Saint-Santin, at the crossroads of three departments

de fr

A small, peaceful village with a hill called Garenne as its promontory, ideal for exploring the surrounding countryside, Saint-Santin is a village shared between Cantal and Aveyron (two schools, two town halls and two churches). The Lot department is also very close by. The proposed route offers an easy and pleasant hike which, in spring or summer, can serve as a botanical and photographic tour.

Details

n°1598216
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 659 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 659 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,335 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 810 ft
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Photos

the footbridge
Picnic area
Picnic area
View of the village from the top of La Garenne

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Cantal school.

(S/E) Take Rue des Écoles, which climbs northwards to its end (about 200 metres).

(1) Turn right onto the street that leads to the village, then take Rue de Garenne on your left. Before the end of the street, continue along a path directly in front of you, which leads downhill to the D45.

(2) Turn left for 20 metres, then turn left again onto the small road that leads to the hamlet of Rigal. Continue straight ahead, pass the hamlet of Lasplaces and continue to Bélonie Basse.

(3) Turn left onto the path that descends towards the Ruisseau d'Aujou and follow it. Cross the stream and walk along its right bank to reach a picnic area with benches and tables. Continue along the right bank of the stream until you reach a small footbridge.

(4) Take the footbridge over the stream and the path that leads south to the hamlet of Laborie (not shown on the IGN map but clearly marked on OSM Trails). Cross the hamlet before joining the D25, which you follow to the right for about 150 metres.

(5) Take a path on your left that leaves the D25 and heads south. Follow this path, continuing south until you reach the Moulin de Ratier crossroads.

(6) Do not cross the stream, but turn left onto a much wider path that climbs towards the village of Gratacap, first heading east and then north.

(7) Turn onto the path on your right that connects the village to Le Téron and the D45, which you follow until it joins the D25.

(8) Turn left at the hairpin bend, follow the D25 for about 100 metres and turn right into the housing estate next to La Garenne, where you need to climb up to get the best view of the village of Saint-Santin and its surroundings.

(9) At the T-junction, turn left and climb to the top of La Garenne to reach the viewpoint.

(10) Enjoy the panorama, which allows you to contemplate the three departments at your feet: Cantal to the north, Aveyron to the south and Lot to the west.
Then turn back.

(9) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the street you took on the way up.

(1) Turn right onto Rue des Écoles and return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,106 ft - Car park in front of the Cantal school
  2. 1 : mi 0.07 - alt. 1,132 ft - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : mi 0.43 - alt. 1,033 ft - D45
  4. 3 : mi 1.17 - alt. 978 ft - La Bélonie Basse, on the left
  5. 4 : mi 1.96 - alt. 837 ft - Footbridge over the stream
  6. 5 : mi 2.72 - alt. 886 ft - Path on the left
  7. 6 : mi 3.49 - alt. 823 ft - Ratier Mill
  8. 7 : mi 4.07 - alt. 955 ft - Path on the right
  9. 8 : mi 4.9 - alt. 1,063 ft - D45/D25 junction
  10. 9 : mi 5.33 - alt. 1,165 ft - Turn left on the way up - straight ahead on the way down.
  11. 10 : mi 5.59 - alt. 1,296 ft - Garenne viewpoint
  12. S/E : mi 6 - alt. 1,106 ft - Car park in front of the Cantal school

Notes

The picnic area indicated is reached after about an hour's walk.

Worth a visit

The hike is enjoyable thanks to the various views available from the Garenne plateau. The village of Saint-Santin itself is worth visiting before or after the hike; it has been beautifully renovated and is well worth exploring.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 10342942

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At point 5, the route shown on the map takes you through a fenced-in field.
Continue for 50 m along the lime kiln road and turn left onto a path around the field.

At the end of the route, to reach the viewpoint (10), you can continue along the road, which becomes a circular path that takes you around the hill overlooking Saint Santin.

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balou17
balou17

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

For motorhome travellers, large car park 100 metres further down (5.5 tonnes). Many unmarked junctions, use your judgement or GPS.
Some beautiful panoramic views, many grassy paths, freshly cleared. No difficulties.

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norbert.poiret@orange.fr
norbert.poiret@orange.fr

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello

Difficult to find the start and turn right or left in the village
We set off along the road for 800 metres, passing the cemetery, and found the path further down
On the way back, we received a warm welcome at the bar from the new owners, who were parish specific to Brittany and very friendly!

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Francis 12
Francis 12

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through our countryside. No particular difficulties. It also allows you to discover the unique character of the twin villages of St Santin.
A visit to the two small museums (Marie-Pierre in Cantal and Pierre Marie in Aveyron) provides a good overview of the history of the area.

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norbert.poiret@orange.fr
norbert.poiret@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello

The start was difficult to find, but we followed the GPS to the cemetery via the road and joined the route 500 metres further down.
After that, no problems; very nice bar when we arrived at the square.
Thank you

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Thierry7100
Thierry7100

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful scenery.
Small issue at point 5: the field is now completely fenced off. Continue a few dozen metres to take the path indicated on the map. It is marked in yellow.

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Magali F
Magali F

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. It's a shame that the trail isn't marked, but the explanations are very clear. It's impossible to get lost.

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jacques 12300
jacques 12300

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, this route is fine, except that when it says you have to cross a hamlet, you can't actually find it, and if you follow a sign to find this hamlet, you end up going in the opposite direction to the route.
That's it. I recommend it to everyone.

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Gaillane
Gaillane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike along beautiful paths. The main attraction is the starting and finishing point... the twin village of St Santin (on the Cantal side of Maurs).

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godille
godille

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely little walk in the countryside, through fields and woods! Starting from a charming little village with two churches side by side, located in two departments, Cantal and Aveyron! Two town halls and two schools!

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joycevander
joycevander

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely views, pleasant hike without difficulty. An unusual village that is well worth a visit.
You can visit two small museums explaining the village's unique character. And you can also quench your thirst at the bar at the end of the trail.

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