Rocles walks

An easy hike in the hills overlooking Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, west of the Allier valley, partly following the GR®300 trail with a few short stretches on minor roads. Easy, well-marked and signposted paths. Beautiful views of Saint Pourçain-sur-Sioule. Unshaded route, best avoided during heatwaves.

A short 8-shaped walk at the foot of Saint-Vincent de Chantelle Abbey.

A short route starting in the pretty village of Hérisson at the foot of its castle ruins.

Access to the Sentier des Maîtres Sonneurs from Montluçon SNCF train station: this walking route connects Montluçon train station to Huriel via an additional stage to reach the Sentier des Maîtres Sonneurs. This route corresponds to thefirst stage of the GR®100, which connects Montluçon to Poitiers.

Near Montluçon, this hike will allow you to discover one of the heritage sites of Lavault-Sainte-Anne, with an old hospital (La Charité) near the route, which was bequeathed to the commune by Viscount Pailloux at the beginning of the 20th century (for more information, see the town hall's website). This hike is easy to do as there is very little elevation gain, and can be enjoyed in any season.

Passing through the Colbert reserve, the route offers views of seven of the forty or so listed oak trees in Tronçais. You can see naturally shaped oaks, boundary trees such as the Saint-Louis and the Sentinelle, and forest trees with long, straight trunks, of which the Stebbing is an example.

In the heart of the Tronçais Forest, a family walk along the ponds, navigating among the oak trees of the Colbert reserve.

A short family walk around the Étang de Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais pond in the heart of France's most beautiful oak forest, renowned among other things for its oak wood, which is highly sought after for the manufacture of barrels for the great vineyards. You will discover magnificent oak trees with perfectly straight trunks.

This trail takes you from hamlet to hamlet to discover the small-scale architectural heritage of this part of Auvergne, in the north of the Puy-de-Dôme: traditional houses with stepped gables, wells and drinking troughs, a former abbey in Menat and a medieval bridge over the Sioule.

A lovely little hike with beautiful views of the Cher, starting from Saint-Genest south of Montluçon.

The route runs almost exclusively through forest. Here you can see the different stages of forestry development.

The steep slopes protect the site and its wild appearance, home to a variety of fauna and rich flora. In the past, the gorges were the lifeline of the commune. The paths led to the sunny slopes devoted to vineyards and served flour and hemp mills.

Discover the hamlets of the Blot region and the superb lime trees that adorn their squares. The second part of this walk will take you to Château-Rocher, which overlooks the Sioule valley.

A circular route, mostly on tracks and farm roads, starting from Cognat-L'yonne and passing by Rilhat Castle and Monpensier Golf Course. Beautiful view of the Gannat plain on a clear day, of course.

Tour of the Sep Joli dam with a view of it. A fairly easy hike between paths and forest. Not too crowded in July, mostly fishermen.

I suggest a short urban hike to discover Vichy, nicknamed "the Queen of Waters". This circuit takes you through the emblematic streets of Napoleon III's beloved city, lined with beautiful houses of eclectic architecture, as well as the shopping streets of the modern city and the parks along the Allier River. You can quench your thirst at the famous Source des Célestins.

The Tronçais national forest is famous for the quality of its oak trees. It produces wood that is particularly prized for making barrels in which the finest French wines are aged. Its age and history make Tronçais the emblem of France's great national forests.

The route takes walkers to the heights of Aigueperse and Chaptuzat, past fountains, wash houses, crosses and castles.

Construction of the Canal de Berry began around 1808 on the initiative of Napoleon I and was completed in 1841. It took its current name, "Canal de Berry", in 1830. Its creation required, among other things, the installation of 115 locks, one every three kilometres. It consists of three branches that meet at Fontblisse, which is point 0. Many barges used to travel along it, transporting grain, wood and iron ore. The canal was decommissioned in 1955.

The commune of Coust is located south of the Cher, on the border between Berry and Bourbonnais in the Chignon valley. In the past, the stream fed a large pond between Pied de Coust and the church. It turned the wheels of the mills at Touzelles and Petit Paris before reaching the Rouchat mill. In the past, this stream was essential for Saint-Amand as it fed the moats of Montrond Castle and then those of the Saint-Amand-sous-Montrond enclosure.

A pleasant circular starting from Vieux Saint-Sylvestre, heading to Saint-Priest-Bramefant through the Bois Brun forest and back. Very little tarmac and beautiful scenery on a clear day. An easy hike.

A lovely walk for those who enjoy combining walking with nature observation. Starting from Saint-Yorre, walk through the pleasant undergrowth following the course of the Andraux stream, then around the Coupe-Gorge and Fonts de Fer stream basins. Open views over the Monts Dômes, the Vichy plain and the Vernet hill.

A beautiful walk in any season when the weather is fine, alone or with the family. You can explore the banks of the River Allier and its magnificent waterfalls. The route is mostly shaded in summer. You can also listen to the songs of a wide variety of birds. This route is similar to the "circular des sources" hiking trail listed by Vichy Communauté: a fully developed route with rest and picnic areas.

A hike dedicated to water. Flowing water, Ruisseau des Andraux, Allier. Water to drink, Saint-Yorre bottling plant, Source des Célestins. Water with healing properties, Hall des Sources and Grand Établissement Thermal de Vichy. And, depending on the weather, perhaps water falling from the sky?This hike can also be done as a round trip, difficulty: difficult (24 km).

Hike not far from Vichy in the rolling countryside bordering the Sichon Valley, in the foothills of the Livradois-Forez Massif.

A circular walk starting from the village. This is a pretty path through woods and meadows with a few hills. A pleasant surprise awaits you on the last four kilometres, where wooden statues have been placed along the route.

This hike offers the chance to discover several wooden statues, magnificent views and various examples of local heritage. You will also pass through the village of Charron with its church and imposing war memorial.

A hike between rivers and woodland hills, in the Combrailles region.

A beautiful hike at the gateway to Auvergne, discovering the small heritage sites and landscapes of Creuse. Discover the flora and fauna of our countryside and stop at pretty viewpoints.