Dayhalf day circular Cantal walks from Pas de Peyrol, Col de Serre and Le Falgoux

Pas de Peyrol (at 1588 metres) on Puy Mary (1783 metres) is the biggest "honey pot" of the Cantal. There is a large parking area and a café/gift shop. Coaches disgorge their contents to walk the 750 metres with 200 metres height gain, to the peak, by the concrete path and steps. (This concreting was obviously necessary because of the massive erosion caused by so many feet). At weekends several hundred people can be climbing up the path. Continuing beyond the peak you may find yourself in the company of, at most, a dozen people. GR's 4 and 400 pass through the Pas de Peyrol and many walks, short and long, are possible from here.

From the Pas de Peyrol parking area take the concrete path to the top of Puy Mary. Carry on along the GR4/400, through the awkward Brèche de Rolland, below Puy Peyre Arse to Col de Cabre. From the Col take the PR going north east down into the Santoire valley. In the village of la Courbatière turn left onto the PR which goes to Col de Serre. Return to the parking on the GR4/400. The walk gives superb views of the Santoire and Impradine valleys. The total distance is 17km with a total height gain of about 600 metres.

Several return walks to various important peaks near Puy Mary can easily be made from the Pas de Peyrol parking area. Puy Chavaroche (1739 metres) can be reached using the D17 road and the GR400. The return trip is 6½km with a height gain of 250 metres. Using the same route to Col de Redondet then going north west to Roche Taillarde (1654 metres), Roc d'Hoziéres (1614 metres), and Roc des Ombres (1645 metres) is a superb round trip of 12km with a total height gain of 200 metres. Going north from Peyrol on the GR400 var. allows Puy de la Tourte (1704 metres), Suc de la Blatte (1562 metres), and Suc Gros (1610 metres) to be climbed. The return trip is 9km with a total height gain of 400 metres.

Col de Serre is a less popular alternative parking area to Pas de Peyrol. Walk 4A can be made from Col de Serre as easily as from Peyrol. Extra walks can be made to Puy de Niermont (1620 metres) by going north west on the GR4/400 or towards Le Claux on the GR400.

Le Falgoux offers the opportunity to visit some of the outlying peaks of the Cantal and also to do a tour of the superb Mars valley. Parking is available by the village church.

The GR400 descends into the Falgoux valley and passes through Le Falgoux to the other side of the valley. Around the GR is a PR path system which allows appreciation of the valley plus the effects of glaciation and the resulting rock structures. Join the PR by going along the main village road, past the bakery and taking a right turn at the first crossroads. The PR uses minor roads to la Peubrélie and after passing las Palières rock structures carries on until the GR is joined for a short distance. After leaving the GR the PR goes through la Franconèche, crosses the D12 road and the river. After the hamlet of Fontolive the path turns right and joins the GR back to the village at the D37 road. The distance is about 9km with a height gain of 400 metres.

Puy Violent (1592 metres), one of the major outlying peaks, can be reached from Le Falgoux using the GR400. The GR passes the base of Violent then doubles back and climbs steeply to the col west of the peak. The round trip back to Le Falgoux is 21km with a height gain of 750 metres. A shorter route can be created by going to the base of Violent, north east side, and taking one of the rough paths to the peak. The round trip is now reduced to 16km. Going the other way (east then north) on the GR400 leads to Rocher de l'Aygue (1599 metres) and Suc Gros (1610 metres). The round trip is 15km with a height gain of 750 metres.