The Dômes loop (49 km)

The Loop des Dômes is a hiking trail that takes in the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys.

Description

1/ Panoramique des Dômes train station at Orcines, at the foot of the Puy de Dôme (for shuttle buses from Clermont-Ferrand). Departure sign near the camper van parking area.
Please note: overnight parking is prohibited.

2/ Drive up to the motorhome park. On the road, follow the yellow signs to Col de Ceyssat. Take the first large forest track on the left. Cross the D68 road and continue straight ahead. Ignore the first track on the right, and at the T-junction turn right onto a wide, gravelled forest track as far as Col de Ceyssat.

3/ At the road, turn left, go downhill for 150 m and take the track on the right. At the next crossroads, turn left and then right 100 m further on. At the first intersection, turn left and continue straight ahead, ignoring all the paths on either side to rejoin the road. Be careful when crossing the D 942.

Possibility of starting the route at stage 4, access via the D 52 at Laschamps (for arrival by car and parking over several days.) Parking available at Laschamps after point 3.

4/ On the main street, go up towards the church and the gite and turn left into the one-way street. Cross the road and continue straight ahead (GR®4/441). Leaving several paths on either side, continue to the 1,097 m signpost and descend to the right. Stay on the GR, pass a crossroads, continue straight ahead until the junction with the GR®30 and reach the fork at the foot of the puy de Montjuger.

5/ Keep right (further along the plateau, viewpoint over the Sancy). Ignore the paths to the right and left, the path becomes a tarmac road. Continue as far as the T-junction. Turn left (right for Récoleine chapel). Descend to the D2089 and pass under the road.

6/ Take the right-hand track and continue straight on, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach a road. Go straight down the grassy path towards Olmont until you reach a crossroads. Turn left (towards Olmont), cross the stream and go up a small road, leaving several paths on the right and left, until you reach the entrance to Olmont.
Turn right, leaving a track on the right, and continue on the plateau (viewpoint over the Chaîne des Puys). At the crossroads, turn left and go straight down to "Les Eaux". Take the road opposite to reach the D 216 at Pont-des-Eaux.

7/ Climb the grassy path to the right of a cross and follow it over the Sioule as far as Montéribeyre. Turn left, then right to reach the road. Go downhill to the left. After the stone bridge, turn right and take the second track on the left. Stay on this path, ignoring the first path on the left, then another on the right, to continue straight on towards Olby. Take the first right to reach a small road.

8/ Pass under the bridge and continue to the village. When you come within sight of Place de la Fontaine, turn left through the village (Sully lime tree on Place de l'Église) as far as the crow's-foot and head for Ceyssat. At the cemetery, take the route de La Gardette for a good kilometer. Go past the track leading to a farm and, as you round a bend in the road, take the left-hand path to La Gardette. Keep right as far as the fountain.

9/ Turn left towards Mazayes. At the stone cross, turn left, then right at the next fork. At the road, turn right into Mazayes. Take the D52 towards Ceyssat to Mazayes-Basses.

10/ Pass the gîte and the church; at the cross, turn right. At the top of the hill, go straight ahead at the cross. At Petit-Chambois, turn right at the fountain. Pass Les Combes. Cross a road to the first houses at Grand-Chambois.

11/ At the cross, turn left up to a square with a fountain and cross. Turn right towards the Puy de Dôme. At the road, turn left to the second track on the right. Take this, enter the forest and continue straight on, ignoring the paths on either side, until you reach a crossroads above an old quarry (junction with a yellow-marked hike).

12/ Turn right towards Laschamp and follow the hiking trail. At a T-junction, turn left. The path leads into an open area at the intersection with a gravel path; go left for 300 m, then right. At a water catchment (fenced-off area), turn right for 50 m.

13/ Leave this long driveway and fork right onto a faint path. Shortly before a wide track, keep right on the path, then right again until you reach a parking area and hiking trails alongside the D 559.

15/ Take the D559 right for 200 m and turn left at the "Forêt Syndicale de Ceyssat" sign.
ATTENTION - Slight change in route near the puy de Côme, heading towards the puy de Dômes. Follow the signs.
At the fork, take the left-hand path. Continue straight ahead, taking the left-hand track. Continue straight ahead. At the clearing, turn right at the intersection and signpost.

16/ Follow the road towards Puy de Dôme. At the end of the wood, turn left at the fork into the moorland and then into the undergrowth. At a fork, keep left. 150 m further on, turn right and continue straight on for approx. 400 m. At the crossroads (fountain), turn right onto the path leading up to the Nid de la Poule. Take the stairs and then the road to the Puy de Dôme station platform. Back to the shuttle link: from the Col de Ceyssat parking lot, go down ignoring the first path marked GR®441 and take the second right at the bend (yellow markings). At the T junction, take the forest track towards the MAISON DE SITE / GRAND SITE DE FRANCE. Cross the D68 and continue straight ahead. At the asphalt road, turn left.

Option - Off circuit
You can take the Chemin des Conquérants (Conquerors' path) around the summit of the Puy de Dôme (orientation table); allow around 30 min. On the western slope, a picnic area and dry room with sanitary facilities.) Alternatively, take the "chemin de ronde" for a 360° panorama and return to the visitor center (approx. 1 hour). Take the south-westerly path down to the Col de Ceyssat.

Tarifs

Free access.

Itinéraire

• Distance 49km
• Type d'itinéraire BOUCLE
• Dénivelé positif 1259m
• Dénivelé négatif 1260m
• Durée itinérance 2 jours
• Itinéraire balisé Oui
• Précision balisage Green and White "Boucle des Dômes" circuit
• Nature du terrain Ground

Période d'ouverture

From 01/01 to 31/12.

Subject to favorable weather.

Localisation

Documents

• The Dômes loop (49 km) (pdf)
• The Dômes loop (49 km) (pdf)

Animaux

Animaux acceptés : Oui

All dogs must be kept on leashes because of the presence of herds. Bypass the grazing herds and close the fence after you.

Thèmes

• Tips

  - The Chaîne des Puys - Limagne fault and the puy de Dôme site.
  - Views of various volcanoes: puy de Dôme, petit puy de Dôme, puys de Laschamps, de Mercœur, de Lassolas, de la Vache, de Côme, du Grand Suchet and du Pariou.
  - View of the Sancy massif.
  - Local heritage: crosses and fountains.