A wander among the underbrush along the Couze Pavin, from bank to bank, flowing in cascades.
Calculated time: 1h45[?] 
Distance : 4.79km
Vertical gain : 140m
Vertical drop : 140m
Highest point : 992m
Lowest point : 848m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Areas : Massif central, Monts Dore 
Location : Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise
(63610)
Starting point : N 45.517903° / E 2.93996° 
Access: At the end of the little road to the right after entering the winter camping site (the latter is at the exit agglomeration of Besse-en-Chandesse on the road to Murol and is well marked with a large sign). Park in the car park near the shed.
Start: At the house before the shed, take the path that begins along the gable of the house (to ensure that you are on the right path, check the small wooden sign for the waterfalls that is at foot of the trees to the left of the trail).
The trail then runs along the camping site. Reach the football field (1). Walk along it on its left and cross the D978 to head right along a road leading to the rubbish tip. Go past the treatment plant (2), following the left bank of the Couze Pavin, flowing in a succession of waterfalls over 400 metres.
Cross the couze over the bridge (3) and immediately take a path up towards Les Carnians. At the next intersection, turn right towards the Thiaulaire. (Discovery Trail) At the fork at the entrance to the hamlet, continue straight on the road.
Turn left on the D149 then immediately cross it to take the road right to the roundabout (4). Continue across the bridge returning to the starting point after entering the winter camping site (5).
N.B. Couze is an Auvergne word that can be translated as torrent.
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 988m
1 : km 0.4 - alt. 958m - football field - Cascade de Chiloza
2 : km 0.95 - alt. 929m - purification plant
3 : km 1.83 - alt. 858m
4 : km 4.36 - alt. 992m
5 : km 4.52 - alt. 984m - Couze Pavin (rivière) à finaliser
D/A : km 4.79 - alt. 988m
A fairly rugged trail, sometimes difficult along the couze, wear good walking shoes.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 3.5/5
Number of opinions : 2
Description quality : 4/5
Routemap quality : 3.5/5
Walk interest : 3/5
Global average : 3.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 01/09/19
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Average
We did this walk after the Lac Pavin one and we’re a bit disappointed. It is difficult to see the falls from the path and the path was badly eroded in parts.
Global average : 3.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 26/06/19
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Average
Walk interest
: Average
Bit disappointed with this walk. Finding the start point was not easy, the description is not very clear - it is the small road AFTER the caravan site. The walk to the falls does, as described, take you past a refuse & recycling plant, then a water treatment plant - neither too pleasant at 38C temperatures.
The walk down to and along the falls is quite difficult - I imagine it would be quite treacherous if wet, and then we were attacked by hordes of flies on the return loop!
7.81km
+223m
-224m
2h50
Moderate
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+321m
-317m
4h15
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+907m
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7h15
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+526m
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3h25
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13.84km
+922m
-922m
6h35
Difficult
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12.98km
+354m
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4h45
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4.31km
+220m
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1h50
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
