A short jaunt on the Le Puy route, or, can I out slow-walk Rob?

[Hal]

Before walking from SJPP to Santiago in 2016, I will walk some of the Le Puy route immediately prior - partly to prepare myself for walking in Spain, partly because of the landscape, partly because of the enthusiasm of you good people here and partly because I was given a French language course for Christmas.

I plan to spend 7-14 days on foot before spending a couple of days each in Toulouse, Lourdes and Bayonne prior to SJPP. And I want to amble, by which I mean 10-15km for the first few days.

I will need to depart and arrive at locations with train terminals. I will need to leave May 5 so I imagine there will be more than a few French locals walking that specific time. My primary criteria are memorable scenery, non-depressing/grey villages and welcoming accommodation. My options are:

Le-Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac
Aumont-Aubrac to Decazeville
Figeac to Cahors via the Célé Route

Pros and cons, anyone?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

All are good! I think that most service to Aumont-Aubrac is now by a bus substituted for the train.

 

[David]

I did my first Camino from Moissac - has good rail links and is a lovely town. Then there was time and distance to get fit before St Jean.

p.s. you get to go through Condom, which is the perfect town to send postcards from

 

[TMcA]

Tough decision, but I would suggest your second option: Aumont Aubrac to Decazeville or Figeac. Very scenic countryside coupled with a number of beautiful towns: tiny Aubrac, Saint- Chély-d'Aubrac, Saint-Côme d'Olt, Espalion, Estaing, and, certainly, fabulous Conques. Then a decision, because the higher route to Decazeville (the one that is more scenic, according to the suggestions of the personnel in the abbey at Conques) brings with it a lot of road walking. I've done this route twice, and the second time I took the Malle Postale van to Decazeville and walked from there a bit further. After an overnight stay on to Figeac (with its rail connection). The advantage of taking the van was that my wife and I left Conques in the afternoon and had plenty of time to go through the town and its museum.

The third option might have less hikers. That was my experience last May when I hiked part of that route.

Falcon is correct about the bus serving Aumont Aubrac, but it is easy to make the bus transfer from the last stop on your train travel. It will drop you at the Aumont Aubrac train station and from there a couple of hotels are a 5-7 minute walk away.

If I can be of additional help, send me a note using the Private Conversation option.

Bon chemin!

Tom

 

[Hal]

@falcon269 - Cheers for the transport info.

@David - Condom with its Armagnac museum? That town has my name all over it!

@TMcA - Aumont-Aubrac to Decazeville/Figeac seems to be my choice thus far. The landscape seems varied and fantastic to look at. Considering it will be early May, given the altitude, I will need to be prepared for any temperature! Steepness aside I don't especially mind ending in Decazeville - dying mining towns are like mother's milk (Australian in the heezy!). But I would spend 2 more days walking to Livinhac-le-Haut and Figeac and train out of there if the scenery in Figeac is worth it.