Perched between the Auvergne volcanoes and the Rhône Alpes basin, the city of Puy-en-Velay offers an incredible view of the horizons. The Puy cathedral has one of the most beautiful Romanesque cloisters in Europe, famous for its polychrome arcades and its remarkable capitals, listed as World Heritage by Unesco.
Your first walk starts from the steps of the cathedral of Le Puy-en-velay. Today, you take the way of Velay massif. The particularity lies in its landscape alternating rock, greenery and rural landscapes typical of this region that you can admire throughout the walk. Arriving in Saint-Privat-d’Allier, you will overlook the impressive gorges of Allier and its river, still wild.
Distance: 23 km
Elevation gain: +550/-335 mPassing by the chapel of Rochegude and its promotory, enjoy the stunning view on the gorges of Allier. You will cross this river, which is still wild, in Monistrol-d’Allier before going back on the other bank and reach Saugues, at the doors of the Margeride. It’s a pretty difficult stage with a strong uphill slope. On your way, you will be able to see the rustic villages and hamlets typical of the region, before finishing your stage in Saugues.
Distance: 19 km
Elevation gain: +565/-480 mAfter breakfast, your walk continues to Le Sauvage, an agricultural hilltop area dating from the Templar period. You reach the Saint-Roch chapel, and enter the department of La Lozère, before reaching your destination of Saint-Alban, known for its Romanesque church.
Distance: 33 km
Elevation gain: +560/-560 mFrom Saint-Alban, you begin your ascent towards Grazières-Mages before beginning your descent towards Les Estrets, through silent forests and agricultural lands, to finish at Aumont-Aubrac. Between Lozère, Cantal and Aveyron, you will be charmed by these green deserted landscapes. Arrival in Aumont-Aubrac, end of your walking trip.
Note: this itinerary can easily be combined with the next section of the Way of St James - Aumont to Conques
Distance: 21 km
Elevation gain: +330/-480 m
This journey covers the initial stages of the Puy Way pilgrimage route. You can choose to follow this first section or extend your journey by traversing a longer portion of the itinerary. This trip is suitable for those who have prior experience with multi-day hiking due to the length of the stages, especially the 33 km one.
Otherwise, it is an enjoyable and well-marked trail.
What is included
What is not included
Optional Services
These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:
We work with 3* hotels, B&Bs and farmhouses that reflect our way of experiencing travel: they are comfortable and characterful structures, which we choose one by one, managed by passionate and welcoming people.
Unless otherwise specified in the travel listing, all provide private en-suite rooms with breakfast included.
Below you see some examples of the facilities used for this trip, but keep in mind that they may vary based on availability in the period. We could therefore book for you structures different from those you see listed here, but of the same category and carefully chosen according to SloWays criteria.
Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.
Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.
Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.
Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.
Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.
Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.
Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!
It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).
Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.
Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.
Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.
Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.
The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.
The navigation features include:
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