Les Pigeonniers, Murviel-les-Beziers a very pretty ramble in the Languedoc.

Les Pigeonniers, Murviel-les-Beziers. 9.5km, 2H.30 yellow markers, Easy. A most lovely country ramble through vineyards, olive groves, forest of pine and oak and fields of wheat and rolling barley. The beautiful loop uses little dirt roads and stone sided tracks.

The views are are simple and beautiful, carpets of flowers and fields edged with red poppies, orchids, cistus and blue borage. The back drop is that of the Caroux and Espinouse peeking over near the mountains that back Causses-et-Veyran. Popping up at every corner is a little pigeon lofts dating back to the Middle Ages. 

The pretty village of Murviel-les-Beziers sits peaceful under Pech Belet, with its lovely church at its centre.  And then there are the poppies themselves at the moment. Worth a visit in themselves.

It's difficult to remember all the twists and turns of this walk there were so many, so I'm not going to go into too much detail. The walk is so well covered by yellow markers that it is in fact quite unnecessary.

Park just behind the little camping site on the D36 as you enter the village from the west. There you will find a sign for the walk and the first yellow marker instructing you to turn left and walk up a small tarmacked track. You will see the first of the tall pigeon lofts on a hill in front of you. The track bares to the right and crosses a stream. Here you are walking through beautiful vineyards, at the end of this track you will pass the first pigeon loft (Vernes) where you turn left and walk to the top of the hill.

 Turn right passing the second loft that you had viewed earlier. The walk twists along little tracks, always with good signs until you reach a large pink house with Out buildings at the top of a rise (Le Ministre). The path goes straight past the barn and then turns left before taking a right turn. (Be careful here as it's the upper, middle track that you take). 

Keep on the route with beautiful views of the Caroux now. The track bares right a couple of times before reaching another tarmacked track. Turn right onto this and follow it for sometime.Keep straight on until you come to a ruin.

 Now take a little path through low bushes to join a small track. Turn left onto this and then turns right before crossing the river on small steeping stones. At a sharp left turn the route double back along a track to meet another sharp right at the end of it. 

This path goes up hill with beautiful views at the top. You now head towards the village once again and pass a lovely olive orchard on your right.

 Lovely views of the village here. The track turns right once again and then sharp left at some tatty buildings. A few more small twists and you are back at the car parking area. Enjoy.