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Hi kmccue - I hiked it from Aumont-Aubrac to Cahors and did the Cele Variant last year (then went down to the Norte/Primitivo/Verde). You will love it, although it is a fairly tough hike. The Aubrac Plateau is spectacular. There should be plenty of ways to break it up into the 15 - 17 miles/day that you're thinking of. I used the Miam Miam Dodo guide in French that made it easy to break things into my own stages. I had some great lodging in the gites. Unless you speak fluently, though, I'd skip the Chambres-d'Hotes - they require an arrhes/deposit that isn't usually payable with PayPal. Sometimes they want a specifically French check, and it can get tricky.IN the middle of winter in Iowa...I am dreaming of France! I plan to spend most all of September from Le Puy to Saint Jean, but I'm flummoxed as how to divide the trip. In general I like to hike 15-17 miles a day, so I guess that's a start, but wondering if there are some great places not to miss. I like smaller towns and the Cele Valley variant appeals to me. Gronze and Via Podiensis both have different stages. Any advice from veterans? On CF and CP, I generally followed Brierly with just a few adaptations.
You will find that the Le Puy route is a nice combination of rural hiking with a succession of spectacularly beautiful small towns like Estaing, Saint-Côme-d'Olt, Conques, and others.
Hi Glen, I agree with you for the most part, but I wasn't particularly enamoured with Figeac or Cahors compared to some of the other smaller towns. When cities are larger they sometimes lose some of their charm. I absolutely loved the Cele! So very unique and my friend and I were all alone most of the time, which was a very special feeling as waymarks were good. In the month of June we had lots of French walkers early on, but it thinned out alot after Figeac where the train station can take them home.
I walked it from Conques and did not mind it, but after getting to D, we did take a short taxi to the next town where we had our reservation. I'mnot sure why...must of been too pooped to finish!What is it about Conques-Decazeville that makes it worth missing?
What is it about Conques-Decazeville that makes it worth missing?
intrepidtraveler (I remember you from your Norte posts!) - Out of Conques was strenuous (the hill to the chapel that others are mentioning), but the views were beautiful (see image to left). In Noailhac, there was a cafe that was willing to make an assiette pelerin at 11:00 - Rocamadour cheese, estofinade, farcon, and a soft lettuce salad in vinaigrette. But Decazeville had just rerouted its entrance, I got lost, the marking was really bad in town as well (lost several more times), and a guy I'd asked for directions decided to get into his car, chase me down, and yell about our political situation in the States. In addition, it's newer and charmless. One of my least favorite parts of the trip. In Livenhac-en-Haut, not far beyond, there is a very nice gite, though. If I remember from the Miam Miam Dodo, there's a way to detour around Decazeville to the north. I wish I'd taken that detour......What is it about Conques-Decazeville that makes it worth missing?
I wish I could help, kmccue - my Miam Miam Dodo was so marked up, pared down, and generally hard-used by the time I finished that I pitched it at the train station in Bordeaux. But there IS a detour that was clearly marked, so hopefully the most recent Miam Dodo that you ordered will include it. Some other smart person on here will likely know the exact route. Happy planning and I wish you a speedy end to your winter there! We have snow and temps in the single-digits here in PA.So...how do I aovid Decazeville? Someone said there was another route? And where does one re-connect to the main route if yiu take the Cele Valley variant? Sorry, I just ordered Miam Miam Dodo, perhaps that will help me.
Oh, the Cele Variant reconnects with the main Le Puy/GR-65 before Cahors, depending on which route you've taken right around Bouzies/St. Cirq-LaPopie. You can choose between the route Bouzies-Arcambal-Cahors or the more southern way out of St. Cirq-LaPopie, which reconnects with the main Le Puy/GR-65 around Bach, I think, so that southern way reconnects earlier than the Arcambal way. Don't miss the Chemin des Halages between Bouzies and St. Cirq-LaPopie - it's about 3.5K between the two and a very charming canal towpath blasted out of the rock. I went via Arcambal and can recommend a very nice stay there if you want a break from the gites, kmc. Here's a description of those two options - they both reconnect to the main route before or at Cahors:So...how do I aovid Decazeville? Someone said there was another route? And where does one re-connect to the main route if yiu take the Cele Valley variant? Sorry, I just ordered Miam Miam Dodo, perhaps that will help me.
Camino CHris, You said you walked to Mossaic and also did the Cele variant, exactly my plan. Did you then take the train from Mossaic? I am thinking that would take me about 21-22 days at 25 K or so a day? Agree? Would there be any amazing places I'd miss if I stopped there and didn't go on towards St. Jean?Great descriprion, Northern Light. Do you remember that white chapel on the hill leaving Conques?. We were told to take the road out as the steep trail was muddy, so we did...but then later we saw a sign pointing to a side trail to see the chapel. We did and big mistake as it didn't indicate how far back downward we had to hike to see it! We lost a lot of ground on an overgrown path. It was the only time in a month I was truly annoyed with my companions as they were the ones who wanted to backtrack, not me!☺
We had a full 4 weeks. Flew into CDG, then had pre-purchased train tickets from the airport to LePuy. We only had one full day in Le Puy before starting to walk. We tried to average approx 20 kilometers per day as there is quote a bit of ups and downs. We did take a zero day in Figeac, but used most of it to take a train to Rocamadour and back for the day. We did arrive 2 days earlier than we needdd in Moissac, so walked another stage to Auvillar, stayed the night, then walked back to Moissac for ine more night before taking the train back to CDG.Camino CHris, You said you walked to Mossaic and also did the Cele variant, exactly my plan. Did you then take the train from Mossaic? I am thinking that would take me about 21-22 days at 25 K or so a day? Agree? Would there be any amazing places I'd miss if I stopped there and didn't go on towards St. Jean?
The route is sketched out the the MMDD as an unmarked route. It's pretty easy to follow and a pleasant walk. I did it in the fall of 2015. I think a portion of it was referred to as the "Chemin des crêtes."So...how do I aovid Decazeville? Someone said there was another route? And where does one re-connect to the main route if yiu take the Cele Valley variant? Sorry, I just ordered Miam Miam Dodo, perhaps that will help me.
Thanks for the help. I think I just purchased it but am waiting to receive it. How many K from Figeac to Cahours?I have not walked the route yet, I plan to in June and July 2019 and I have received guide notes and suggestions from a freind who walked from le Puy to Cahors last year. There is a specific guide published in 2018 by Miam Miam Dodo for the Voie du Cele (GR 651) that she gave me. The seque from the GR 65 to the GR 651 looks to be minimally "uncomplicated" after Figeac as far as finding the signs to turn onto the GR 651, and once you are on the 651 it follows the Cele and the Lot all the way to Cahors. There seem to be enough accommodations spread out along the way but I have been warned that during summer reservations are recommended. I still have not made up my mind to bail out after Cahors and take a train to Toulouse and find my way to Pamplona and join up with the CF for a few weeks.
I still have not made up my mind to bail out after Cahors and take a train to Toulouse and find my way to Pamplona and join up with the CF for a few weeks.
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