Saint-Martin-des-Olmes

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step

Step 1 : From the salle des fêtes, cross the D57 to take a wide track below the D57, alongside the water treatment plant. Continue on this track as far as Malgrassin. At the hamlet of Malgrassin, turn left onto the small road, then left again. The road becomes a track and descends to a stream. Cross the stream and continue on the main road to Marcheval.

Step 2 : At the T-junction at the entrance to the hamlet, turn left onto the track on the left-hand side, and continue along this same track alongside a wood (viewpoint over the Ambert plain and Livradois mountains). At the “patte d’oie” (crow’s-foot), continue straight ahead on the track down to the Macharoux stream. Cross the stream and turn right onto the path leading up into the undergrowth (ignore the paths on the right). At the top of the hill, fork left (ignore the paths to the left and right). At the next intersection, cross the stream and turn right (leaving the paths to the left and opposite) and continue on the path to cross the Macharoux stream again. Go up the track, and at the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Cross the hamlet of La Collange to join the D57.

Step 3 : Turn right for 100 m, then left onto the track. At the crossroads, go straight on to the houses. Go through the buildings to reach the road. Continue straight ahead on the track. At the crow’s-foot, turn left and continue on the main track (with views of the Ambert plain and Livradois mountains), ignoring two paths on the left and then taking the path between the meadows on the left.

Step 4 : At the end of the track, turn right to reach Les Ballays. At Le Ballays, keep going until you reach the D996. Turn right for 20 m, then left onto a track. Follow this track to the next crossroads.