Sentier de découverte des landes et tourbières de la Mazure : Grande boucle

This path crosses different ecological settings guaranteeing a rich biodiversity. In the past, moors and peatlands have been the subject of various uses; today, it is important to revalue these too long forgotten landscapes… This site combines both an exceptional natural heritage and a vernacular heritage testifying to the evolution of local life. Start / Finish: Rigole du Diable car park, D3, 23460 LE MONTEIL AU VICOMTE Crossed towns: Le Monteil au Vicomte, Royère de Vassivière Step by step - From the car park, head towards the footbridge spanning the stream, pass the barrier then follow the wide track until the next intersection. - Turn right, go through the woods to the viewpoint with a bench. Continue a little in the wood then go down towards the river until the ruins of a mill. - Follow the old water supply channel from the mill to the footbridges which allow the crossing of the stream. - Take the duckboards and continue straight on the path for a good distance - At the intersection, take the left path, which then branches off to the left at the level of a footbridge and pass over the dike of an old pond. - Cross the river again and remember to close the gate. Climb the steep path that goes to the right to reach a panoramic view. - Descend into the moor towards a rocky chaos in the shape of a turtle. - Just after this rock, two options are possible. The one presented here is the option of the large loop (another route sheet presents a smaller loop: "Mazure heath and peat bog discovery trail n ° 22: Small loop"). So take the path straight ahead which descends and then climbs up towards rocky chaos which offer a beautiful point of view. - Go down to the bottom of the valley. Once you have reached the peat bog, the path branches off to the right, small improvements allow you to cross the wettest areas and reach a stone bridge (known as the "plank bridge"). - Cross the river, fork to the left to reach a coniferous forest. - Continue straight through this forest for a long distance until the intersection of 4 paths. - Turn left, go through the woods then walk along the bog on a path lined with old low walls. - At the intersection with another path, continue straight on until you reach some duckboards, then a small stone bridge which allows you to cross the river again. - Just after a short round trip on the right allows you to discover the remains of mills. Turn left, continue straight on a path which passes on the edge of the peat bog near heather moors. - A large slatted floor allows you to cross a very humid area (caution). The path continues straight on the edge then branches off to the right in a shrubby area and climbs up into a fenced meadow. - A fenced corridor allows you to cross this meadow in complete safety (however, be careful with the apiary). At the end of the meadow, take the path opposite (slightly off to the left) in a resinous forest. - The path then continues through a leafy forest, branching off to the right to an old fishery. - Continue to the right, following the stream until the next intersection with a wide path. - Take this path to the left, walk alongside the fenced pasture park and continue straight on the path (taken on the outward journey) to return to the car park. Departure / Arrival: Rigole du Diable car park, D3, 23460 LE MONTEIL AU VICOMTE Crossed towns: Le Monteil au Vicomte, Royère de Vassivière Trail not accessible to people with reduced mobility and strollers. Equipment of walking shoes / sneakers strongly recommended. Thank you for respecting the tranquility of the shepherd and his flock. Dogs prohibited from May to September (presence of roaming ewes and wild species not to be disturbed).

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