blog post
6 hikes to do with children (from 4-6 years old): cave, puys or waterfalls
Florian Meyer • Jan. 21, 2023
Discover six new hikes accessible with children from 4-6 years old to explore caves in St-Nectaire, the top of a puy in Sancy, waterfalls in Besse, the Pic du Capucin, the Dent du Marais in Murol or the Puy des Goules crater.
5 other hikes of the same level are already presented on our site.
- Caves of Châteauneuf (15-20 min from the campsite). Discover these old troglodyte dwellings , which were even surmounted by a fortified castle, of which we can guess some vestiges! The hike lasts about 2 hours without great difficulty except for two or three good climbs. The view from the caves allows you to admire St-Nectaire below but also the castle of Murol and the Sancy massif (well, it seems, because we were in the fog the day of our walk!).
Details of the hike on Balirando (with children we advise you to start from the church of St-Nectaire to avoid the first climb)
- Le Puy de la Tâche
(20 min from the campsite). To be done in good weather, because the view is extraordinary throughout the hike and offers a 360° panorama from the summit! The entire Sancy massif is available to you, but also the lakes of Guéry and Chambon, the chain of puys... We can even guess the campsite. The hike is marked and in the form of a round trip from the Col de la Croix Morand. The outward journey is therefore a constant climb to the summit and the return descent. The children should pass the obstacle without problem by taking your time on the climb (and promising a crepe at the buron du col on the way back?)
- Chiloza Waterfalls
(25 min from the campsite). A beautiful walk, particularly pleasant on hot days thanks to the shade of the forest and the coolness of the river gorges. If the beginning of the hike is of little interest, the continuation is sublime with a succession of small and large waterfalls in a kind of canyon! The steep path on this part will awaken in children the instinct of adventurers... In several places it is possible to approach the torrent to play there.
- La Dent du Marais in Murol , 2h15 walk, departure 15 minutes from the campsite . A beautiful loop for this hike which takes us near the banks of Lake Chambon but above all discovers a very beautiful panorama of the lake and the Sancy massif . The walk is accessible, without any particular difficulty apart from the approximately 220m difference in altitude, climbed in one go between the village of Murol and the summit of the Dent du Marais , passing near the Chateau de Murol. Signs will help you discover the legend surrounding this rocky needle, formerly called the "Virgin's Leap"... A good part of the hike is in the woods, so pleasant even in the sun.
- Puy des Goules and Grand Sarcoui cave , 1h45 walk, departure 25 minutes from the campsite . The start of the walk is from the same car park as the famous Puy de Pariou but the attendance is much lower, yet the crater is magnificent and it is still authorized to enter it! The round trip does not present any real difficulty, apart from a good climb up to the crater. From up there, the view is breathtaking over the surrounding volcanoes: Pariou, Puy de Dôme, Puy de Côme... On the way back, you will pass through the Grand Sarcoui cave which served as a quarry for sarcophagi in the Middle Ages .
Details of the 1h45 hike (marked and displayed on site)
- Pic du Capucin, with or without the funicular,
1h30 to 2h walk, departure 25 minutes from the campsite . Start this adventure by taking the Capucin funicular , you will take yourself back to the past century with the oldest electric funicular in France . The hike then begins at the Salon du Capucin and begins with a section of path on an old road (not necessarily the most pleasant) in the forest until reaching an old buron. You will then attack the last part of the ascent, on a winding and steeper path. Arriving at the summit of Capucin offers an exceptional panorama over the entire Sancy massif! The return takes the same route. It is possible to go back down on foot without taking the funicular on the way back.
As with all hikes, going on a walk with children requires a minimum of equipment for your safety: closed shoes (good sneakers, hiking shoes...) and warm clothes in the bag (most of these walks are more than 1000m above sea level). Also think of a water bottle and a small snack to motivate the troops!
Our ideas for activities and visits to do when it rains around the campsite in Aydat, in Puy-de-Dôme. Vulcania, Aventure Michelin, castle, swimming pools, climbing... You can continue to enjoy your vacation despite the rain!
Ideas for day hikes around Les Volcans campsite. Sancy ridges, Puys de Dôme and Pariou, Guéry plateau, waterfalls...
- Shaded hikes. Several hiking trails are well suited to very hot days thanks to the shade offered by the undergrowth. Among the easiest hikes (from 3 years old), the tour of Lake Pavin, the Puy de Vichatel or the Queureuilh and Rossignolet waterfalls are recommended. Slightly longer and shaded hikes are also possible such as the Dent du Marais loop in Murol (2h15), the three waterfalls of the Chaudefour valley (3h) or the Roches Tuillières and Sanadoire loop (3h). Remember to take water, there are generally no refueling points on the paths. - Hiking near the water. On hot days it is also pleasant to hike along a stream and have a picnic stop in the cool. The Gorges de la Monne (15 minutes from the campsite) are ideal for this type of getaway, the walk lasts 2 hours and it is possible to stop and play at the water's edge without difficulty. Be careful though, the end of the return path is not very shaded. Another possibility: the Chiloza waterfalls, a 2-hour walk near Besse which leads to the edge of multiple small waterfalls where children can play, build dams, make boats... Possibility of shortening the walk by doing a round trip to avoid the somewhat long second part of the loop. - Swimming at the lake. Although many lakes are close to the campsite, only Lake Aydat and Lake Chambon are allowed for swimming. It is even monitored there during the summer on the developed beaches. It is also possible to rent pedal boats, canoes, paddles... In July and August, we advise you to go there in the morning to enjoy the calm. - Adventures at the Forêts des Arboris (5 minutes from the campsite). This eco-citizen leisure park is located in the Aydat forest and offers activities suitable for all ages: treasure hunt for the little ones, game experiences (a sort of escape game in the countryside) or laser wood (laser game in the woods) for older children and adults. We then enjoy the freshness of the forest and the refreshment bar with its local drinks. The adventure also continues into the evening with Auvergne legends that come to life between land art and incredible light shows. We recommend +++ - Visit to the Grotte de la pierre de Volvic (35 minutes from the campsite). Freshness guaranteed in this old quarry from which Volvic stone was extracted, this dark volcanic rock found on many buildings including the Clermont-Ferrand cathedral. We also discover the daily life of the workers who worked there as well as the works made from this stone. Information on the Volvic stone cave site.
Our advice for hiking with young children (from 3 years old) in the Puy de Dôme: Puy de combegrasse, Lac Pavin, Lac de Servière, Mont Dore waterfall...
Discovery of vineyards and wine tastings in Puy-de-Dôme, AOC Côte d'Auvergne, from the Les Volcans campsite in Aydat.
- Puy de la Combegrasse, the must in one hour! This is the walk to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little hill to climb the puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360° panorama of the chain of puys and the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide warm clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking their time. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (be careful here the departure is not from the campsite) Want to prolong the pleasure? Add the puy de l'enfer and the narse d'Espinasse after the puy de la Combegrasse. That is about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markings) always from the campsite. This hike offers beautiful discoveries with in particular the astonishing narse of Espinasse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'enfer, which was long believed to be haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panoramas on the chain of puys. Details of the hike on Balirando. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2h30! It is the second deepest crater in the chain of Puys after the Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go down inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in the undergrowth (very pleasant on sunny days) with beautiful viewpoints at the top. The walk lasts about 2h30 or 3h with children, on a very passable path. The route is not marked from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN map or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and exceptional views of the Puys chain! To enjoy it you will have to face two beautiful hills and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: go up by the Puy de Lassolas, because its path is in pozzolan, very slippery on the way down. On your way you will also cross the puys of Charmont and Rodde. To discover these puys with young children, prefer to leave the car park provided for this purpose. Suggested hiking route from the campsite (18.5 km loop). - Lac de Servières, a one-day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to get there from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful viewpoints. It is possible to eat along the way in Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red markings of the GR from the campsite.
Campsite The Volcanoes ***
11 chemin de la Rodde, La Garandie, 63970 AYDAT
+33 (0)4 73 79 33 90
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