Thiézac – Mandailles

(S) After the church, continue along the main road until you reach a junction. Turn right, then immediately left to reach a Y-junction.

(1) Follow the signs for Notre-Dame de Consolation; the path is marked by a Way of the Cross and leads quickly to the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Consolation. Beautiful view. In front of the chapel, the path veers northwards and arrives at a cave known as the Grotte des Ermites.
The climb continues fairly steeply and rapidly but levels off as you reach the hillock where the Trielle lodge is situated. Cross the field below the farm, following the wooden markers, and you’ll emerge in front of the farm.

(2) Take the small road on the right, which continues on level ground to the hamlet of Le Clou.

(3) In the hamlet, take a path on the left that climbs through the woodland. Heading south-west, it then turns north as it approaches the high-altitude meadows. Continue climbing after a few bends towards the Vacherie de la Poche. Follow the track leading to the Vacherie until you reach a gate.

(4) Turn right onto a faint track that climbs gradually up to the Puy de la Poche. Follow the boundary of the pasture; do not take the track that branches off to the left on the ascent. Reach the summit of the Puy de la Poche.

(5) Keep to the left along the ridge, alternating between ascents and descents. Then continue down a steep descent to reach a small pass at the foot of the Elancèze.

(6) Take the path on the left to reach the summit of the Élancèze.

(7) Return to the previous junction.

(6) Turn left to descend easily to the Col du Pertus, a junction of footpaths and roads.

(8) Cross the road and continue straight on, staying on the^GR® towards Puy Griou. You’ll soon come to a Y-junction on the^GR®, where the path splits into two branches.

(9) Take the left-hand branch, leaving the Puy Griou path. Head down through the woods and, after a hairpin bend, join a small road leading to the hamlet of Biguet.

(10) Turn off this road immediately to the right. Continue the descent, following the clearly visible^GR® signposts. You’ll reach another junction of paths near the Ruisseau du Luc.

(11) Turn left twice to reach a small road leading to the main road serving the village of Mandailles, today’s destination (E).

- Water and cold drinks in Trielle.
- No water thereafter until you reach a few drinking fountains below the Col du Pertus.
- Hotel and lodge in Mandailles. Grocery shop adjoining the Les Genêts d’Or hotel.

- Notre-Dame de Consolation Chapel:^17th-century frescoes, well worth seeing. The key is at the Hôtel l’Élancèze in Thiézac.
- (9) Options to extend the route towards the Puy de l’Usclade and/or the Puy Griou, but this significantly lengthens the day’s walk.
(E) Accommodation available at