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In Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite, park at the northern exit of the village, on the edge of the D145, not far from the cemetery, in a small car park for hikers (local hiking sign "le Puy d'Alou").
Please note! This hike is not marked as such.
(S/E) With your back to the village and the car park on your left, take the path on the left towards Pessade to climb up to the Plateau de la Serre. At the intersection with a path coming from the left, continue straight on towards La Pinarde (yellow sign). At the T-junction, follow the path on the right. Take the road on the left and turn onto the first path on the right. Ignore a path on the right and continue to a road.
(1) Turn right to cross Ludière. Pass to the left of a fountain and wash house, then turn left onto a street. Ignore the dirt track that immediately branches off to the right (private) and continue on the tarmac road, which disappears shortly afterwards. At the T-junction with a path, note a small red sign with a yellow flower. Ignore this sign (which is only a landmark here) and turn right. Immediately afterwards, take the grassy path on the left (if this path is not sufficiently maintained in spring, you may need to wear trousers). At the next intersection, take the path on the left.
(2) At the T-junction, opposite a barn, look for a small stone cross a few metres to your left, then follow the path to the right. At the fork, continue to the right (overlooking the Monne valley), then ignore all the paths on either side until you reach a road.
(3) Follow it to the left, then take the first path on the right. At the crossroads of four paths (marked "La Pinarde"), turn left towards La Couvange. When you reach a road, follow it to the right (following the yellow disc markings). Pass a fountain on your left and, just after, at a fork with yellow signs, follow the street to the right.
(4) At the crossroads, with several road signs and yellow signs, continue to the right. Shortly afterwards, at the Auberge de l'Âne, turn left onto Chemin des Sagnes and follow this street, which immediately turns left in front of an iron cross. Walk past a water treatment plant and, at the end, turn right onto the path. At the fork, turn left.
(5) At the next intersection, at the "la Couvange" signpost, climb to the right onto the Plateau de Champille, towards Trapa. At the T-junction, continue to the right on a path overlooking the Ruisseau de Lambre valley. Further on, the path turns right and then arrives at a road with yellow signs.
(6) Follow the road to the left. At the junction with a path coming from the right, continue straight ahead on the road towards the castle. Ignore another path on the right, then take the next one that runs alongside the road, descending towards Lambre. Take the first street on the left, at the corner of a house. You will come to another street. Follow it to the right and you will immediately see the modest remains of an old castle on your right. Just after the sign for "le Château", you will see an old oven and a drinking trough on your right. Continue along the road towards Pont de Lambre.
(7) At the bridge and the "Pont de Lambre" signpost, continue along the road to cross the Ruisseau de Lambre stream towards Foncheyroune. This takes you from the Champille Plateau up to the Sailles Plateau. Take the first path on the right which climbs into the woods. After a few bends, you will come to a crossroads at the "Foncheyroune" signpost. Turn right towards Zintraigue. Ignore a path on the left and you will arrive at the "Zintraigue" signpost, once again at the edge of the Ruisseau de Lambre.
(8) Follow the signs for Le Coin on the left. Ignore a path on the left at the yellow signs. At the next intersection, at the entrance to Freydefont, turn right to walk alongside the covered fountain, arrive at Place du Four, opposite the old bread oven, and continue slightly to the left, walking alongside the oven, then turn right onto Rue Chez Pignère.
(9) At the crossroads with the village's main street, turn left to walk alongside a drinking trough, then immediately turn right onto Rue de Laval to leave the village. Further on, the tarmac disappears. At the T-junction, at the "Le Coin" signpost, take the path on the right towards Croix de Laval. This section offers beautiful views, with the small Puy d'Alou in your line of sight.
(10) Take the path on the right, following the yellow markings. Cross a tiny stream, which is still the Ruisseau de Lambre, very close to its source. Ignore a path on the right (yellow and red cross) and you will come to a road at the "Croix de Laval" signpost. Continue along the path opposite towards Puy d'Alou.
(11) About a hundred metres further on, you will see the small Croix de Laval on your left (it is somewhat overgrown; there is a tree on your right at this point). Continue along the path, keeping Puy d'Alou on your left (there is no path leading up to it).
(12) At the "Puy d'Alou" signpost, turn right towards Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite. You will come to a road. Follow it to the right until you reach the village (there is no alternative to this section of road; it is not very busy and the right-hand side is quite wide; it is also possible to walk in the field on the left if it has been mowed).
(13) At the fork at the entrance to the village, at the restaurant and several signposts, continue straight ahead. You will soon arrive between a fountain and a wash house on your right and the church on your left. Head towards the church (beautiful murals in the choir), leave it on your right, then turn right onto the street to reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
