Mons to La Pomarède, a valley walk.

Mons, Gorge d'heric, La Coste, Saint-Martin-de-l'Arçon, La Pomarède, passing Arbracadabranche Parc Aventure, Along the Orb, Voie Verte, Le Verdier base, Le Verdier Haut, Mons. This is a super walk taking around 2 hours, allow a little longer for stops as there are lots of lovely views and places to picnic or enjoy a drink along the way. Starting in Mons (The old village above Mons La Trivalle). Park at the church and follow the yellow /red signs through the village (If you want to see more of the village follow the blue markers up to the top of the village and go down through the woods to join the red/yellow path. At the gorge road turn left to reach the gorge and cross the first little bridge(super spot here to let a dog play/drink if it's not busy) to join the yellow marker, turning right along the other side of the river. This is a lovely old path with pretty views. It's quite a rocky path too just here.The path crosses another track just before La Coste and then a stream. In La Coste pass through the hamlet still follow yellow markers. The path passes the parking sign and keeps to a little concrete track across the fields to reach the chestnut woods below Saint-Martin-de-l'Arçon. If you want to go up into the village follow the blue marker to your left which will join the yellow path at the church. Turn left at the Mairie and pass the church now on a track with blue colour markers. This track takes you to La Pomarède. There are a couple more small streams for dogs along the way. In La Pomarède turn right taking a little path next to the car park (still following blue markers past Arbracadabranche Parc Aventure and cross the road passing the donkey fields. If you have children with you they will love all the baby animals here. Pass under the road in the tunnel and now you have a choice. I like to go down to the river on the little blue path as I walk with my dog but you may prefer to go up onto the Voie verte and left heading west. If you stay on the blue route it comes back onto the voie verte after going through a small tunnel. So now turn right onto the green route. There are some super views here. The is also a little snack stop in season. First pass through the first long tunnel (lite) then over the bridge with the road below. You now pass through the second tunnel with lovely views of the blue bridge over the Orb and the Gorge too. Now go over the next bridge and look out for the little blue marker on the other side of it. Go down to the track below (Le Verdier base)and then onto the little path beside the wooden post. A little way up this path is a way down to the river Heric another good watering hole. At the car park there are toilets and a cafe. Now turn left onto the yellow/red/blue path into Le Verdier Haut, turn right and cross the road to head back up the path through the woods into Mons. This path passes the old bread oven before turning left after the little tunnel. Depending on the route you take it will be around 8 to 10km.