Mont Dore
The Spa town, Mont Dore is situated in an ideal location for accessing the highest peaks in the Auvergne. Puy de Sancy, at 1886 m towering over the town, gives the illusion that you are in a much larger mountain range than actually is the case.
The hiking in the area is excellent, but not extensively varied - a good few days could be found with minimal effort and a week with a little consideration.
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Puy de SancyPuy de Sancy is the largest peak in the Avergne, and dominates the area around Mont Dore.
The summit is accessible by a cable car and a short ascent, but without snow, the area just below it is visibly heavily damaged by piste building, and the erosion from huge numbers of tourists. Despite this, the views are worth the trip.
If you are up to it, an excellent route to the top ascends from the "preserved valley" to the north east. The full circular route gives a full days hiking of about 14 km distance and 800 m ascent and descent.The Thermal BathsAccess to the thermal baths are generally sold as "treatments", although mostly said treatments resemble lounging around being pampered, which certainly can do no harm.
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La Cheverie de Mont Dore
address: Murat-le-QuaireThis goats cheese farm is sold very much as a place, not so much to learn about making goats cheese, but to interact with goats that are used to make the cheese. Primarily, it is children enjoying the experience with parents looking on, but it is certainly not (nor should it be) exclusively for children. The activities take the form of a tour (beginning, in 2007, at 4pm and 6pm) lasting about an hour and a half. The events include bottle feeding the very small goats and hand feeding the larger ones and learning to milk them. Any discussion is in French, but knowledge of what is said is not necessary for enjoyment.
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address: Le Genestoux, 63240 Mont DoreAlthough the cost of this bed and breakfast is slightly on the high side, the service provided is certainly worth it. The rooms are clean and of the style of a hotel, but not without character. The buffet breakfast is excellent and varies daily. The thing that makes this b&b a real gem is Madam. She speaks sufficient English to be understood and certainly likes to speak it! With advice to give on everything that a tourist might need to know, along with a wealth of paper resources (including local hiking maps), she really makes a visitor's life wonderfully simple. Ample parking available.