8 hikes to do with children (from 3 years old)

Florian • June 12, 2024

Because hiking is even better when you can share it with your family, here are 8 walks near the campsite tested and approved with our 3 and 5 year old children.

- Puy de la Combegrasse : allow a good hour with children to do this loop from the campsite. There is 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 Puys chain on one side and the Sancy massif on the other (with 2 orientation tables). On the way you may come across sheep in summer pastures, cows or horses. It’s also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (bring warm clothes)!
The big pluses: departure from the campsite (then follow the yellow markings) and one of the most beautiful panoramas .
The

Puy de Combegrasse hike (be careful here, the departure is not from the campsite) - Tour du Lac de Servière (10 minutes from the campsite): 40 to 60 minute walk, very accessible because there is no difference in altitude.
The only difficulty is the first part of the path with many roots. But afterwards the path is very passable, with large spaces, small ladders to cross fences, small bridges in the wetland... The children love it! In summer you are even likely to find raspberries at the end of the route, or mushrooms in the fall. 10 minutes from the campsite, on the Mont-Dore road, good signage and designated parking.
The

tour of Lake Servière on Balirando - Puy de Vichatel (5 min from the campsite): second deepest crater in the Puys chain, this volcano offers a beautiful hike in the woods (very pleasant on sunny days) with beautiful points view at the top.
The walk lasts around 1h30 or 2h with children, from the Col de la Ventouse car park, there are some nice climbs but on a very passable path. Le

Puy de Vichatel sur Balirando - Cascade du Rossignolet et du Queureuilh (25 min from the campsite, at Mont-Dore): a loop of about an hour on an easy path for children (only a few climbs and a sometimes slippery passage before the Rossignolet waterfall). A large part of the path is in the woods, very pleasant in all weathers, and a portion runs along the river with the possibility of water games for children (construction of dams, bark boats, etc.). The two waterfalls are definitely worth the detour!
The

Ronde des cascade hike on the Sancy site - Tour du Lac Pavin (30 minutes from the campsite, in Besse): the loop is done in an hour, with very little elevation gain and a path that is often wide and easy. You will just have to keep an eye on your youngest children: even if the path is not dangerous, the lake is still below. Of volcanic origin (93m deep), this lake offers an incredible landscape in all seasons and its water takes on magical colors! By extending the walk by a few minutes, you will be able to enjoy beautiful viewpoints from above (good directions on site).
As a bonus: stop in the beautiful village of Besse and stroll (or have a snack!) in its medieval streets.
The tour of Lake Pavin on the Sancy site

- The geyser trail in Sainte-Marguerite (30 minutes from the campsite): a marked trail takes us along the Allier between different sources of an old thermal site, now abandoned. After a few minutes of easy walking, you emerge in front of the geyser which comes into operation approximately every 20 minutes, a nice surprise which amazes the children each time! Several other sources are not lacking in interest around ( some photos ). The path is quite flat and easy, so you can take bikes or balance bikes.

Location and access information

Additional ideas: It is possible to take advantage of the trip to visit nearby Vic-le-Comte, to discover the wild Quayres waterfall or to go up to admire the panorama from the virgin of Monton.

- Puy de Montenard (5 minutes from the campsite): it is the southernmost volcano in the Puy chain, you can see it clearly from the campsite. The hike leaves from the village of Zanières and is well signposted. The first part is uphill and mainly in the woods to the top of the puy where a very beautiful view of the Sancy massif .
The return is on a gentle slope to the starting point. In total, between 1h30 and 2h of very accessible walking. For adults, it is possible to leave directly from the campsite in the direction of the Narse d'Espinasse for a total of 14km.

Information on the Balirando website

- Tour of the Gergovie plateau (20 minutes from the campsite): on the site of the battle which opposed the armies of Vercingétorix and Julius Caesar! The tour of the plateau presents no difficulty, with very little difference in altitude. Be careful only on hot days because there are very few shaded areas. You will have magnificent views throughout the route: on the Puys chain, on Clermont-Ferrand, on the Livradois... which makes it a very pleasant walk for young and old alike!
Take the opportunity to visit the brand new museum of the Battle of Gergovie , fascinating for understanding what happened on the plateau a few hundred years ago.

For windy days, take a kite, the spot is amazing :-)

Information on the Destination Auvergne website

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!

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5 hikes to leave the campsite in Aydat

by Florian Meyer • March 14, 2025

- Puy de la Combegrasse, the essential in an hour! It's the ride to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little coast to climb the Puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360 ° panorama on the chain of Puys and on the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide hot clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking its time. Please note, dogs are not allowed during summer periods, from May to October. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (beware here the departure is not a campsite) want to extend the pleasure? Add the Puy de l'Enfer and the Espinasse Narses after the Puy de la Combegrasse. Or about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markup) still from the campsite. This hike offers great discoveries with in particular the amazing Espinasse Narse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'Enfer, which has long been haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panorama on the Puys channel. Details of the Balirando hike. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2:30 am! It is the second deepest crater in the Puys chain after Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in wood (very pleasant the sunny days) with beautiful views at the top. The ride lasts about 2:30 or 3 hours with children, on very practicable paths. The route is not marked out from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN card or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puy de la Rodde, a hike of about 1 hour (3.3km) partly in the undergrowth, so very pleasant in hot weather! This volcano opposite the entrance to the campsite was the subject of arrangements in 2025 which allow to benefit from very beautiful panoramas on the Sancy massif and the chain of Puys but also to guess its crater at the top. The path is well practicable and accessible without problem with children. A new essential in the sector! Puy de la Rodde hiking route departing from the campsite - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, the twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and panoramas of the exceptional on the chain of Puys! To take advantage of it you will have to face two beautiful ribs and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: climb by Puy de Lassolas, because his path is in a pozzolan, very slippery on the descent. On your way you will also come across the Puys de Charmont and La Rodde. To discover these Puys with young children, prefer the departure of the parking lot provided for this purpose. Proposals for a 16km loop between the campsite and the Puys de la Vache and Lassolas or a longer alternative with an 18.5 km course from the campsite. - Lac de Servières, a day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to access it from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful views. It is possible to eat along the way to Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red marking of the GR from the campsite.

9 sensational activities around the campsite in Aydat (from 3 years old)

by Florian Meyer • May 26, 2024

Giant zip line, via ferrata, tree climbing, e-foil, paragliding, summer tobogganing... Sensational activities around the campsite in Aydat in the Puy de Dôme (from 3 years old)

10 aquatic activities around the campsite: e-foil, canyoning, canoeing, kayaking...

by Florian Meyer • May 4, 2024

Want to go down a river in a canoe or kayak? Two possibilities are available to you depending on the type of river you expect: - On the Allier for a bit of speed and some rapids. Departure with Auvergne Loisirs from Pont-du-Chateau or Sainte-Marguerite (30 minutes from the campsite). You will discover this tributary of the Loire which is worth the detour. Our advice is to opt for the course between Coudes and Ste-Marguerite for the scenery and the rapids! (-10% on canoe rentals thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception) - On the Sioule for a peaceful descent in a wild setting. Departure with Aqua Canoe in Ebreuil (55 minutes from the campsite) or Sioule loisirs (1 hour from the campsite). A little extra: possibility of combining your canoe trip with a Via Ferrata or rail bike depending on the location! Ready for the canyoning adventure? Embark with Auvergne Loisirs with a meeting point at Chambon-sur-Lac (15 min from the campsite, then a little further on the road to get to the start). Then you will have a busy program: jumps, abseiling, slides... between natural pools and waterfalls! The jumps range from 2 to 7 meters in height. Are you more into sailing or paddling? Aydat Lake is the largest natural lake in Auvergne and offers a magnificent playground for all types of boats: pedal boats, paddle boats, windsurfing, catamaran, optimist, canoe... You will inevitably find what you are looking for in the sailing school (3 km from the campsite) which offers several rental formulas. Want originality? Try your hand at e-foil or wing-foil to surf the lake. It is also possible to participate in the courses organized during the summer over several days. (-10% on activities thanks to the Pass'Arverne available at the campsite reception)