Mons La Trivalle, Ornac and Fenoullede

Mons La Trivalle, Ornac and Fenoullede. This is an easy walk from Mons La Trivalle on a small track road up onto the Avant Monts. The small road crosses three cols with three small settlements. It's a beautiful walk with impressive views of the Espinouse, Caroux , Jaur and Orb valleys as well as all the little villages. Today we just went up and back on the little track road but you can make a lovely circuit of it by either taking the tiny path down from Costeplane or Courbou back to the river at Ornac. The best place to park for this walk is in Mons La Trivalle, cross the green bridge and turn right and then left at the bottom to reach Ornac. Take the road through Ornac and up the hill. If you want to go further you can walk this way to Olargues or Vieussan. The views are stunning.

The hamlets of the Jaur, Olargues.

The hamlets of the Jaur. No markings. Just a lovely ramble following little tracks and returning on the voie verte. About 8- 9km. Allow a couple of hours. Parking at Olargues on the bypass road. This parking spot is beside the river Jaur and in itself a glorious location and a favourite swimming spot for locals in the summer. Now turn left and walk a few yards up the road to reach a little track on your right between a couple of houses. This little road winds up the hill beside the stream to Le Cros. Keep right at the first junction, left at the next and left again once you reach where it turns into a newly concreted road up to the hamlet itself. There is lots of cherry blossom up here and watch out for orchids too. Once in the hamlet turn right onto the road, we then kept right on a little track in a pretty dip. Taking the next left uphill path to the road near La Fabregue Haute. We kept right and went past Les Castagnes taking the road down to the beautiful Priere de st Julien. If you turn right here you can visit the priory and rejoin the road further down.This is a nice place for a picnic. Just before the road D908, you will see a little path to your right which will take you up through trees to the voie verte. If you miss this don't worry, a few yards down the main road are some concrete gateposts, take the second track here to rejoin the route. Now you have an easy and very lovely walk down the cycle/walking route back to Olargues. The birdsong was particularly wonderful here, almost like being in an avery. The views on this walk are just gorgeous, a little peace of heaven, up to the Espinouse, Caroux and across to the Avant Monts. Cherry blossom, wildflowers and streams everywhere. Deliciously beautiful, like eating iced buns on a Sunday. If you want to walk the voie verte or enjoy a cycle ride in the area you may like to stay in Olargues. It's such a lovely place. I can recommend this lovely place to stay for either B/B or with a wonderfully cooked evening meal of local ingredients. It's run by a lovely couple. Speaking both English and French and it's right in the centre of the village in one of the lovely little lanes. http://www.olargues.co.uk/

Vieussan

An amazingly wonderful walk, with stunningly beautiful scenery, a delightful village, super tower to visit, lime kilns, mountains and a little excitement onroute. Vieussan. Blue/yellow. 4.5km but it feels like 7km. 2H but allow longer as the views are stunning and you will want to go off to look at the tour and the special viewpoint. Don't underestimate this walk as it's not what I would call easy even if it is relatively short. There is quite a bit of climbing and in parts the route can be difficult. Take the D14 to Vieussan and park in the village. There is plenty of parking up on the road into the village, don't park down by the little shop on the D14. Walk into the village and just before the first arch there is a turn to the left. This little path takes you up and out of the village to the tower. Soon you will see a red sign for the Tour. It's not far up and worth a visit, just a little bit of climbing. The views here are beautiful even if you are unable to do the rest of the walk. Return to the path and head north. It's a lovely little path above the road and river. You should see a lime kiln soon. The path descends to the road and you then have to turn right and walk the short distance up to the pottery. Just before the pottery you will see a track to your right. Take this and follow the stream up the valley. It's not an easy route over rock, but there are little steps on the rock to help. The path twist back and forth over the stream. At one point you will see the blue path going to your right and white dots to your left. The blue route goes up and back down to avoid a difficult rock in the stream. If you prefer take the white route and hold the chain to climb the rock then you will rejoin the blue trail on the other side. The route continues up the stream but after a while you will see a yellow route to your right. Leave the blue blue and take the yellow route sharply up hill. Continue on this path until you see a red sign. It's up to you if you take this diversion but if you don't you will miss out on the most stunning views of the whole walk. Here you see all the valley, the Caroux and gorge and the beautiful Espinouse. There is a little house here, with a tiny garden which makes a good lunch spot out of the wind but if it's not windy go on a little way and you will find the best lunch spot of all, with views to delight. Now return to the yellow path and continue towards the village. I think there is another lime kiln here. Soon you will have views down to the tower and the village. So beautiful in the sunshine. Just before the tower there is a choice of paths. Go down to your left and then turn right onto the little path that leads back into the village, marked blue. It would not be a good idea to do this walk in wet weather or after heavy rain as you follow the stream, crossing it many times. Enjoy.

Mons to La Pomarede.

Mons to La Pomarede via La Coste and St-Martin-de-L'Arcon and returning on the Voie vert and le Verdier. The route uses many of the old walled paths, passes through vineyards, chestnut woods and tiny medieval hamlets, crossing the Gorge d'Heric. Views are of the Orb valley, Avant Monts and the Caroux. 2H, 6 miles/ 10km. The walk begins in Mons with it lovely old buildings dating back to the 1600's, Taking either the red/yellow trail from the base of the village or the blue trail higher up the little paths converge in the chestnut woods anyway. The path comes out on the road leading to the Gorge d'Heric and after entering the gorge a short distance further you will come to a small bridge. Follow the yellow path over the rocks to your right and this leads to the little hamlet of La Coste. Once through the hamlet you continue on to St-Martin-de-L'Arcon on yellow markers. The track passes through vineyards and then chestnut woods. It is possible to either visit the hamlet by following the blue trail or continue on the yellow until you reach the lovely church. Continue on the track past the church on the blue trail until you reach La Pomarede. Turn right and descend past the outdoor centre, crossing the road to visit the donkeys and baby goats. There were rabbits and chickens running about today too. Still following blue markers you can choose now to either go left down to the river, then through the old fields on the blue trail or up onto the Voie vert taking a right to reach the cycle track before turning left onto it. The blue trail comes back out onto it once past the first tunnel. Cross the large bridge, then through the tunnel and another bridge before descending to the right immediately after this bridge, following the blue marker. This is the lower part of the gorge car park. Take a small path beside the river that takes you up past badge sets to the top of the car park. Still follow blue markers turn left into le Verdier haut. Turn right on the blue marker to cross the road and ascend through the trees on the part that you started on. It comes out in Mons where there is plenty of parking near the church. Do look out for the old bread oven, which is still used for bread festivals by the local people.

Pailhes, France

A glorious walk starting in Pailhes. Blue. Easy. We walked around 8km from the village center along one side of Puech Arnaud to the lovely St Martin des champs and back on the other side of the little hill, picnicking at la chapelle de Montalaurou before returning to the village in warm sunshine. we parked outside the old Chateau in the center of the village and walked up pasted the lovely old church to take a right followed by a left in the village and then along a lovely little lane with extensive views to the snowy Pyrenees, Avant Monts, Black mountains, caroux and Espinouse. Infact there was not one place on this lovely walk without wonderful views. Ignore a lighter blue right turn on a concert post and continue until you come to a small track on your right. Follow this a tree and enjoy the views from here too, before descending to your right down a small track.The track twists and then turns left before a right turn at a small pond. This track takes you to the chateau of St Martin des champs. Turn right just before the buildings and head uphill. There is a right turn through a hedge, the path shortly turns left onto a quiet little road. Keep on this road until you reach a signpost. if you want a lovely picnic area or to visit the chapel, turn left and you will shortly come to the site. Here the views are towards the coast and Montpellier.After you visit, return to the little road, turn left and return to the village.

La chapelle St-Pierre

La chapelle St-Pierre, La-Tour-Sur-Orb. 6km 1.45H. An easy walk through mixed, lovely countryside with wonderful views throughout.

The walk has one very gradual ascent but this brings you to a lovely spot with views all around you. From the top you can see over to the Avant Monts, Bedarieux, the Monts d'orb, Dio and Le-Bousquet-sur-0rb.

Take the little road to Mirande, on the opposite side of the river to La Tour and park next to the pretty 11th century chapel. Walk 100 metres along the concrete road towards Boubals(North). This is also the GR7.

Now turn right and take the track uphill on a zigzag to Le Pio. There are lovely views on all sides as you go up. There are lots of lovely wild flowers on the way too.  The top makes a good spot for a picnic before descending to le croix d'Alaber.

At the cross turn left and keep left on the cycle track down to the little hamlet of Boubals. Here you will join the GR7 once again as it takes a right and then a left again to join the road where you parked.

Follow the little road as it passes fields and tiny streams. We saw pomegranates,grapes, oranges and apples growing as we walked here.