Walking in the Auvergne (42 Walks in Volcano Country)

This handy guidebook offers the finest day walks in five different areas of the Auvergne, an often-forgotten region in central France perfect for accessible day walking in a unique and spectacular landscape. Towns such as Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand and Puy-en-Velay also offer delightful places to base yourself for that perfect walking holiday. The ridges, rocky peaks and verdant valleys of the Cantal supervolcano dominate south-western Auvergne. The centre of the region hosts the unique chain of 'puys' with their pudding bowl forms and the pristine crater lakes of the Sancy massif. In the north, the Montagne Bourbonnaise preserves a pastoral way of life which is quintessentially French while the Haute Loire's rivers and medieval abbeys reward those venturing further off the beaten track. Notes on the geology and history of points of interest passed en route help you to get the most out of your explorations. The 42 routes described range from easy to challenging and between 5 and 20km. All are illustrated with clear, original sketch maps and colour photographs and all the information you need to plan your trip is included, including a useful walker's glossary.