Autumn walks - The Mortemare pond in Haute-VienneAutumn walks - The Mortemare pond in Haute-Vienne
©Autumn walks - The Mortemare pond in Haute-Vienne|©Christelle RAMA
Autumn walksThe Limousin dressed in gold

Our selection of autumn walks in Limousin

While the Haute-Vienne is beautiful in all seasons, autumn gives it a special sparkle.

The paths take on a thousand colours, the air becomes fresher, the leaves crunch underfoot and the light gilds the undergrowth… It’s the perfect season for a walk in the heart of the Limousin, between the peaceful banks of the lac de Saint-Pardoux, the blazing forests, panoramic views over the Monts de Blond and the villages of character.

Here’s our selection of autumn walking tours, to enjoy with your eyes wide open. 🍂

Quick overview

1. The Vaseix Forest

in Verneuil-sur-Vienne, a stone's throw from Limoges

When autumn turns the leaves golden, the forêt des Vaseix becomes a haven of peace just outside Limoges… This 105-hectare wooded setting combines peaceful lanes, majestic deciduous trees, damp clearings and slender conifers. An invitation to take a stroll in Limousin, in all simplicity. 🌳

Three routes are available to suit your mood:

  • The Chamberet walk (2.5 km), for a short break in the woods
  • The Étang walk (3.5 km), along the water
  • The Grand Bois tour (6 km), for a longer immersion under the foliage

Easy to get to, soothing and colourful, the Vaseix forest is a perfect idea for an autumn walking tour without travelling far from Limoges. 👟

2. Les Aubespins path

in Saint-Junien

A city of leather and history, Saint-Junien hides many treasures… including the Aubespins trail, a walk in autumn between wild nature and medieval heritage.

This trail takes you along the Glane, a river that is sometimes peaceful, sometimes torrential, where water has been sculpting the rock for millennia. From the Giraud ford footbridge, admire the impressive erosion potholes 💧

Under the golden foliage, the walk continues between forest, clearings and unobstructed views of the Glane valley and the Monts de Blond. Along the way, let yourself be surprised by the remains of the past: the manor house of Châtelard, the fortified house of Châteaumorand…

A route that is both peaceful and full of emotion, perfect for lovers of beautiful stones, panoramas and autumnal walks in Limousin. 🍂

3. Tour du Lac de Saint-Pardoux

at Saint-Pardoux-le-Lac

Touring the lac de Saint-Pardoux in autumn is a life-size adventure! A 24km hike in Haute-Vienne for seasoned walkers, between golden beaches, leaf-covered undergrowth and moors ablaze with heather. 🌸

The wind rustles the surface of the lake, the roots grow under your feet, and the panoramas open up like postcards. Each stride brings you closer to a Limousin wild, alive, deeply rejuvenating. 😌

4. The path of the monks of Grandmont

at Saint-Sylvestre

On this hike in the Haute-Vienne, the Monts d’Ambazac reveal their treasures: sunken paths lined with low stone walls, ancient beech forests, heather moors, bucolic viewpoints and secret ponds.

Here, every stone whispers history: that of the Grandmont monks, who lived in austerity and silence. The chapel and the remains of their abbey line the route, in an almost sacred calm. ⛪

Along the way, a short diversions leads to the Grange aux Moines, an ancient 12th-century building. It was once used to store the tithes collected by the order and is now open to the performing arts. For a concert or show, the old stones come alive, offering a magical interlude in the middle of nature. 🎶

5. le Bois du Curé and des mille Diables trail

in Châteauneuf-la-forêt

When autumn paints the Limousin mountains in coppery hues, the Bois du Curé and Mille Diables trail becomes a fairytale setting.

Starting in Châteauneuf-la-Forêt, you’ll travel between golden forests, small villages with traditional buildings and misty valleys. The lake shimmers beneath the blazing foliage, the paths crunch beneath your footsteps. 🍁

A 4-hour walk that takes you from panorama to panorama, in a Limousin that seems suspended between mystery and gentleness.

6. Boubon forest tour

in Cussac

family trail immerses you in peaceful nature, decked out in its most beautiful autumn colours. 🍂

We climb up to the panorama at 470 m altitude, discovering a deciduous hut, caches of maquisards, an old mill and even a bit of land art!

The ideal way to arouse the curiosity of little hikers while breathing in the fresh air of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park. 👨‍👩‍👧

7. Sentier du bois des fées

in Breuilaufa

The fairy wood trail in Breuilaufa plunges you into the heart of a forest steeped in mystery. Legend has it that peasants spotted fairies in the evening mist… 🧚‍♀️

On this 12km (3h) trail, let yourself be surprised by the dolmens of Betoulle, the murmur of streams and the autumn light filtering through the beech trees. 🪨

On the way, views of the Monts de Blond, a small village in the Haute-Vienne and its Romanesque church come into view. An enchanting walk, between thousand-year-old history and magical nature.

8. Sentier des belles vues

in Burgnac

Just 20 minutes from Limoges, the “sentier des belles vues” at Burgnac plunges you into the real Limousin countryside! Peaceful cows, meadows as far as the eye can see, local crops: here, agriculture shapes the landscape. 🐂

This easy loop is ideal for a family outing. Children will love watching the animals and walking along the pretty sunken paths. Bonus: beautiful viewpoints over the Monts des Cars. A very simple, very beautiful walk, to enjoy the Limousin together in its autumn clothes. 👩‍👦

9. shepherds' and tile-makers' path

in Château-Chervix

Between wild moors, dense forests and dark rocks, the shepherds’ and tile-makers’ path offers a wild interlude in Château-Chervix.

This hike crosses the lande du Cluzeau and de la Flotte, carpeted with heather in autumn, skirts peaceful ponds and climbs to the Roches du Loup, spectacular serpentinite formations. 🐺

As you go, grandiose panoramas open up over the Monédières and the Mont-Gargan. And for mystery seekers, the route follows in the footsteps of an ancient Roman road, still marked by a tragic legend of the “merchant’s head”… ✨

10. le chemin des hêtres

in Cieux

At the foot of the Monts de Blond, the Chemin des Hêtres takes you through a peaceful setting with the air of a tableau vivant.

You’ll come across majestic old beeches, babbling brooks, barns with rustic charm… and above all, the Etang de Cieux, a vast 43-hectare mirror of water, home to more than 75 species of bird. 🐦‍⬛

On a clear day, the views over the surrounding hills are superb. An invigorating interlude to be savoured slowly, along a trail that combines beauty, silence and wildlife. 🌿

11. steeples and ponds circuit

in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat

This 14.8 km trail invites you to enjoy a walk punctuated by the scenery and atmosphere of the season. For the first few kilometres, the trail runs alongside the River Vienne and its ancient mills, lined with golden foliage in autumn. Then it heads off towards ponds, babbling brooks and small hamlets full of character. 🍂

The route crosses a section of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela and offers superb views of the medieval town of Saint-Léonard de Noblat and its Unesco-listed collegiate church. ⛪

An ideal loop for curious walkers looking for gentle effort, heritage and peaceful scenery.

12. Vienne gorges path

in Eymoutiers

Welcome to one of the most spectacular trails in the Millevaches Regional Nature Park. The Vienne Gorges hike takes you through golden woods, sunken lanes and granite chaos, with magnificent views plunging down on the river.

Here, nature is wild, the slopes sometimes steep, but always conducive to wonder. This demanding route reveals its treasures: the remains of an old hidden mill, secret passages in the undergrowth, and a tree-lined railway line, used in summer by a steam train. 🚂

An adventure to be savoured slowly, bag well prepared, shoes broken in, and why not, a slice of cake with autumnal flavours for a contemplative break. 🧘