Luguet signpost

Start from the village of Le Luguet, on the D721, at the drinking troughs (on the right towards Anzat-le-Luguet). Parking available in front of the drinking troughs.

(S/E) Take the road towards the village next to the drinking troughs, then the first right to join the main road. Follow it northwards to the T-junction with the D721, about 200 m from the village.

(1) Turn sharply left onto the small road with the ‘Impasse’ sign (hiking routes are marked here:^GR® and Tour des Vaches Rouges). Follow the green markings; the road gives way to a path passing above the village. You’ll reach a four-way junction after passing the houses (elevation 1243 m).

(2) Turn right, follow the VTT P18 markings and stay on this wide path until you reach the fork in the road as you approach the trees (elevation 1284).

(3) Turn right again, still following the VTT P18 signs. The path then runs alongside the Bois de la Barre for a very long stretch (around 2.5 km),

(4) crossing the Ruisseau la Bave stream before entering the woods. Keep to the VTT P18 route. You will reach a very wide track (elevation 1356m).

(5) Turn right. The track gradually leaves the woods and climbs up the side of the Sianne Valley. After more than 3 km, a sign points to the view of the Sources de la Haute Vallée de la Sianne on the left.

(6) Continue along the track which, about 250 m further on, turns right to reach the signpost indicating an altitude of 1474 m.

(7) Continue straight on towards Parrot and the Signal du Luguet. After a climb, on the level stretch, a track starts on the right (elevation 1516 m).

(8) Go through the gate and take this track, which joins the Bois de la Croix des Champs at the summit of the Signal du Luguet. Continue straight ahead through the clearing and into the woods to get close to the summit despite the lack of a view (it is also possible to go round the woods to the right or left to regain a 360° view). Continue through the woods and exit on the opposite side to the entrance.

(9) Take in the view, then go round the woods to the left towards the north. The path then descends to rejoin the track you left earlier to reach the Signal; use the ladder over the fence.

(10) Take the track on the right towards Parrot. After a long descent with the Massif du Sancy in view, reach a car park (elevation 1330m) and the road (D721a). On the right, reach the start of a path running alongside a fence (^PR® sign and Tour des Vaches Rouges markings).

(11) Take this path, go over the fences (ladders) and head for the station and the signpost for Parrot. Join the D721 at the entrance to the village.

(12) Cross the road and turn left onto the small road towards Anzat-le-Luguet. Note the markings for^{the GR®} 4A, the Tour des Vaches Rouges and the^PR® Vertes. Continue following these markings; after a wide bend to the right, the road heads east.

(13) At a place called Le Buffier, in a bend, a track continues from the road, still heading east, then a path which, after a right-hand bend, heads south, goes round the Roche d’Aulhat and winds down to the Ruisseau du Buffiet in the Cirque glaciaire d’Artoux. A few hundred metres after the stream, you reach the junction leading to the hamlet of Artoux.

(14) Continue straight along the track, following the^GR®,^PR® and Tour des Vaches Rouges markings, heading east. After a steady, gentle climb, you’ll reach the star-shaped junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Cross the junction to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

No water along the route; supplies available in Anzat-Le-Luguet (grocery shop, bakery).
No technical difficulties apart from the distance.

The springs of the Upper Sianne Valley, the Artoux Glacial Cirque.
The views along the hike: the Cezallier, the Cantal Mountains, the Sancy Massif, the Puy de Dôme.