Saint-Étienne-Cantalès walks

Starting from Saint-Étienne-Cantalès, this is a short, easy route with little road traffic but a variety of paths.

In the commune of Saint-Gérons, on the banks of the Saint-Étienne-Cantalès dam lake, a footpath circles the Presqu’île d'Espinet. This path is right at the water's edge and a little narrow between points (3) and (4): it is best to avoid pushchairs.

A lovely, easy hike through bucolic countryside, along and above the water, almost entirely shaded by tall trees. Beautiful views. Swimming possible. Near Saint-Illide, Arnac and Pleaux.

Short urban walk along the Jordanne, then into the Cantal mountains, a stone's throw from the centre of Aurillac. Beautiful views of Aurillac and the Chaîne des Puys. There are herds of livestock and electric fences. Dogs are not allowed.

A magnificent tour on the plateau where the village of Girgols is located. A short stretch of tarmac road at the beginning, then paths and fields. From the hamlet of La Bastide, you are in a wild, solitary and magnificent world.

A loop, mainly through woods, starting from the charming and picturesque sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Belpeuch, which means "the beautiful mountain". Located in the heart of the Xaintrie, it contains a magnificent statue of the Virgin Mary, dating from the 15th century. There are a few steep slopes, but the walk is pleasant. Good walking shoes are necessary.

This is a short walk starting from the magnificent calvary of Bassignac-le-Haut, offering one of the most beautiful views of the Dordogne. It is an easy walk, with part of the route on a quiet road.

Stage 4 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400 Another beautiful stage alternating between summer pastures, forests, ridges, peaks (puy) and passes. Long, with quite a lot of elevation gain and loss. Bring plenty of water!

This is an unmissable walk in the Cère valley, where you can discover the gorges carved out by the glacier and then the river, on a beautiful marked trail.

This easy walk will take you to the summit of Puy Violent, where you can admire a superb 360° view of the Aurillac plain and Puy Mary. Above the Croix des Vachers, an orientation table will tell you the name of each peak.

A nature trail to admire the remarkable Autoire cirque and its waterfall, not to mention the unique Château des Anglais nestled in the cliff.

A day's walk in magnificent surroundings, using theGR® trails in the area. We are within sight of Puy Chavaroche and Puy Mary.

A circular route starting from La Vinzelle, allowing you to discover mountain streams and waterfalls, superb views of the Lot valley from the heights and ending with a tour of the village.

Stage 3 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400. Departure above the hamlet of Récusset, at the end of the long forest track. The upper part of this hike is on open tracks with no shade. The descent, although some sections are shaded, remains exposed.

The Montagnes are isolated burons (shepherd's huts) on the Carladès summer pastures. This easy walk offers views of the typical landscapes of this Auvergne high plateau.

The hike first takes you up the Franche Valeine stream, where you can admire the beautiful, large waterfalls dotted along its course. After a connecting section, you descend to reach the Ruisseau des Rochettes gorges and waterfalls, then rejoin the Franche Valeine and follow it upstream to the car park where the hike began. Most of the route passes through wilderness areas untouched by human activity.

Stage 5 of our Tour du Cantal / GR®400A forest stage (therefore shaded) with two potential climbs: the Puy de l'Usclade and the Puy Griou. * Editor's note: we have also decided not to follow the original GR®400 route, which makes a long detour to the Col de Pertus, which we don't think is worth the effort. We will reach the Col de Gliziou via the PR® (orange and green markings) which climb up the Ruisseau du Luc valley.

A walk in the mountains among cows and typical Cantal landscapes. Niervèze, a lively mountain village, and the geological curiosity of Chaos de Casteltinet and its impressive Lion's Gate are on the programme. Yellow markings.

A superb hike along a ridge with views of the Cantal mountains.

From the Col du Pertus, discover the village of Mandailles and the hamlets of Larmandie and Liadouze on the banks of the Jordanne. On both the outward and return journeys, gaps in the forest offer beautiful views of the valley, the Chavaroche and Puy Mary massifs, as well as the Gliziou and Puy Griou. Update 2025: see practical information

A short, fairly easy hike from the Puy Mary campsite in Mandailles, which allows you to walk in the hills east of the village and return via the Gorges de la Jordanne (when the water level allows).

A beautiful walk along the Cantalian ridges. Open landscapes and magnificent views. To be done in good weather.

This hike allows you to discover "forgotten" places, away from the GR®400, on the section between Puy Gros and Plomb du Cantal. You will discover many restored burons (stone huts), amazing sites and, especially in spring, a rich variety of wild flora and animals with their young. However, this circuit is often off the beaten track, taking you closer to the wildest areas where you are most likely to encounter animals or see rare plants.

From the village of Niervèze, this route, mainly on summer pasture tracks, takes you to the summit of Puy Gros and its plateau, passing by some magnificent restored burons (privately-owned) and the old Cantal chapel, of which only a few ruins and a basalt cross remain. There is a magnificent view over the Cère valley and the main peaks, Puy Chavaroche, Puy Mary, Puy Griou, Peyre Arse, Téton de Vénus and Rocher du Bec de l'Aigle.

This day hike allows you to discover the Gouffre de Padirac and the listed villages of Loubressac and Autoire. From the promontory, you can enjoy a splendid view of the valley.

A beautiful three-day hike, sleeping in a bivouac, with interesting variations in altitude.

A long walk along the ridges allows you to enjoy the view of the Puy du Cantal, the Puy de Sancy and the Plomb du Cantal. Pass through the Brèche de Roland and return to the Cirque d'Eylac with the marmots.

The circuit offers magnificent panoramic views of twelve valleys from the summit. Puy Mary, a veritable pyramid when seen from the sky, rises to 1,783 metres. In the heart of the Cantalien Massif, it is surrounded by exceptional landscapes formed by volcanic activity and glacial erosion, representing the largest volcano in Europe (2,700 km²).

This loop, which starts a few kilometres from Mandaille, will take you to the Col de Cabre and the foot of Puy Griou. With panoramic views of the Cantaliens mountains and forests, this hike, with its varied terrain, is particularly enjoyable in warm weather.

A beautiful, not too difficult walk with magnificent scenery. Ideal for discovering the landscapes of the Cantal.

Round trip above Mandailles, in the vast cirque of Fours de Peyre-Arse and the sources of the Jordanne. Not to be missed: both green and mountainous; magnificent landscapes, moderate difficulty. Climb under the trees, then through the meadows, then walk along an easy ridge path. 360° views in the foreground of the entire Auvergne volcano chain. No difficulty on the route. Marked but regular ascents/descents and a short climb to pass the Brèche de Rolland.

Cross the beautiful high-altitude beech forest in the Bois Mary, then follow the path along the ridge of the Monts du Cantal. This hike alternates between shade in the first half and sunshine and magnificent views in the second half.

Located in the heart of the Lot Valley, Conques-en-Rouergue, listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" and "Villages of Charm in France", is an essential stop on one of the Saint James' Ways, the GR®65 - the Via Podiensis. As you walk around the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy (12th-13th centuries) and through the narrow streets, you can admire the beautiful half-timbered houses.The hike crosses the medieval village, then passes through the vineyards, offering beautiful views of Conques and the Dourdou valley.

Hike near Entraygues-sur-Truyère. Route through forests and meadows on forest trails and tracks leading to the waterfall.

Climb to the summit of the famous Puy Mary from the south-east, via a very pleasant trail, leaving your car quite far away to avoid the crowds of visitors who gather at the Pas de Peyrol. Some hikers may find this hike a little difficult, see reviews.

Connection between Entraygues-sur-Truyère and Espeyrac via the historic Queen Margot trail. Breathtaking views of the Fel hills Regional Nature Reserve and the Lot valley, then the Dazes valley. Espeyrac is the last stop before Conques on the Way of St James via the GR®65 long-distance footpath.

From the pretty village of Senergues to another very beautiful village, Conques. The route alternates between roads and paths through the woods. The arrival in Conques is via a long descent that is quite steep in places. The views are magnificent. The path is always marked in white and red by the GR®65. As this hike does not return to the starting point, you will need to leave a vehicle in Conques.

Espeyrac is a stop on the Way of St James. A picturesque granite village with slate roofs, in unspoilt natural surroundings, surrounded by ancient chestnut groves. You will find refreshments, a grocery store, lodges and an inn.

A beautiful short stage combining roads and paths. Moderate difficulty in terms of distance and elevation. Very good signposting with red and white GR®65 markings. Take advantage of the village crossings to visit the churches and fill up your water bottles at the fountains.

This route takes you on a tour of various farmhouses around the village of Espédaillac, along beautiful paths lined with dry stone walls. This circular route is marked with small signs depicting a hiker in a yellow arrow.

Between Figeac and its confluence with the Lot, the Célé river crosses a limestone plateau. It winds its way between cliffs offering stunning views of the valley. This hike follows part of the river's course. The elevation gain on this walk will delight the more athletic, but it can also be easily split into two to suit everyone.

Hiking in the woods in the Corrèze countryside. An exceptional site that is a must-see: Gimel and its waterfalls.

This splendid route has many attractions: the Château des Anglais clinging to the cliff, the Priory of Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie and several superb views of the Célé Valley.

This is a stage of the Way of St James starting from the pretty village of Estaing. I recommend visiting this magnificent village and its castle. You can also enjoy a drink by the Lot river. A plaque in memory of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing can be found at the entrance to the village. This stage is moderately difficult with a lot of road and some elevation gain, so bring something to drink and protection from the sun.

An interesting hike overlooking the Lot valley, the village and the Estaing valley, discovering two authentic chapels.

Magnificent panoramic views of the thousand-year-old town of Estaing and views of the wild Coussane valley and the Lot valley.