In the footsteps of the Faux-Sauniers
Espinasse
Dogs allowed
Distance 14Km
Duration 4h00
Hiking route BOUCLE
Marking Yellow
In pictures
Route description
From Espinasse, you climb a forested hill before wandering through a landscape of hedged farmland.
Trail highlights
– View of the Puy de Dôme, the Sancy and the Combrailles plateau.
– Panoramic view of the Chaîne des Puys in the background.
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Step 1 : With your back to the start sign, cross the village (D13), pass the church and continue on the D62. As you leave the village, turn left onto the Chemin de Riberolles. At the hamlet, go straight on. At the T-junction, turn right. Turn right at the fork. At the next intersection, continue left to reach the road. Turn left, cross Chanteranne and, at the left-hand bend, go right up a track in the forest. Cross the hamlet of “les Rochettes”. At the main road (view of the Chaine des Puys and the Sancy), go down the road opposite and take the first track on the left. Go downhill until you reach a road (AR 5 mn on the road on the right to the communal de La Fayette where there are 3 Sully lime trees).
Step 2 : Turn right onto a wide track. At the intersection, go straight ahead. At the Grand Pré crossroads, go down the road opposite. Take the first track on the left. Keep to the right until you reach Longvert. At the crossroads (stele thanking the village’s Righteous), turn left onto the road. Go through Lacot to a stop sign.
Step 3 : Go downhill to the left and immediately up a wide track to the right towards “Les Neuf Boules”. Ignore a track on the left. At the T-junction, turn right (Chêne remarquable after 30m). At the road, go left (view of the Chaine des Puys and the Sancy). In Murat (remarkable lime and oak trees at the entrance to the hamlet), turn left at the fork. When you see a covered spring, take the left-hand path and continue straight ahead. At the fork, turn right. At the road, take a wide track to the left until you reach a road.
Step 4 : Turn left. Enter the hamlet of La Villefranche (on the left, a stele commemorating the Resistance and information on the history of the faux-sauniers), and cross it. At the stop sign, continue straight ahead. At the fork, turn left and continue straight ahead. Take the second track on the left. Pass “Les Prés du Bois”. Leave a track on your right. At the stop sign, cross the road and continue straight ahead. Take the first track on the right. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the side paths. At the road, turn left to return to Espinasse and the starting point.
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 Les Ancizes (35 km northwest of Clermont-Ferrand), take the D62 to Saint-Priest-des-Champs, then on to Espinasse. Parking lot near the junction of the D528 and D13.
Downloadable :
Photo credits : Office de Tourisme des Combrailles, Office de Tourisme des Combrailles
Updated on 29 May 2026 by Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme