right at the junction, then take the first left onto Rue d’Ampoix. Carry on straight ahead until you reach a complex comprising a washhouse, fountain and drinking trough.
(10) Carry on to the right to reach Place des Entraves straight away. Pass a modern wayside shrine and a cross on your right and follow the road straight ahead, signposted for Aurières. Turn onto the first path on the left.
(11) At the crossroads where four paths meet, turn right, then ignore the paths on your right. You’ll arrive in Aurières, on Rue des Aires. First turn right then left to follow Rue de la Sagne. At number 7 on the right-hand side of the street, turn left onto a path that leads to the village park alongside the Gigeole stream. Head towards the centre of the village, passing a cross and then the school’s small vegetable patch, and you’ll return to where you parked (S/E).
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