Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
(D) - From the intersection of the Parc Thermal d'Ussat-les-Bains (480 m), turn off the Rue des Thermes which joins the hotel, and head north along the Parc Thermal towards Ussat and the old Fraxine thermal baths. At the end of the park you'll find the Ussat traffic circle. Turn right up the one-way D723. The climb ends, you descend a little and you're already...
25 min - ... at the Place de la Mairie in Ussat (510 m). From the intersection, aim for the watering hole and turn right up the street towards the church. Pass the church and stay on the road. It first rises gently, meets the cemetery and stops at the hamlet of Ussat-le-haut. Continue upwards on the track that runs alongside the Lauzinal meadows and orchards. The last meadow is used as a parking lot and marks the end of the carriageway. Continue beyond the barrier on the stony track. A final right turn takes you through a small oak grove. Veer right to the south and aim for the large electricity pylon at the end of the track.
1h30 - You're already at the Col d'Ussat (843.m): enjoy the view over the Ussat valley. This is the crossroads of the Arnave, Lugeat and Ornolac-Ussat-les-bains paths. It's the latter that you target by sliding right under the pylon. The path immediately returns to the side and drops down into the undergrowth to the SW. At the intersection of the top of the "Naouquettes" at 778 m (1h40), a small pass on the border of the two communes, you descend the slope to the left into the valley. You soon reach the Plas asphalt road which takes you to the village...
2h10 - ... to the church of Saint-Pierre d'Ornolac (595 m). Continue downhill on the D123. Leave the Place du Barry-d'en-haut on your left and continue for a further 35 m: leave the road and turn right into the En Soussat district. The path winds through the houses, veers right, crosses the Jouanos stream and climbs straight up to the old slate quarry (you'll spot it on the right). Turn left to the SW to complete the short climb. The Chemin de la Bue declines gently to the Départementale 123. Descend 155.m to the Place du Barry-d'en-bas. To the right of the square, you'll find the Rival du Loum path, which runs downhill past the famous Ornolac splouga. Past the last robiniers, you're back on the D123. The next section is on the right, some 600 metres...
(A) 2h45 - ... to the intersection of the Ussat-les-Bains spa park.
25 min - ... at the Place de la Mairie in Ussat (510 m). From the intersection, aim for the watering hole and turn right up the street towards the church. Pass the church and stay on the road. It first rises gently, meets the cemetery and stops at the hamlet of Ussat-le-haut. Continue upwards on the track that runs alongside the Lauzinal meadows and orchards. The last meadow is used as a parking lot and marks the end of the carriageway. Continue beyond the barrier on the stony track. A final right turn takes you through a small oak grove. Veer right to the south and aim for the large electricity pylon at the end of the track.
1h30 - You're already at the Col d'Ussat (843.m): enjoy the view over the Ussat valley. This is the crossroads of the Arnave, Lugeat and Ornolac-Ussat-les-bains paths. It's the latter that you target by sliding right under the pylon. The path immediately returns to the side and drops down into the undergrowth to the SW. At the intersection of the top of the "Naouquettes" at 778 m (1h40), a small pass on the border of the two communes, you descend the slope to the left into the valley. You soon reach the Plas asphalt road which takes you to the village...
2h10 - ... to the church of Saint-Pierre d'Ornolac (595 m). Continue downhill on the D123. Leave the Place du Barry-d'en-haut on your left and continue for a further 35 m: leave the road and turn right into the En Soussat district. The path winds through the houses, veers right, crosses the Jouanos stream and climbs straight up to the old slate quarry (you'll spot it on the right). Turn left to the SW to complete the short climb. The Chemin de la Bue declines gently to the Départementale 123. Descend 155.m to the Place du Barry-d'en-bas. To the right of the square, you'll find the Rival du Loum path, which runs downhill past the famous Ornolac splouga. Past the last robiniers, you're back on the D123. The next section is on the right, some 600 metres...
(A) 2h45 - ... to the intersection of the Ussat-les-Bains spa park.
