Outdoor activities in Limousin - The Ranch des Lacs

OUTDOOR — Move, breathe, recharge

Ranch des Lacs: your outdoor base in Limousin

We're not going to tell you stories: if you're looking for a hotel with a spa, heated pool and entertainment program, this isn't the place for you.

Here, nature does the work. And it does it well.

The Ranch des Lacs is located in the heart of the Millevaches Regional Natural Park , at an altitude of 600 meters, between beech forests, moors, peat bogs and lakes. A preserved, sparsely populated territory, crossed by dozens of marked trails, trout streams, roads that lead nowhere — and that's precisely why we love it.

Whether you are a Sunday walker, a cycle tourist on a road trip, a trail runner in search of elevation gain or a family with children who need to move: you will find your playground here. And when you get back, the gourmet restaurant and wine cellar await you.

Specifically, what we make available to you

Because fine words don't make the shoes move, here's what's actually available at the Ranch:

• Secure, enclosed bike and mountain bike shelter — so you can return home without worrying about your equipment

• A room for drying clothes and shoes — because in Limousin, the weather has character

• Topo-guides, maps and personalized advice — we know the trails, we tell you which ones are worth the detour according to your level and how you're feeling that day

•Picnic baskets — prepared with local products, so you don't have to go back for lunch

• A delicious breakfast from 7am — so you can get an early start with energy in your legs

• Evening meals served at the host's table — a proper, home-cooked recovery meal, accompanied by a good bottle of wine from the cellar

We are certified by Accueil Randonnées 87 , Hébergement Pêche 87 , and Accueil Vélo , and our house is an official stop on several major hiking routes. These aren't just decorations on our website: they are concrete commitments to you.

Activities around the Ranch — within a 40 km radius

🥾 Hiking

The Augne Loop (starting from home)

The closest, the most accessible. A loop of approximately 12 km through the meadows and woods of the plateau, ideal for a first outing or a family walk. We start from home, we finish at home — no car, no logistics.

GR de Pays Monts et Barrages (190 km, official stage)

190 kilometers of marked trails wind between reservoirs, beech forests, and charming villages. Ranch des Lacs is an official stopover. You can hike a single stage or link several—we can help you plan your itinerary, whether you're traveling light or with a full pack.

The Way of St. James

A variant of the route passes through our area. Pilgrims and walkers are welcome — we are used to welcoming people on the move, with or without booking well in advance. Picnic basket available on request so you can leave early in the morning.

The Rando Millevaches network

Dozens of marked trails, from 4 to 25 km. We provide guides adapted to your level and the season. All you have to do is choose.

Lake Vassivière (~25 km)

1,000 hectares of water, paths around the banks, views of the island and its open-air sculptures. Ideal for families, easily accessible, beautiful in all seasons.

Mont Gargan (~35 km, via Eymoutiers)

A 360° panoramic view of the Millevaches plateau and the Monédières massif. Easily accessible, and worth a stop even for those who don't hike.

Hiking with a donkey — Millevaches (APPAAT Millevaches)

For those who really want to slow down. You go on a journey with a donkey that carries your belongings, at the pace of nature. Ideal for families with children, ideal for truly disconnecting. We'll put you in touch with the organizers.

🚵 Cycling, mountain biking and cycle touring

La Vélidéale — from Vassivière to Saint-Nazaire (668 km, official stage)

A major cycle route connects Lake Vassivière to Saint-Nazaire, passing through 5 regional natural parks. The Ranch is a certified "Accueil Vélo" (Cyclist Welcome) stopover. Whether you're doing 2 stages or the entire 668 km, you're welcome—with your loaded bike, dripping panniers, and aching legs that deserve a good meal.

Tour of Vassivière Island by bike (~15 km, ~25 km from the Ranch)

The most accessible loop in the area: shaded, flat, and beautiful. Perfect for a half-day outing with the family or a warm-up before a longer hike.

Mountain biking trails on the Millevaches Plateau (20 to 55 km)

Mountain bike trails for all levels, with elevation gains from 500 to over 1,100 meters. Sunken lanes, heathland, dense forests, and technical descents. Our secure bike shelter is available for your use.

🏃 Trail running and nature running

Trails around Eymoutiers (~15 km from the Ranch)

Technical trails through the wooded and hilly terrain of southern Haute-Vienne. Good terrain for long or interval trail runs, with a return to the Ranch for recovery.

The Monédières (~40 km)

Trail loops across moors and ridges, with exceptional panoramic views. A challenging and magnificent playground for experienced runners.

⭐ Flagship Event — The ALEFPA Trail: 5th edition, September 2026

There are events we support because they reflect who we are. The ALEFPA Trail is one of them.

Organised in Eymoutiers — just 15 km from the Ranch — by ALEFPA, a medical-social association that works for inclusion and living together, this trail is in the image of what sport in the great outdoors should always be: open to all, festive, human, committed .

This isn't an elite race reserved for top performers. It's a day where seasoned trail runners tackle 53km while children run their 500 meters with just as much pride. Where smiling volunteers welcome the last finishers with as much warmth as the first. Where eco-responsibility isn't a marketing ploy but a concrete practice.

All races are run solo or in pairs . Because sometimes you're stronger together.

Ranch des Lacs is the ideal accommodation for those attending the ALEFPA Trail. We welcome participants the day before and the evening of the race. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at dawn, followed by a dinner party in the evening to celebrate in style—complete with a fine bottle of wine from our cellar and legs that deserve a well-deserved rest.

Registration and information at alefpatrail.com

Our values, simply

We don't do outdoor activities to make money or tick boxes. We do it because we sincerely believe that walking in the forest, cycling on a sunken path, running on a ridge — puts things into perspective.

Slow tourism — we're not here to make you rush. Even if you are rushing.

For all levels — from the Sunday stroller to the 53km trail runner, everyone has their place here.

Welcoming everyone — families, seniors, athletes, groups, people with disabilities: our house is made to welcome, not to select.

Responsible territory — we love this territory, we take care of it, and we encourage you to do the same.

Before and after exertion — a proper breakfast beforehand, a proper meal in the evening. Because the pleasure of the outdoors also comes from what we eat and drink.

We organize your outdoor stay

Do you have a project in mind? Tell us about it. Whether you're coming for the ALEFPA Trail, a long-distance hike on the GR de Pays, a mountain biking weekend, or simply a family outing—we'll help you plan your trip. We'll tell you honestly what's worthwhile and what isn't.

Françoise and Jules — 05 55 69 15 66 — ranch.des.lacs@gmail.com

Ranch des Lacs — 984 route de Vervialle 87120 Augne, Haute-Vienne — Millevaches Regional Natural Park