blog post
5 day hikes with exceptional panoramas in Puy de Dôme
Florian Meyer • March 17, 2024
Want wide open spaces? Take your walking shoes and your picnic to immerse yourself in nature for a day. We have selected 5 hikes with exceptional panoramas around the campsite in the Puys chain or the Sancy massif (+ two bonuses).
- The Cascades (and the ridges) , departing from Mont Dore (25 minutes from the campsite). Some people summarize this hike as being the most difficult but also the most beautiful in the Puy de Dôme! Its 1030m of elevation gain for 6 hours of walking make it a demanding hike which should not scare you. You will find on your way the Great waterfall of Mont Dore at the start, and the Queureuilh and Rossignolet waterfalls at the finish. In the meantime, you will climb the crests of the Puys de l'Angle, Monne and La Tache with incredible views of the Sancy massif but also the entire chain of Puys and the lakes below.
The hike should be avoided on windy days or when the peaks are in the clouds. Info and details about Balirando .
- The Puy de Dôme and the Puy Pariou , starting from the Col de Ceyssat (20 minutes from the campsite). This hike does not present any particular difficulties , apart from its reasonable height difference of 750m. Be careful however it is not fully marked, so keep an eye on your map. You will start by climbing the Puy de Dôme to enjoy the panorama at the top over the entire chain of puys to the north and south. You will then reach the legendary Puy Pariou crater , the deepest in the chain! On the way back, the proposed route takes you to Petit and Grand Suchet, which you can pass to shorten. Conversely, you can make an additional detour through the pretty caves of Clierzou .
This ballad of 4 to 5 hours of walking is very pleasant, despite some very busy passages in summer! Middle-earth info and details .
- Plateau du Guéry , from Col de Guéry (15 minutes from the campsite). Little difference in altitude for this hike (525m) which criss-crosses the Guéry plateau and offers wonderful viewpoints all along the route. Shortly after the start, you will be surprised to discover the Guéry waterfall which jumps a basaltic lava flow before joining the Guéry lake , which you will follow again on the way back. The path then goes around the Puy May before going through the summit of the Puy Gros. In the meantime, do not hesitate to leave the marked path for a detour to the top of the Banne d'Orbanche and its 360° panorama!
This walk of 4 to 5 hours of walking is surprising and very pleasant! Info and details about Balirando .
- The Sancy crests via Le Capucin , departing from Mont Dore (25 minutes from the campsite). With its 7 hours of walking and 1050m of vertical drop on the program, it is the longest hike of our selection , but perhaps also the most impressive! breathtaking views along the way The next section will take you to the top of the Massif Central, the Puy de Sancy (which can be very busy when the cable car arrives in summer). Try to spot the campsite from up there, we'll say hello to you from the snack bar :-) The next step will take you over the Chaudefour valley reserve and lead you to the Grande cascade du Mont Dore.
On the way back, you will have your legs full but also your eyes full, we promise! Info and details about Balirando .
As for all hikes, but for these in particular, walking requires a minimum of equipment for your safety: closed shoes (good sneakers, hiking boots...) and warm clothes in the bag (most of these walks are more than 1000m above sea level).
Also remember to take enough water and food to last the distance! These long hikes are not recommended with young children, do not hesitate to come and discuss them with us if you have any doubts about your children's ability to embark on such adventures so that the walk remains a pleasure.
Also remember to take enough water and food to last the distance! These long hikes are not recommended with young children, do not hesitate to come and discuss them with us if you have any doubts about your children's ability to embark on such adventures so that the walk remains a pleasure.
Cheeses, beers, apple juice, chips, wines... We offer as many local products as possible at the campsite's grocery store and snack bar. Discover these Auvergne producers who will delight you.
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!
- 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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