Tour des Vaches Rouges (departure from Puy-de-Dôme)

Étape 1

Turn right onto the Chemin de la Roche Marchal and continue straight on to the hamlet of Bac (1.2 km). You’ll pass the Arboretum, a theme park with picnic tables and benches.

Étape 2

Turn right in front of the baker’s oven, continue to the D 679. Pedestrian bridge – Bread oven – Cross and Virgin and Child in wall niche.

Étape 3

Cross the RD 679 and go straight ahead, then after 50 m, take the track on the left (small stream below). Continue between meadows for approx. 750 m.

Étape 4

At the fork in the road, turn left and then left again at the entrance to the Fouet-Haut woods. Cross it and, after the climb, return to a ridge. Continue straight ahead, then descend towards the hamlet of Piquemeule.

Étape 5

Go past the Piquemeule barn (remarkable for its size) and take the large track on the right; cross the Allanche stream.

Étape 6

At the fork, take the left-hand path upwards (views of the Monts du Cantal and the south-western slopes of the Cézallier).

Étape 7

At the crossroads, keep right and return to the road (RD 39).

Étape 8

Turn left as far as Pradiers (information panel – picnic table – church).

Étape 9

From Pradiers church square, go down the small staircase, past the EDF transformer and down the street leading to the north end of the village; fork left, then right towards the last houses.

Étape 10

Take this old track which veers off to the right, then cross 2 successive rus in 2 90° left-hand bends. Go up a track halfway up the slope lined with tall trees (view of the Monts du Cantal); continue due north (through 4 gates) to the hamlet of Courbières.Cross an old stone bridge, and after a short climb to the left, reach the top of the hamlet. Turn right and continue uphill to a fork in the road.

Étape 11

Turn left; pass a water tank, ignore a path to the right, and at the next fork turn right.

Étape 12

At the edge of the wood, go through a gate; follow the plantation and continue straight ahead in the meadow for 200 m to a gate. Go through the gate and continue along the fence to a nearby 2nd gate. Follow the fence in the same direction to reach an old, perpendicular sunken track.

Étape 13

Go up to the right for about 200 m, then at the fork in the road, turn left onto a good track leading to the meadow. Follow it to Rascoupet.

Étape 14

At the hamlet, go straight on for 50 m. Turn left at the gable end of a large building, as far as Rascoupet-Bas. At the crossroads, turn left onto the small road for about 150 m to leave the hamlet.

Étape 15

Turn right and follow the south-facing track along fields and meadows, keeping to the fence.

Étape 16

Turn right (left, ferme des Prades – Lodging). At the end of the track, cross a small road (on the left, you can visit the La Roche basaltic flow site (classified as a sensitive natural area) in 20 min AR) and climb the track opposite to reach a road.

Étape 17

Turn right and follow the road for about 850 m. At the crossroads, turn left at the farm and climb up to the hamlet of Greil. Follow a tarmac lane between 2 houses (fire hydrant) and continue up to a crow’s-foot. Go straight on, and stay on this track until you reach a fence.

Étape 18

Go through the fence and follow the track which heads level towards the buron de Marquisat (private property; cows grazing). When you reach the buron, cross an electric fence and follow the faint, level track heading north-west (a small stream runs parallel to and to the right of the track marked with large stones). Head straight for a partially buried reservoir on the other side of a fence. Follow the fence upwards, without crossing it, for over 100 m to reach a gate.

Étape 19

Cross 2 successive fences (gates) and descend towards the Marquisat farm. Follow the road opposite.

Étape 20

Just after reaching La Clède farm (crossroads), take the left-hand path. Pass a reservoir (bench) and descend towards the INRA facilities at La Borie.

Étape 21

After the farm buildings, turn right onto a good track lined with tall trees. Follow it to Marcenat.Stage 7 – Marcenat – MontgreleixDistance: 14.8 kmTime: 4 h 15Altitudes: 1,049 m / 1,273 mCumulative elevation gain: 555 mDeparture point: Parking place de Castellane, MarcenatStart – From Marcenat’s main street, descendProposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.