Mons, Bardou, Heric and Gorge d'Heric

Lovely walk up the ravine path, over the col and down into the gorge d'heric again this morning. Taking a friend in the village for her first walk up there. She really loved it. This walk is a round trip of 4 hours but if you really want to enjoy it, you may want to do as we did and have 3 short stops for refreshments and views. I have 3 favourite spots. The first is a coffee stop looking down into the ravine and the Jaur valley. The second is on the blue path, just above the col du Bardou and the third is on the upper part of the river heric above where most day visitors reach. Don't forget there are also refreshments at the buvette in Heric and at the gorge car park where there are also toilets.

Circular of Bardou, Heric and Mons.

Gorgeous walk in the mountains up top Bardou and Heric, then back down the gorge, one of my favourites. The walk takes around 4 hours/about 11km. Beautiful views of the ravine and the gorge d'heric. 

Mons, Les Pradals, Bardou

Mons, Les Pradals, Bardou. A beautiful walk today. 11km, 4H but I did stopped to talk to a few friends along the way. 

Up the Ravine path yellow/red route from Mons to the col de Bardou then on to a lovely spot on the way to the Chapel of St Martin. 

I didn't go all the way up, just a short way for the views. Then down on the Bardou path GR7 for a while before turning off on the blue path which winds it's way down to join the little Bardou road. 

The road finally reaches Les Pradals and once out of the village turn left to reach Mons once again. Beautiful route.

Gorge d'Heric, Baou Filiti, Bardou,ravine route to Mons. A lovely walk in the Languedoc.

Gorge d'Heric, Baou Filiti, Bardou,ravine route to Mons. 11.5km. 3.45m. Mixed markings.A lovely walk of moderate difficulty. Park at the church in Mons.Take the red/yellow marked route and follow it through the woods along the little path from the village to the gorge. 

At the road to the gorge turn left and take the little road that goes for about 5km up the gorge d'Heric. Beautiful scenery all the way, with mountain views and waterfalls. When you reach the Hamlet of Heric turn left into the hamlet past the little cafe (a nice place for a drink or an ice cream). 

You are now on the GR7 (red/white markers) going towards the col de Bardou. The little path descends down to a pretty place beside the river where you will find some small waterfalls and pools. Keep descending down to the pont de Heric and cross the little bridge. 

Keep left after the bridge still following the red/white markers. It's a steep zigzagging path through lovely old chestnut woods and when you reach the col you can take a little side trip for lovely views. At the signpost turn right but don't follow the yellow/red markers go straight on and follow the blue markers for about 100m. 

You will soon come to the lovely Baou Filiti, a wonderful lookout where you can enjoy an amazing view down into the gorge. Now go back to the signpost at the col de Bardou and turn right, but almost straight away you take a left signposted to Mons red/yellow markers (Mons is only 5km from her so don't worry about the signpost saying it's 8km, it's not). Stay on this lovely path above Bardou until you reach a split in the trail. 

Take the left branch and keep following the red/yellow markers. There are lovely views down into the ravine here. Stay on this route and don't follow any other coloured routes they are all smaller more rocky routes that lead back down the slopes of the gorge. 

There are beautiful views of the Jaur valley just before you reach Mons. The yellow/red markers will take you back into Mons but you may find the last bit rather challenging as it's steep. If this is so turn right onto the path just before it descends into the village and follow the blue triangles, it's much easier. 

The car park it at the bottom of this road. It's a lovely route. One of my favourites.

Mons, col de Bardou, Bardou, Les Pradals a beautiful walk under the Caroux. Languedoc.

Mons, col de Bardou, Bardou, Les Pradals. 10km. 3H. Moderate. A beautiful local walk today. Starting in Mons. (There is a car park beside the church/ full today, it's a good job we live there!). 

Take the yellow/red trail up through the old village and pass between two houses at the top of the village into the woods (this part is quite steep, you can follow another route using old blue triangles that is a better start to the walk, this is goes up the road of the cross at the edge of the village and joins the red/yellow path after the steep part).

Follow the yellow/red path as it zigzags up the ravine. Ignore all other coloured routes. This path is lovely and has fine views both down to the Jaur valley and later into the ravine. It goes through beautiful holme oak and then chestnut woods. The path is most old stone and often edged with bloom and heather when on more open stretches. 

As the path nears the col (5km) you can look down on the little hamlet of Bardou and up to the Espinouse. Finally at the col you will see signs for the GR7 red/white, your route will turn left onto this but if you want a most wonderful view of the Gorge de Heric where it is possible to find a very fine picnic spot, take the blue path, opposite at the col for about 100m to Baou Filiti, the look out.

Here you can see all the way down the gorge and the beautiful Roc de Caroux. Retracing your steps to the col turn right towards Bardou but don't go all the way down to the village on the GR7 when you see it leave the route. Keep on this higher track until the track bares right. Keep straight on on this blue marked route. There are not many markers but keep going straight and ignore any other paths. The blue route finally descends onto a small zigzagging path down to the little road below. 

When it almost reaches the road you will see a vegetable garden below but stay on the little path above this for a little way until it drops down to the road a short distance further. The little road is not much more than a track as it descends into Les Pradals. It twists into the little hamlet with beautiful views of the Jaur valley again. 

Passing the pretty village you then join another road, take a left here towards Mons. There are vineyards and olive orchards here and lovely views across the valley. At the next junction take a right turn to go back to the parking or a left and a right to walk through Mons.

Mons, Bardou, Heric, Gorge de Heric .A walk in the Languedoc.

Mons, Bardou, Heric, Gorge de Heric. 11km/4h Medium distance and no really difficulties. Take the yellow/red lined trail from the village of Mons up a fairly steep track for about 5km .

The trail has beautiful views of the Jaur valley, ravine and Espinouse. It goes through mainly oak and chestnut forest. Watch out for mouflon here, I didn't see any today but did see a beautiful large deer near the river. 

There are also woodpeckers up here and red squirrel. Ignore all yellow, blue or red dotted trails that leave it from the left or right (the trail does level off a little as you get near to the col du Bardou. You now reach the GR7 at a junction of paths (If you want to have a picnic go up the blue trail here for about 100m, it's a beautiful spot overlooking the gorge and is my idea of heaven).

Take a right onto the GR red/white markers, this trail is steep for about 1.5km and takes you down to a little bridge over the river. Once over the river the trail climbs up to the hamlet of Heric and passes some lovely pools on the way. These are a good place for another rest or go on to the Buvette in Heric for refreshments.

Leave the GR in Heric and take the gorge road down through the beautiful Gorge de Heric for about 5km. There are waterfalls and pretty beaches along this route with magnificent scenery too. In the river I spotted quite a few dippers and slender wagtails in the water. Lots of information boards too.

Once out of the gorge follow the road a little way and you will see some railing beside a house on your left. Follow the yellow/red markers back to Mons though the pretty wooded path, lined by old stone walls.