Hiking and Rambling in Aveyron

Below are a number of short walks and hikes extracted from the Aveyron topoguides :

1. Aubrac ()
2. Causses en vallées ()
3. Cent vallées ()
4. Conques - Marcillac ()
5. Entre Causse et Dourdou ()
6. Millau ()
7. Monts et Lacs du Lévézou ()

8. Pays Réquistanais ()
9. Pays Ruthénois ()
10. Pays Villefranchois ()
11. Rignac - Montbazens ()
12. Roquefort ()
13. Vallée du Lot ()

Aveyron plays host to 8 'Grande Randonnée' long-distance hiking trails (GR®), two 'Grande Randonnée de Pays', or regional trail, (GR® de Pays) and numerous smaller trails, known as 'Promenades et Randonnées' (PR®).

The GR® Hiking Trails
The guidebooks "topo-guides des GR®", presented below, can be ordered using the web site of the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) at the following address : www.ffrandonnee.fr

or by mail to :

Comité Départemental de Randonnée Pédestre
BP 831 - 12008 Rodez Cedex
web site: www.aveyronsport.com/cdrp12/
E-mail : cdrp12@wanadoo.fr
Tél : (33) 5 65 75 54 61 - Fax : (33) 5 65 75 55 71

Presentation of the "Grande Randonnée" footpaths of the Aveyron:
- le GR 65 : The pilgrim way to Santiago de Compostela
- le GR 71 : The Templar and Hospitaller circuit 
- le GR 62 : Causses, Vallées et Plateaux du Rouergue et le GR 36 : Tour of the Aveyron gorges
- les GR de pays : Tour of Aubrac and around Entraygues: Lo camin d'Olt

PR® (Promenades et Randonnées or small hiking trails)
50 'Promenades et Randonnées' trail circuits throughout the département. Discover Aveyron at your leisure. In addition, some 20 departmental topo-guides enable you to follow the Petites Randonnées itineraries. They vary from simple walk of an hour or so to day-long walks. These guides are available from local Tourist Offices. To find out the addresses of the local Tourist Offices in Aveyron click here.

Hiking is perhaps the best way to discover a region. There are two centres here to welcome you and help you set out to discover the environment and the heritage of the Aveyron.

CPIE du Rouergue
The Centre Permanent d'Initiative pour l'Environnement du Rouergue (CPIE du Rouergue) organises :
· Workshops for children 5/12 years old: in the form of discovery expeditions, the young detectives, curious by nature, will have a number of enigmas to solve.
· Discovery expeditions: accompanied by an experienced guide, you set out to discover the flora and fauna, the landscapes, the history and the heritage of Aveyron.

For information, contact the CPIE du Rouergue
25, avenue Charles de Gaulle - 12100 Millau
Tél : (33) 5 65 61 06 57 - Fax : (33) 5 65 60 26 02

The Office National des Forêts helps you to discover two of the most beautiful forests in Aveyron:

·La forêt domaniale de l'Aubrac (the forest of Aubrac). Don't miss the mating cry of the stag in autumn.

Information :
Tél. (33) 5 65 48 06 82 - Fax. (33) 5 65 48 00 63

La forêt du Causse du Larzac et du Causse Noir (the forest of the Causses)
Information : Tél. (33) 5 65 60 16 40

“A Chaque Dimanche, Sa Rando” (Sunday Hikes)

Affiliated associations, tourist offices and information centres work with the Comité de Randonée Pédestre de l’Aveyron [Aveyron Hiking Committee] to present an annual hiking program entitled “A Chaque Dimanche, Sa Rando” [Sunday Hikes], open to all, members and non-members alike. These hikes are generally an active, friendly way getting to know the areas wealth, heritage and environment - not to mention its cuisine.

Competitions
For competitors, the schedule of events can be obtained from the following :
 
Courses pédestres en Aveyron
9, rue Grandet - 12000 Rodez.

100 KM competition of Millau,
Information : (33) 5 65 60 02 42.

The Hiking festival - from 15th July to 15th August
Each year, the Vallée du Lot, Carladez and Causse Comtal organise a hiking festival.
The aim is for participants to discover the different facets of the region through different outdoor activities (none too strenuous!), including walking, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking and horse riding. The festival thus offers a vast panoply of different landscapes themes and activities with a structured programme for the benefit and pleasure of everyone.
Website : http://festirando.netrando.fr