Circuit of the Bois de Crosas via Le Puy-la-Besse

In Auphelle, park at Port Crozat, in the car park near the campsite (do not use the private car park at the inn just before it).

(S/E) Head towards the lake, then take the road on the right, which runs below the campsite and is signposted GRP® (Monts et Barrages en Limousin) in yellow and white. Continue along the path once the tarmac ends, then stay between the lake and the slopes of the Bois de Crozas, ignoring all turn-offs to the right and following the GRP® markings.

(1) The path emerges from the woods and approaches a road. Stay on the GRP®-marked path along the lake until you come to a flight of steps leading up to the D222 road. Take it.

(2) Cross the road carefully and follow the old, narrow road opposite, which gradually becomes a track; stay on the GRP® route.

(3) At the junction marked ‘Puy Lavaud’, go straight on until you reach another sign of the same name a few metres further on, at a Fork in the road. Leave the GRP® here and take the path on the right. At the next four-way junction, continue straight on. You are now following the yellow and purple markings on a white background.

(4) At the T-junction, turn left, following the yellow markings. About 500 m further on, don’t miss a path on the right, closed off by a gate marking the start of a grazing area. Take this path and climb up through the fern-covered slopes of the Puy de la Besse. Reach the summit of the hill, where there is a sort of very tall cairn. There is a sweeping view over the plateau, but not of the lake.

(5) Continue along the path; further down, pass through another gate at a crossroads and take the second path on the right. You’ll reach the orientation table for the Chemin des Poètes, which is more like a compass rose. Panoramic view. Carry on along the path until you reach a junction at the ‘Roches Brunagère’ signpost. There’s a sign for the Chemin des Poètes, a beautifully carved stone.

(6) Turn right, following the purple markings on a white background. You are now on a section of the Chemin des Poètes, which is dotted with large stones carved with short poems (not always easy to make out).

(7) At the next junction, look for GRP® markings, which you’ll follow right through to the finish, and keep to the left. You’ll be walking through the Bois de Crozas once again.

(8) At the junction with the Bois de Crosat signpost (spelling varies between Crosas, Crosat and Crozat), follow the GRP® sign to the right. Shortly afterwards, take the path on the left (GRP®) and immediately ignore a path on the left. Continue along this path, which offers views over the lake, ignoring any side paths. You’ll come out onto a road.

(9) Turn left, then immediately afterwards take the path on the right to go round a copse and continue along this path above the road. At a Fork in the road, turn right. You’ll reach the road.

(10) Cross it carefully and walk straight ahead across the grass to reach a path. Follow it to the left until you reach a Fork in the road. Take the lower road, pass the Port Crozat signpost straight away and continue on to your car park (S/E).

Easy hike; standard hiking kit required.

Photo gallery here