6-day walk in the Morvan: on the road to Bibracte

Heading south early on, we followed in the footsteps of the Morvan tour on horseback and the Bibracte trail. The gentle paths of the first few hours give way to a steeper gradient as we move on. We take our time, stopping for lunch at the Croix de Chèvre, the highest point of the route, offering a magnificent panorama of the wooded slopes.

We then change direction and head west to explore the vast state-owned forest of Anost. The descent to the Anost valley is both long and picturesque, sometimes requiring us to walk alongside our horses. Depending on what we fancy, we can stop off at the local café or ride around the village before arriving at our overnight accommodation in the simple, functional gîte d'étape de Athez, housed in the old school building.

Catering is provided by a caterer or by us. A day of approximately 30 km, or 6 hours of discovery and horseback adventure.

Our day on horseback begins with a steady climb for the first kilometre, followed by wide tracks leading first west along the old Chemin du Tacot and then south. Once on the slopes of Haut Folin (961 m), we follow the cross-country tracks of the ski resort of the same name, offering a pleasant shady break in the undergrowth before resuming the ascent through magnificent beech forests, past Glux-en-Glenne, to finally reach the Bibracte site.

Take a photo break in front of the breathtaking panorama. The descent is on foot along the GR, which is steep and slippery at times, before continuing on level ground to our overnight accommodation in Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray, 7 km away. We'll be staying at the Hôtel du Morvan, with meals provided on site.

A day of approximately 5 to 6 hours, covering 25 km but with a significant difference in altitude, promising some intense moments on horseback.

After a well-deserved night's rest, we set off on our return journey to the north-north-east. The landscape changes rapidly, giving way to more hedgerows, farms and hamlets, while the conifers and relief become less prominent. At midday, we stop by a river at La Celle en Morvan, offering a refreshing break for us and our faithful companions.

In the afternoon, the terrain is flatter, following the course of the river through private paths where we sometimes have to open gates or take short stretches of road. After La Chaume and a final climb, we descend to the village of Cussy en Morvan, where we spend the night in a charming bed and breakfast.

We'll be eating at the table d'hôte, which promises to be a convivial, gourmet evening. A day of approximately 5h30, covering 28 km, marking a peaceful stage full of discoveries in the heart of the Morvan.

As soon as we left Cussy, we set off on our adventure with a steep climb through the woods to the ridge above Giens-sur-Cure, which we crossed on our way to Settons lake. The track is favourable, allowing us to gallop for 3 km. Our lunch break, in the shade near the lake, gives us a chance to cool our feet and even take a dip if the sun is out.

In the afternoon, we set off on a relatively hilly route through the coniferous forest to Aligny, with some fine tracks that are ideal for pacing. We'll reach our overnight stop, either on the banks of Chamboux lake or in Saulieu, where we can enjoy a meal prepared by a caterer or in a local restaurant.

A day of around 27 km and 5 hours.

Our journey continues towards the north-east and Normier. We bypass Saulieu to the west, passing through forests and ponds before descending the famous "Morvan steps" along the Bibracte-Alésia route, through wooded stretches offering magnificent views. Gradually, the landscape softens, giving way to fields and hedgerows. After a lunch break by the river at Chausserose, we realise that the Morvan is now behind us.

A few energetic gallops take us quickly to Mont Ligot, where we begin our descent to enjoy the last moments in the forest before arriving at Normier from the west.

A day of around 6 hours, covering 29 km. It is possible to reverse the route with the first day for an even more interesting variant.