Day/half day circular Cantal walks from Col du Pertus and Thiezac

The Col du Pertus (altitude 1309 metres) is reached by the D317 from St.Jacques des Blats. It sits on the GR400. There is a parking area at the Col and an alternative area 1km towards Mandailles where the GR leaves the road. Study of the GR and PR network around the Col suggests that there are a wide range of possible walks. The brief descriptions given are only a few suggestions.

Two excellent walks can be made by going south on the GR400 from Col du Pertus. Both routes involve climbing Puy Elancèze (1571 metres) and continuing on the GR. The path splits in woods, the GR continuing down to Cascade de Faillitoux. Carrying on the GR to the Col de Lagat, a stile is reached by a buron. Turning left behind the buron a track, then path, can be followed to Puy de la Poche. Following the ridge leads to the Col below Elancèze and then back to Col du Pertus. The round trip is about 14km with a total height gain of about 800 metres. Following the PR in the woods instead of the GR leads over Le Courpou Sauvage and then down to St,Julien. Joining the GR400 again leads to Mandailles and either PR or GR paths back to Col du Pertus. The total distance in this case is a minimum of 11km (depending on which return route is used from Mandailles) with a minimum height gain of about 850 metres.

By taking the GR400 down from Col du Pertus to Liadouze (in the Jordanne valley) a superb walk is possible by then following the GR400 var. to Col de Cabre and returning south on the GR past Puy Griou (or climbing it!) to Cole du Pertus. The round trip is about 16km with a height gain of about 650 metres (750 metres if Griou is climbed). The trip can be made the other way round but this involves a climb out of the valley at the end of the walk! Minor deviations around Liadouze can be made to view the Cascades of Liadouze and Luc. It is clear from the map there are many variations in route around this area, particularly from the GR400 (and var.) in the valley.

The ultimate trip from Col du Pertus is to take the GR400 north to Puy Mary, down to Pas de Peyrol and continue sharp left along the GR to Puy Chavaroche. After Chavaroche take the PR staight down to Mandailles (a steep descent) then back up from Mandailles to Pertus. This is a walk for the fit and ambitious, the distance being 21km with a height gain of 1100metres.

Thiézac, being lower down the Cère valley than most of our starting points gives the opportunity for some lower level walks, maybe for half day outings. There is good parking in the village, the best place for the walks being a small car park at the southern end of the village, on the bend, just after the filling station.

Walking back into Thiézac from the car park, the GR400 exits from a minor road on the right. Follow this path down to the river and the village of Lagoutte. Carrying on through Lagoutte until the GR leaves the road just after the railway bridge. The GR then leads through the "Chaos de Castelinet" (a huge rock collapse in the 19th century) to the village of Lafont. Climb out of Lafont towards Nierevèze. Before the village and just after a large barn on the left take the path which leads down to the old village mill, then on to Nierevèze. The path takes a sharp left turn downhill here but a deviation into the superbly restored village is worthwhile. Returning to the PR path it leads under the railway, through the Pas de Compaing, past Anterieux farm back to Lagoutte and Thiézac. The total distance is 10km with a height gain of 300 metres i.e. a suitable afternoon walk.

For this walk take the GR400 on the left and carry on uphill. Deviate to see the Chapelle-de-Notre-Dame-de-la-Consolation made famous by Anne of Austria. Carry on the GR past Confolens waterfall to Lagat farm and Col de Lagat. Follow the GR down to Faillitoux waterfall. Leave the waterfall and carry on the GR until the road is reached. Follow this to the village of Lasmolineries. Leave the village on the D59 but after a left hand bend take the minor road which leads down to the RN122. Cross the road to view the Cascade de la Roucolle. An extra stroll to the Pas de Cère and back is worthwhile. Recross the 122 and take the minor road leading up from the "circular road lay-by" on the right. This is a PR and goes through the delightful village of la Roucolle back to Thiézac and the car park. The walk is about 14km with a height gain of 500 metres.

A short afternoon walk is possible by following the PR which starts 200 metres up the road from the car park and goes through la Roucolle village to the RN122. The Cascade de la Roucolle and the Pas de Cère can be visited with the return trip along the same route. The total distance is 6km with a height gain of 250 metres i.e a nice short afternoon walk.