Tour of Lake Aydat

A charming walk around the lake with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding hills and modern buildings that blend in perfectly with the setting.

Details

1249721
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 82 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 75 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 878 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 831 m

Photos

Description of the walk

There are several car parks available along the route. We parked near the campsite entrance at the northern tip.

(S/E) Start the tour in a counterclockwise direction.
Start on the pavement, then take the first steps down to water level and follow the path.
Go under a ramp providing access from the road, cross a beach area to reach the water sports centre.

(1) A shortcut allows you to cross it and continue along the banks to reach a closed gate.

(2) Go around it, passing close to the water. (Not accessible with a pushchair).

(3) Continue along the riverbank and cross the wetland area via the network of footbridges. Take the opportunity to admire the flora and fauna and read the information provided. In the surrounding area, note the contemporary villas that blend in well with the landscape.
In this area, do not try to get close to the shore, as it is impassable. Instead, head towards and around the church

(4) Take the first road on the left, Poudure D90a.
Follow this road as it climbs slightly and enjoy the view of the lake and surrounding hills.
Go through the hamlet of Poudure and follow the road opposite for about 300 metres

(5) Turn left onto the path that will take you closer to the lake. When you reach the water's edge in the bay to the south-east of the lake, continue along the path to the Pont de l'Arche bridge.

(6) Join a tarmac road and follow it for 120m until you reach the first crossroads.
Turn left, then 100 metres further on, turn left again (almost due north) and continue for 15 metres to take a path heading north-west.
After 20 m, at the intersection of paths, take the left fork and continue to the road (D90). The car park is right next to it (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 839 m - Parking near the campsite entrance - Lac d'Aydat
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 841 m - Water sports centre
  3. 2 : km 0.77 - alt. 839 m - Gate at the exit of the water sports centre
  4. 3 : km 1.18 - alt. 839 m - Wetland area of the - Veyre (la, affluent de l'Allier)
  5. 4 : km 1.79 - alt. 847 m - Church
  6. 5 : km 2.78 - alt. 863 m - Trail intersection
  7. 6 : km 4.26 - alt. 838 m - Arche Bridge - Veyre (la, affluent de l'Allier)
  8. S/E : km 5.71 - alt. 839 m - Parking near the campsite entrance

Notes

Hiking boots are recommended, as some areas can be muddy. There are no water sources.
Walking sticks are not essential.

Worth a visit

The church of Aydat is on your route, and the region as a whole is full of remarkable sites and buildings.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
toto63
toto63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route isn’t very busy at this time of year, but it’s still enjoyable thanks to the lovely weather. It’s fairly easy to follow, though there were a few moments when I wasn’t quite sure which way to go – but there’s no risk of getting lost. Beautiful scenery all around the lake. An interesting walk. There’s a lovely church in Aydat.

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RandonEure06
RandonEure06

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Poorly marked route.
We only walked around the wetland area

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DidierRando26
DidierRando26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Weekday hike in August. Very nice trail, no particular difficulties. Avoid pushchairs, as there are lots of stones and slopes on the trail. The gate at the end of the base is closed, but you can walk along the lake without getting your feet wet. After point 6, I preferred to follow the lake shore, passing behind the campsite. The trail is great, with footbridges to cross the water. Lots of viewpoints. Take the time to enjoy the wetland between points 3 and 4. Beautiful church in Aydat. I recommend it.

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jloup63
jloup63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice, peaceful walk.

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André Marcu
André Marcu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very good. Nice and easy, well-designed course. Very pleasant setting.

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claudekiko
claudekiko

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, partly along the water's edge with views of the surrounding mountains and sections through woodland.

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Fredetcat
Fredetcat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

As a novice, the guidance was perfect and the hiking information was also excellent.

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Mamymosa
Mamymosa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike with stunning views

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PERRET Marie-Noëlle
PERRET Marie-Noëlle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant walk, a few hesitations at the base. Nautical.

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veronb
veronb

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It seems to me that the description of the walk is no longer up to date because it is impossible to walk along the lake beyond the water sports centre, where you cannot get around the gate in question, with or without a pushchair. This is what we were told by someone we spoke to at the water sports centre after turning back. This doesn't change much because you have to go back onto the road, which has a path protected from cars for walking. The person at the water sports centre also seemed to say that the view is better if you go clockwise. Apart from that, it's a pleasant walk with alternating sections in the shade and in the sun

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oponcin
oponcin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The tour of the lake in pictures: https://youtu.be/3TCmbiwuhhw?si=6mGavFVq...
taken at the end of November: few people around

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AUDI62
AUDI62

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy hike, but not particularly interesting.
It's a shame that you can't see much of the lake during the walk.
Many walkers do the route in the opposite direction because the signs point that way.
At point 6, we took the dotted line on the map towards the Femme rock.

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deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the route in the cool morning and only saw four mountain bikers. It was an easy, pleasant route with plenty of shade. We just missed the trail in the village (we followed the road)

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Ellerima
Ellerima

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice and easy route

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fiat60
fiat60

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I think it's a mistake to go in the opposite direction to go around the lake because the signs point in the other direction and you get a better look at the information boards along the way

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