Our take
A peat bog at 1,200 m, little signposted, little visited. Sundew and cotton grass in spring, an end-of-the-world feel in the Sancy.
High-altitude peat bog in the Sancy at 1,200 m: boardwalks, sundews, cotton grass, and almost nobody around.
A high-altitude peat bog in Picherande, in the Sancy massif, at 1,200 m. A fragile natural site. Acid sphagnum bog, rare fauna and flora (sundew, cotton grass, dragonflies). Discovery trail redeveloped by the commune of Picherande and the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, with boardwalks and information panels. Open access, free of charge, low visitor numbers. Access from the D203, free parking. Combine it with nearby Lac Chauvet.
Why we love it
- A preserved sphagnum bog, trail on boardwalks
- Sundews and cotton grass in flower in spring
Top tip
Stay on the boardwalks (fragile site). Combine it with Lac Chauvet (5 minutes) and the Cézallier. Ideal in spring (flowering) or autumn (colours).
Before you go
- Stay on the boardwalks, the site is fragile
- Waterproof shoes recommended
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
9°/2°
8 mm · 35 km/h
Tomorrow
11°/2°
dry · 7 km/h
Tue 27
16°/9°
dry · 21 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- Unnamed Road, 63113 Picherande, France
63113 Picherande - Monday24 hours
- Tuesday24 hours
- Wednesday24 hours
- Thursday24 hours
- Friday24 hours
- Saturday24 hours
- Today24 hours
Opening hours
What visitors say
Google rating
Average of 18 reviews on Google Maps.
Community rating
No reader reviews yet: yours gets things started.
Your logbook
Around Gayme peat bog
4 spots in and around Picherande, enough to build your day.
Where to eat close by
Where to stay nearby
Volcan'Hostel
4.9Picherande · 2.1 km away
€Résidence Le Bois de la Reine
4.0Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise · 6.7 km away
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
On foot
On footFrom Chastreix village to the glacial valley
Start: Parking à côté de l'église, au centre du bourg
- 18.3 km
- +535 m
- 5 h 30 min
Hikes around Gayme peat bog
On footOn footFrom Chastreix village to the glacial valley
Start: Parking à côté de l'église, au centre du bourg
- 18.3 km
- +535 m
- 5 h 30 min
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