The Pinière tour

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : Go down to the bottom of the parking lot, turn right and walk along the stadium, passing under the tennis court and continuing across the duckboard. Take the small staircase and climb to the right. Turn left onto the D996 road, cross it and then turn right up Rue du Grand Chemin to the road. Follow the road to the right and, after 100 m, turn left onto chemin des caves. At the intersection, go straight ahead to reach a road ; follow it to the left as far as the bend.

Step 2 : Leave the road and continue straight ahead on a wide track (with views of Montaigut and Forez). This path gradually rises on the western side of the plateau (views of the Sancy, Rognon tower) and reaches Chazoux (basalt organs). Go as far as the war memorial.

Step 3 : Turn right and climb the path to the Pinière plateau. Continue along the edge of the plateau for 2 km (panoramic view). Ignore a wide track bending to the left. Follow a track to the left outside the pastures, pass a gate and continue straight on. The track then heads north for 30m to the entrance of a wood.

Step 4 : Cross the wood on a steeply sloping path ; at the exit, turn right onto a wide track which gradually descends. Follow it to a road ; turn right to Montaigut.