Towards Bonneval Abbey

From the village of Cayrol, on the edge of the Aubrac plateau, this hike takes us back to the deep gorges of a boralde where the Cistercian Abbey of Bonneval nestles in a solitary and peaceful spot conducive to contemplation.

Details

52725
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 405 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 408 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 863 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 525 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the centre of the village, head back south. Before the post office, turn right towards Barrugues. Pass in front of the old school. Continue on the Barrugues road until you reach the entrance to the village.

(1) Go down to the left for 50 m and continue straight ahead on a grassy path and descend to the Ruisseau de Barruguettes.

(2) Cross and go up an old path lined with low walls to the D136 road to Palays.

(3) Follow it to the right for 100 m, then turn left and head towards Palays. Continue straight ahead. Descend to the Ruisseau de Caussane via a farm track.

(4) Take the hairpin bend to the right and climb up through the woods to the D921 and follow it to the right for 50 m (be careful). Cross and take the dirt track opposite.

(5) At the crossroads 100 m further on, turn left down a sunken lane lined with low walls towards the valley. Follow the edge of the woods. Pass an old barn.

(6) At the first crossroads, take the hairpin bend to the right (leaving a forest path climbing up the hillside to the north-west on your left). Join the small road to the abbey and turn left (only the church is open to visitors and chocolate is on sale).

(7) Take the same path you took on the way there until you reach the fork.

(6) Go up to the right towards Bourdounheyres. 200 m before the farm, take a sharp left turn, then a right turn and continue climbing until you reach the D921.

(8) Cross (be careful), go up for 500 m then turn left towards Coussanes.

(9) Cross the hamlet. At the last houses, climb up to the right to La Combe. Before the farm, take a hairpin left turn. At the crossroads, continue left for a few metres.

(10) Turn right onto a service road to Roumayrie.

(11) Cross the hamlet and continue straight ahead on a dirt track to Barrugues

(1) Take the road on the right to return to Le Cayrol (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 856 m - Car park at Cayrol church
  2. 1 : km 1.69 - alt. 805 m - Village of Barrugues
  3. 2 : km 2.01 - alt. 763 m - Crossing the Barruguettes stream
  4. 3 : km 2.91 - alt. 776 m - Road to Le Palays
  5. 4 : km 4.46 - alt. 689 m - Crossing the Caussane stream
  6. 5 : km 5.27 - alt. 722 m - Sunken lane lined with low walls
  7. 6 : km 6.1 - alt. 620 m - Fork
  8. 7 : km 6.9 - alt. 525 m - Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonneval
  9. 8 : km 9.13 - alt. 782 m - D921
  10. 9 : km 10 - alt. 778 m - Crossing the hamlet of Coussanes
  11. 10 : km 10.67 - alt. 813 m - Service road towards Roumayrie.
  12. 11 : km 11.35 - alt. 792 m - Crossing the hamlet of Roumayrie.
  13. S/E : km 13.43 - alt. 856 m - Car park at Cayrol church

Notes

Markings: Yellow

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
cyclo6081
cyclo6081

Beautiful hike, very well signposted and shaded

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cathy86
cathy86

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with lots of undergrowth and some stunning panoramic views.
No problems with the route or GPS.

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Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you, ASPPT Castres, for this information. I have just modified the description.

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JF Castres
JF Castres
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this walk at the weekend. It was very pleasant despite the overcast and foggy weather.
The S/E point in the description should be changed from "La mairie" to "La Poste", as the new town hall has moved further up towards the church and we pass it before turning off towards Barrugues (car park at the community centre).

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Gîte des Albarets
Gîte des Albarets

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route in the hills above the Lot Valley. Well-maintained paths with a good elevation gain. Views of Bonneval Abbey on the way up to Cayrol. A peaceful route through unspoilt countryside.

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Gérard Briffon
Gérard Briffon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views. Clean, shaded trails that are well marked.

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lyllatsrando
lyllatsrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Another beautiful hike from OT Estaing-Espalion
A lovely discovery: Bonneval Abbey, a very pleasant walk
Nice climb on the way back, a good workout for the legs
Thanks to OT

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Jean Paul 81
Jean Paul 81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Enjoy your hike!

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randovolant
randovolant
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The departure point is at Cayrol and the arrival point is at Barrugues?
You therefore need to add 2 km to the length to return to the start.
A magnificent circuit on beautiful paths and drovers' roads, the abbey is superb and food lovers can buy the famous chocolate there
Avoid in wet weather due to the presence of flagstones and cobblestones

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User 11903082
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike 🥾🥾very peaceful. Superb scenery.

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yannherbert
yannherbert

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk and the abbey is well worth a visit.
To avoid the paved section, you can start from Barrugues (point 2)
At the top of the hamlet, there is space to park 4 to 5 cars

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Valnan
Valnan

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike. Fortunately, it was in the woods because it was very hot.
The abbey is very pretty.
The section between Cayrol and Barrugues is paved, which is best avoided when it's very hot and sunny.
At point 5, the path was closed by a barrier due to a landslide. I managed to get through. A tree had been uprooted, but there was plenty of room to pass.

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jl_phalippou
jl_phalippou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is a path leading from the abbey itself, but I can't find any trace of it! Not even the path that leads to the cross on the hill opposite the abbey! There is a marked path (yellow) a little higher up! I will return to this place, which is so special for its beauty and isolation...! Phalippou G.Joêl

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Isa&Ddc
Isa&Ddc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We were lucky to have beautiful sunshine and a light breeze for our hike. The route is pleasant and shaded with a reasonable elevation gain. The first part of the route is mainly downhill and relatively long until you reach Bonneval Abbey (unfortunately closed), but the climb back up is not difficult as the slope is gradual. When the view is clear, the scenery is magnificent.We left our vehicle at Cayrol and returned to Cayrol: 14.8 km according to my mobile phone app. Very well signposted.

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jmby12
jmby12

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike, pleasant in magnificent woodlands.
However, when I recorded the route with my Viewranger app,
the route with the return trip to the abbey was 15.3 km.
the elevation gain stated is the difference in altitude, whereas in reality there is a cumulative elevation gain of 819 metres.

enjoy your walk, everyone!

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