The day begins on the Aubrac plateau: wide and bare, with low stone walls and grazing cows. The wind has free rein here. Then the landscape drops away beneath you. Woods and little villages follow one another, and far below, the Lot valley awaits.
This is mostly a day downhill. You descend well over 900 metres, and you will feel it. Not in your lungs, but in your knees and toes. Some stretches are steep and stony, so watch where you put your feet. Espalion lies on the Lot, just where the valley catches you. With almost 8 hours on the clock, it is worth taking regular breaks along the way to spare your knees.