blog post
Organize your holidays with your dog at the campsite in Puy-de-Dôme
Florian Meyer • Jan 20, 2023
Going on vacation is good, enjoying it with your dog is even better! Good news, your companions are welcome at the campsite but also in a large number of tourist places nearby. Here are some useful tips and information to best organize your vacation with your dog.
Remember: dogs are welcome at Les Volcans campsite! They can accompany their owners on vacation both in rentals and on campsites. And this year they will even be entitled to a little useful gift upon their arrival ;-)
We try to make their stay at the campsite easier with little touches like a “Doggie bar” at the snack bar or the loan of bowls available at reception. It is also possible to borrow a vacuum cleaner to make cleaning easier when leaving. For 3 years the reception of dogs has always gone very well, both for the animals, their owners and the other campers, thanks to everyone's attention and respect for basic rules, such as picking up droppings and holding them. leash.
What to visit with your dog in Auvergne around the campsite?
Most tourist sites around the campsite allow dogs . Here are a few, the list is not exhaustive:
- Murol Castle
- Lemptégy Volcano (except for the train tour)
- Jonas Cave Fortress
- Petrifying Fountains
- Cornadores Caves
- Panoramic view of the Dôme (Puy-de-Dôme train)
- Mont Dore cable car
- Perdrix cable car to Super Besse
- ...
Have your dog looked after for the day near the campsite
Some tourist sites do not accept dogs, for example Vulcania, the Battle of Gergovie Museum, the Auvergne Animal Park and Aventure Michelin.
If you wish to take advantage of these visits it is possible to have your dog looked after for the day or a few hours. Several establishments exist around the campsite, including:
- Pension La Vallée des Arvernes , in Saint-Saturnin (20 minutes from the campsite). Telephone: 07 69 58 64 55 or 04 73 39 46 68
- Chenil de la Bulle , in Volvic (35 minutes from the campsite and 20 minutes from Vulcania) Telephone: 06 73 63 83 40
Hikes to do with your dog
Most hiking sites are accessible with a dog. However, there are a few exceptions that it is better to know about to avoid disappointment (or even a fine) along the way. Here are the most notable dog-free hiking sites:
- Le Puy de Combegrasse, located behind the campsite. Banned from May to October due to sheep in summer pastures.
- The paths of the Chaudefour Valley nature reserve
- The paths of the Chastreix-Sancy nature reserve
You must therefore pay particular attention to your itinerary if you wish to climb to the top of Puy de Sancy (only by cable car or via the GR 4) but for the rest you almost have free rein everywhere!
Lakes, waterfalls, puys... you will be spoiled for choice for your hikes with your dog. You will still have to remember to take your physical abilities into account, some hikes can be demanding even when you have four legs :-)
Some ideas for beautiful hikes starting from or near the campsite.
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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