Le Roc Rouge, Bedarieux.

Le Roc Rouge, Bedarieux. 6km / 1.30h Blue markings. A lovely varied little walk, up to the rocks with fantastic views of the Orb valley, Caroux, Avant Monts and the Monts de Orb. Then over beautiful little causses, woodland and garrigue. The walk starts at a junction of the D146/D908, park on the Rue des Sablons (it's not far from the school, beside a roundabout with a blue sculpture). Walk up this little road to join a little chemin and cross the road to another chemin with a sign for climbing on the Roc Rouge. Take this little path which is marked blue. The track climbs quite steeply here (There are also new yellow markers here that go as far as the Roc Rouge). The track goes up hill and turns slightly to the left before reaching a sign for the climbing routes. Keep straight on here on a small path the goes right to the top of the rocks. You come to a junction of little paths, (the yellow path leaves to your left but it's worth a detour along the edge of the cliff to see the views and small stone huts that dot the landscape, lots of orchids up here in April but wild daffs in March). At this junction go straight on, the path descends between beautiful old stone walls that divide the once farmed little fields. Here there are lots of little mazets that have been long forgotten, it's another world. You now keep straight on when you reach a turning to the right and the track descends gradually through woodland and garrigue. When you reach another junction onto a small road turn right and right again at the next junction beside a house. This little road then ends at another house where you take a turn to the right onto a tiny rocky path through the trees where you will find more orchids, it comes back out onto a small take which goes downhill to a road. Turn right onto the road and follow this road back to the roundabout with the blue sculpture were you parked. Lots of beautiful flowers on this walk and wonderful views. It's not too long and easy to do for a family walk.