Hiking with your dog in the Massif Cantalien

Do you like hiking and want to take your dog along with you ? Here is a selection of marked-out trails chosen especially for just this, and that can be found in Carlades and the Massif Cantalien.

Discovering the castles

The four marked out walking trails that all leave from the village of Polminhac represent a total of roughly twenty kilometres. Here is your chance to explore pretty footpaths through woodland and also wider tracks that offer beautiful views over the surrounding castles and the Monts du Cantal.

Depending on the length and difficulty you are after, you can modify the route accordingly!

Splashing around!

 Dogs generally love a spot of water and the chance to splash around and cool off. Our walking trails leading to some of the must-see natural spots, are ideal, namely the Pas de Cère Gorges and the Conche waterfall in Vic-sur-Cère. The footpaths are easily accessible and both natural sites are beautifully preserved. They are also both lovely spots for a refreshing break by the river or the waterfall.

Another idea is to drive over the Col du Pertus mountain pass to reach the village of Mandailles. Not far from here you can enjoy a walk with your dog along the Gorges of the River Jordanne. The footpath along the river is deep down in the gorge. Pontoons and footbridges await you… all the ingredients to create a magical atmosphere throughout the walk.

Heading up high!

The Carlades area is a superb lookout point over the Cantal volcano. During your hikes, you will get the chance to discover some outstanding views of the peaks. There will also be a few surprises along the way!

If you make your way from the Carladès plateaus to the valley of the River Goul, “Le tour de Fontanille” walking trail is a loop of about 4 kilometres along wide tracks bordered by meadows. The walk offers huge views over the valley and summits and is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a real breath of fresh air.

“Le Rocher de la Mule” walking trail will take you above the village of Raulhac along footpaths lined with dry stone walls. Raulhac has been awarded the status of Petite Cité de Caractère , so it’s a lovely place to stop off and the view from high up is superb. If you’re looking for a longer hike with your dog, then this particular walking trail offers a variation covering a total distance of 10 kilometres.

When the cows have left the summer pastures…

If you come along to the Carladès Tourist Information Office to find out about hikes in the Massif Cantalien, you’ll notice that, depending on the time of the year, we may point out that it isn’t advisable to take your dog with you. This warning is for your safety because of the herds of cattle grazing in the high pastures for from around mid-May to mid-October.

There are, however, times of the year when the cattle have headed down to the farms in the valleys. This is the case late autumn, throughout winter and into early spring and this of course means that you can get out walking with your dog and enjoy peaks such as the Puy Griou, the Plomb du Cantal or the Puy Mary.

par Virginie
le 05 November 2019