Saint-James

Marat

Dogs allowed

Distance 5Km

Duration 1h30

Hiking route BOUCLE

Marking Blue

In pictures

Route description

Poetry is the order of the day on this trail from the Gripel cross to the hamlet of Saint-James. Here, overlooking the Livradois mountains, you’ll be seduced by the granite houses arranged around small gardens, flowering walls and grassy paths.

Trail highlights

– The Gripel cross.
– The Gripel tower (keep of a former 15th-century seigniorial dwelling).

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : Turn left on the D97 for 100 m to the Gripel cross. Cross the road and take the uphill path opposite. Continue along the carriageway and 150 m before you reach the tarmac road, take a track on the left. Keep to the main path, pass a house and continue on the asphalt road.

Step 2 : At the T-junction, turn left onto a track leading down through the woods. At the crossroads, turn right through the village of Saint-James. At the D97, turn left for 200 m and follow a track down towards the Gripel tower.

Step 3 : In the village of Gripel, take the tarmac road on the left. Turn right onto the D97 as far as the Gripel cross. At the cross, go down the D97 towards Marat and return to the parking lot.

Proposed and managed by the Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme – PDIPR.

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Opening hours

All year round 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 Olliergues, take the D906 towards Thiers. After 4 km, turn left onto the D40 towards Marat. Pass through Marat and turn left onto the D97 towards the village of Les Mines. Park 100 m before the Gripel cross and the intersection with the D266.

Downloadable :

GPX – A6313AUV063V5084M6

Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme