Rocks and Maar of Borée, Gouleyou and Pialoux from Borée

Short, easy route around the drystone shelter, with a beautiful view of the Gouleyou, an ancient lava plug, and a visit to the Chier de Borée site, an arrangement of raised and engraved stones, which is a contemporary work of art.

Details

9421542
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 290 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 291 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,225 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,036 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park next to the cemetery, which has two or three spaces, or in the town centre. Another car park is available near the Grange de Lagas.

(S/E) Walk up between the houses to reach the crossroads at the entrance to the village.

(1) Turn right to quickly reach a new crossroads at the edge of a wood. Continue climbing to the left to reach the highest point. Begin an easy descent and reach the foot of the Roches de Borée, where there is an orientation table.

(2) Take the old, unmarked path on the right to reach the junction with the marked path.

(3) Turn left and stay on this path. Cross the D378 and continue to the junction with the D215.

(4) Cross it and take the path opposite. Turn right at thefirst crossroads to pass through the hamlet of La Batie. Then take the previous path on the right and continue to Molines.

(5) Turn left, pass a cross and continue to the crossroads leading to Grange de Lagas, where there is parking available.

(6) Take the road that leads back to the village and you will soon reach a crossroads.

(7) Turn right, then immediately right again onto theGRP® Tour du Massif Mézenc-Gerbier-de-Jonc trail, marked in red and yellow. Continue until you reach Chier de Borée.

(8) Stay on theGRP® and leave it at the next crossroads to take the D378 for a few metres. Leave it on the right to take the path, continue and reach the village of Échamps.

(9) Turn left and take a small road to reach a trail junction.

(10) Turn left onto the path through the Drystone Shelter National Forest. Return to the previous crossroads.

(7) Turn right to return to the initial crossroads.

(1) Turn right to reach the cemetery crossroads (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,156 m - Drystone shelter cemetery car park
  2. 1 : km 0.08 - alt. 1,160 m - Initial crossroads - Église de l'Assomption (Borée)
  3. 2 : km 1.06 - alt. 1,192 m - Orientation table
  4. 3 : km 1.43 - alt. 1,151 m - Marked trail
  5. 4 : km 2.44 - alt. 1,084 m - Carrefour D215
  6. 5 : km 3.58 - alt. 1,036 m - Molines
  7. 6 : km 4.58 - alt. 1,126 m - Grange de Lagas
  8. 7 : km 4.98 - alt. 1,150 m - Carrefour Drystone Shelter
  9. 8 : km 5.59 - alt. 1,175 m - Erre du Tchier de Borée
  10. 9 : km 7.12 - alt. 1,130 m - Échamps
  11. 10 : km 8.15 - alt. 1,199 m - Forest crossroads
  12. S/E : km 9.76 - alt. 1,156 m - Drystone shelter cemetery car park

Notes

(S/E) Accommodation in Drystone shelter: Le Genestoux accommodation centre.

Worth a visit

(2) Interpretation table on volcanism, presentation of Gouleyou
(5) Molines, optionally you can cross the village and continue to the quarry, where the erosion of volcanic ash has formed some amazing shapes.
(6) Option to take a detour to the Lagas barn. If it is open, go inside to see the roof structure.
(8) The Chier de Borée theatre is a contemporary megalithic creation inspired by Land Art and created by two sculptors, Fabienne Versé and Serge Boyer, in 2008. This work of art represents a kind of universal calendar formed by 70 stones, some of which have been sculpted, arranged harmoniously on the heights of the village of Drystone Shelter.
(9) Échamps is famous for the Borée maar (the remains of an exploded volcano).

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Wulfgard
Wulfgard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike with beautiful views of the valley.
No particular difficulty.
Very beautiful walk

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Douchatchu
Douchatchu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike in a beautiful region. Regarding the written description, I had some hesitation at point 2 because the abundant vegetation hid the path to follow, and a few metres before point 5, where you have to follow the middle path that leads to the cross.
The Tchier de Drystone Shelter is worth a longer stop.

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Alves Martine
Alves Martine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this easy hike. Beautiful scenery and the lovely village of Drystone Shelter are worth seeing!

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Fafa65
Fafa65

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first circular was very interesting with beautiful scenery, but the second one was not very interesting.

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pago26
pago26
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike accessible to all, passing through the TCHIER de BOREE, an astonishing site.
The hamlet of Les Echamps is very typical, and you should also plan to visit the Dolmen des Beaumes.

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thnad
thnad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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grandin
grandin ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route. Superb geological site at Roches de Drystone Shelter. Remarkable artistic creation at Tchier de Drystone Shelter.
Thanks to the author.

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M&CBENOIT
M&CBENOIT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We only completed one of the two circulars (about 1 hour 45 minutes). Superb view on the way back.

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