You leave Saint-Privat-d’Allier behind you and the Allier valley slowly drops away. Then the real work begins. There’s a climb of more than 450 metres, steep enough to force you into a calm, steady rhythm without even trying.
Up top, the landscape opens out. Meadows and woodland take turns, and the path keeps rising and falling. That’s what makes this day hard: not one big blow, but a long string of them. Saugues comes into view without much fuss, and your legs will be glad to stop. With more than 6 hours of walking ahead of you, it’s best to set off in good time. That way, you keep the afternoon for yourself.