Caux Wood
Saint-Donat
Dogs allowed
Distance 7Km
Duration 2h15
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Yellow
In pictures
Route description
A walk at the end of the world through heaths of broom and hazel, wooded paths and valleys carved out by the Tarentaise and Eau Verte rivers. You’ll discover the remains of the Bernardines de Vassin abbey, founded on the return from the 2nd Crusades.
Trail highlights
– Ruins of the Bernardine abbey.
– View of the Cantal mountains.
– Pastures, broom and hazel moors.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : From the start sign, head up towards Caux, cross the hamlet and continue to the first track on the right. Follow this until you reach a stream, in sight of the Mazet farm.
Step 2 : Turn right and follow the edge of the wood. At the asphalt road, turn right. Go straight ahead through the forest, following the right bank of the stream. Ignore the paths on either side. At the end of the wood (ruins of the Bernardine abbey), continue to Le Vassin.
Step 3 : Turn right onto the tarmac road. Climb, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach a wide path on the right.
Step 4 : Follow it through woods and pastures. Follow a small road to the right and fork right again after 100 m. 200 m after the bridge, in the bend, take the path rising to the left. Go past a fence on your left, then a hedge on your right, between two meadows (view of the Monts du Cantal). Join a track that leads back to the starting point.
Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.
/* col-6_sm-12 */ ?>
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, Forest location, Presence of livestock and guard dogs
Access
From La Tour-d’Auvergne, take the D203 for 7 km towards Picherande. Turn right onto the D88. At the Saint-Donat exit, turn right onto the D25. After “Chez le Berche”, turn left to Caux. Parking lot by the signpost at the end of the hamlet.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Auvergne VolcanSancy – A. Monier, Auvergne VolcanSancy – A. Monier, Auvergne VolcanSancy – A. Monier
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme