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Coming from Argentat on the D18, park in the dedicated hikers' car park on the right-hand side of the road, about 50 metres upstream from the Barrage du Sablier dam.
This circular route combines two walks suggested in the "Bol d'air" leaflet from the Argentat Tourist Office. The first part is marked with a yellow line topped with an "8" and the second part with a yellow line topped with a "7". Both markings are well maintained and clearly visible throughout the route.
(S/E) Return to the dam (check access to the footbridge, see Practical Information) and cross the road carefully to take the small road that climbs to the right. At the start of this road, there are information panels about this part of the hike called the "Route des crêtes Marcel Bossoutrot". Follow the small road to the drinking water production plant.
(1) Turn right onto a path just before the plant. Continue along this path, following the clearly marked signs and ignoring the forest paths on either side. The path climbs steadily through the woods.
Higher up, the path leaves the woods and continues between meadows, finally reaching the hamlet of Aumont.
(2) In this pretty hamlet, we will leave the marked trail for a short while to take a quick look around. First, continue straight ahead on the street that crosses the hamlet. At the fork in the road, a blue sign, "Chemin des crêtes", visible a few metres ahead, invites you to continue to the right. Ignore this and instead take the street on the left and continue to the last houses on the street. Retrace your steps to a house on your left called 'Enclos des lions' with a lion statue on its gate. Take the steps to the right of this gate and continue along the grassy path that extends to rejoin a street and our signposts.
(3) Take this street on the left. It soon turns into a path. At a fork in the grassy paths, keep left and continue along this path, which becomes less grassy and widens. Further on, you will find yourself back on tarmac as you cross the hamlet of Rioubazès and continue along this small road which leads to a crossroads.
(4) Cross the main road and take the path opposite, clearly marked by a large sign saying "PR®, Route des crêtes". This path climbs through a deforested area (very recently in June 2021) to reach a meadow area.
(5) Shortly afterwards, at a T-junction, continue along the path on the left.
(6) Ignore the two paths on the left that lead to the hamlet (Le Fraysse), visible on the left. Further on, at a fork, keep right, then rejoin the tarmac road to cross the hamlet of Bel-Air.
(7) At the exit of this hamlet, before passing in front of a "castle" with a visible roof, leave the main road and take a small road on the left. This marks the start of a long descent through the woods. At a fork, just after a house on the left, turn left onto a path (private property straight ahead). Ignore the few side paths and continue to follow the markings. At the end of the descent, leave the woods and continue between the woods on the right and the meadows on the left until you reach a small road, just after a bench on the right.
(8) Follow this road straight ahead for a few metres to cross a larger road (D131) just after, then continue opposite, Rue Jean Moulin, to cross the hamlet of Longour. You will come out onto the D18. Leave the yellow "8" markings. Look for the yellow "7" markings on the right-hand side of the road, which you will now follow.
(9) Cross the D18 and follow it to the right. After about 100 metres, turn left onto the street leading to the municipal campsite. At the campsite reception, turn right, continue to the right of a small playground, then turn left onto an old road. Immediately afterwards, follow the signs for the swimming pool, passing through the open green gates. Turn left as soon as possible, walking alongside a rounded building, then cross a small square with beautiful catalpa trees forming an arbour. You will then arrive at the banks of the Dordogne.
(10) Continue right on this beautiful path along the Dordogne until you reach the restaurant district on the Argentat quay. There are no markings at this point.
(11) Continue straight ahead, still along the river, towards the bridge. There are pretty houses on the right, many of which are restaurants, and information boards about gabare boat trips. Gabare boat trips are available in season. Just before a crêperie, below the bridge, turn right (despite the yellow cross; see possible alternative in Practical Information), go up the stairs, then turn left onto the road to take the bridge over the Dordogne.
On the other side, continue to the first street on the left, Rue de l'Hospice. You will then find the yellow "7" sign. Follow it, taking all the streets on the left to get closer to the banks of the Dordogne.
(12) At the T-junction with Rue du Bac, the markings invite you to continue to the right. However, as with this route, you can choose to make a round trip to the Gravières Biodiversity Reserve.
Turn left and, shortly afterwards, at the sign for "Réserve de Biodiversité des Gravières, 15 min", go down to the right on a short paved slanting street, then turn left onto a wooden footbridge that takes you under the bridge. Follow the bank of the Dordogne until you pass under a road bridge (noisy road). A few metres further on, you will reach the ponds of the Gravières Biodiversity Reserve. Take a stroll around at your leisure.
(13) Retrace your steps until you reach Rue du Bac, after the wooden footbridge.
(12) Follow the yellow "7" markings again, continuing left on this street, which soon turns into a very small road, still with the Dordogne on your left. This will take you to a wider road, near a small business park.
Cross and follow this road to the left, on the pavement (not the most pleasant part of the route, but there is little traffic).
(14) After passing a small factory, turn right onto a grassy path. It passes between meadows and workshops, then between meadows and houses as you arrive at the hamlet of Croisy, where you will find yourself back on tarmac.
(15) Ignore a street on the left, then at the next fork, turn right onto a narrow lane. Join a wide road and follow it to the right, taking care. Walk along the dam superstructures until you find the pedestrian and cycle crossing on the left. Cross the Dordogne on the dam, then turn right onto the D18, taking care, to reach the car park 50 metres further on (S/E).
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