The upper Sioule valley
Vernines
Dogs allowed
Distance 13Km
Duration 4h00
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Green
In pictures
Route description
A tour of the Saint-Nectaire region (1,000 m) takes in the typical landscapes of the Auvergne “wide open spaces” and lets you discover the built and historical heritage of the hamlets : forges, castle, oven, washhouse, fountain, watering place, crosses…
Trail highlights
– Bread oven and shoeing loom.
– View of the Puys chain, Puy de Dôme, Puys de la Vache and Lassolas, Puy de Baladou and Sancy.
– Puy de la Garde.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From the signpost near the bread oven, take the main road to the left, passing the church on the right. At the second crossroads, turn left, pass the school and stay on a wide track until you reach the hamlet of Bessat. Cross the hamlet and climb to the right. Pass the wash-house and drinking trough, turn left, and at the crossroads, go right down the grassy path to the road.
Step 2 : Turn left to reach the village of Ribeyre. At the entrance, turn left (bread oven and shoe loom). Go up on the left, then turn right. At the crow’s-foot, continue along the path, leaving the farm on your right. Ignore the next track on the left. At the T-junction, turn right. Cross the road and follow the path down to the bridge over the Sioule.
Step 3 : Climb left to a fork. Turn left and pass a farm. At the crossroads, follow the road to the left. At La Maronie, climb right onto the plateau (view of the Chaîne des Puys). Turn right to reach the center of Neuville village (picnic area, communal oven, drinking trough).
Step 4 : Turn left at La Croix. Go straight on until you reach the D561, then turn left for 200 m. Turn right onto a track and then a small road as far as Croix Guillaume (view of Puy de Dôme, Puys de la Vache and Lassolas).
Next step
Step 5 : Turn left again towards Chevalard and Fontsalive (before descending, view of the puy de Baladou and the Sancy). At the entrance to Chevalard, turn right up the grassy path to the road. Turn right. At the next junction, take the track on the left. At the next crossroads, turn right. After 300m, you can climb to the Puy de la Garde (AR 20 mins). At the first houses in Vernines, turn left. Go downhill and fork the first street on the right (rue de la Chareyre) to reach the starting point.
Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.
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Opening hours
From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.
Subject to favorable weather.
Comfort, facilities and services
- Pets welcome
Additional information
For your own safety, always take a bottle of water, a hat, warm clothing and footwear suitable for walking.
Depending on weather conditions, certain itineraries are not recommended in bad weather (fog) or are not practicable, or even forbidden, during the winter season.
Some sites are fragile, so stay on the marked trails. Avoid picking wild flowers and disturbing wildlife. Pick up your garbage.
Animals are not allowed on some routes.
Dogs allowed Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.
Environment
In the country, Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Access
Leave Clermont-Ferrand on the D2089 towards Bordeaux, pass the Col de la Ventouse and head for Rochefort-Montagne. After Randanne, take the D651 towards Aurières and Vernines. Parking at Vernines.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme