Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac – Espalion

(S) Set off from the campsite towards the centre of Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac to rejoin the^GR®65. Walk through the village along the Route du Pont Neuf (provisions available in the street from the grocery shop and bakery). Continue to the Post Office.

(1) Turn left towards the Town Hall, then right; leave the Town Hall on your left and turn left downhill. Walk past the church on Rue de la Fontaine, then continue along Rue du Pont des Pélerins.

(2) Cross the Pont des Pélerins bridge over the Boralde, then continue along Rue du Pont Neuf. Carry on to the cemetery, at a sharp left-hand bend.

(3) A few dozen metres further on, leave Route du Pont Neuf and turn sharply right. Walk past the cemetery and continue until you reach the D19.

(4) First turn right then left, crossing the road carefully, to continue on the GR® heading south-west. Ignore the^PR® which branches off to the left and rejoin the D19. Follow it to the left for about a hundred metres and cross it carefully to enter the hamlet of Le Recours.

(5) Leave the D19 and turn right. Cross the hamlet and then the Bois de Grosmaurel and rejoin the D19. Follow it to the right as far as the hamlet of Les Cambrassats.

(6) In the centre of the hamlet, turn left towards the south-east, then south-west. After the hamlet of Foyt, keep to the right, heading south-west, and reach the Route de Saint-Chely.

(7) Follow it to the right, continuing in the same direction. At the Y-junction, head right, ignoring the^PR®, leave a road on your right and take the^first path on the right. Continue to the centre of the village of L’Estrade, at the T-junction.

(8) Turn right and continue downhill on the GR®. Cross the Bois de Valesque, still heading south-west, and arrive at the junction with a PR^®.

(9) Cross over and continue along the winding path, further south. Pass a path on your right and continue eastwards, cross the Ruisseau de Cancels and reach the hairpin bend on a small road. Follow it to the right to reach the D557 opposite a cross near a bridge.

(10) Cross the road, ignore the bridge and take the path between the cross and the left-hand branch of the road that runs alongside the stream. You’ll rejoin the road a little further on; cross the bridge on the left and continue along the D557. After a sharp left-hand bend and just before a right-hand bend, look for a path that climbs to the right and joins the track to the hamlet of La Rozière (otherwise you’ll find it after the bend). Climb up to the hamlet.

(11) Cross it from east to west, then in a wide left-hand bend, turn right towards the forest. Continue along the^GR®65to reach the Chemin de Grèzes.

(12) Head left, then left again. Pass under a high-voltage power line and continue until you reach the hamlet of Cinqpeyres at a bend in the road.

(13) Turn left, cross the hamlet of Cinqpeyres, take the Chemin de Cinqpeyres near the D987 and continue to the junction with the small Rue des Plos.

(14) Turn right then left to cross the hamlet of La Rigaldie. You will come out onto the Route de Castelnau.

(15) Head right, cross the Route d’Argent (D987) with care and continue along the Chemin du Sol until you reach the D987 again.

(16) Go under the D987 through the tunnel to continue along Rue de Marthat. Carry on to Place de la Porte Neuve in the village of Saint-Côme-d’Olt (where you can stock up at the grocery shop and bakery), where the Tourist Office is located.

(17) Turn left with your back to the Tourist Office, walk past Sainte-Marie School on the street of the same name, then turn right to reach the D6 and cross the bridge over the Lot.

(18) After the bridge, head right at a hairpin bend onto the path below, following the red and white markings, then walk alongside the river. You will come to a Y-junction.

(19) Ignore the^PR® and continue to the right on the^GR®65. Pass a stopover lodge at a place called Les Combes and carry on until you reach the church at Perse.

(20) Turn right twice to follow the path running alongside the Ruisseau de Perse, then the River Lot, until you reach a park where you will find the Espalion municipal campsite (E).

Supplies available in the villages of Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac (S), Saint-Côme-d'Olt (17) and Espalion (20).
Campsite: Espalion Campsite: SAS Roc de l'Arche. Tel: 0565440679, http://www.rocdelarche.com/

Saint-Côme d'Olt (17)
Espalion (E)