St Julien to Olargues

St Julien to Olargues, circular beside the Jaur and along the Voie verte this morning. Takes about 50 minutes but you will want to linger, I'm sure. It's always cool, however hot it gets. Park on the Voie verte at St Julien (There is a good parking around behind the pretty vineyard building). Walk back to the road and turn right. Cross the road and after about 50 m you will see a vineyard to your left with a track alongside it. Gop down here. It leads to the river Jaur. Cross the bridge and turn right. Now follow the track into the woods taking the small path to the left when the track ends. Follow this little path through the woods. When you reach a place where the little path heads uphill a little you will see a very lovely river beach with a rope swing. Stop here for a swim or a drink if you have brought one with you. Then continue up and over the little rocky section with beautiful views of the valley. Continue down and shortly the path widens again into a track and at a junction (keep right) a little road. This little road leads down into Olargues. Head up the road on your left past the school to reach the main car park. Olargues is a very pretty village and well worth a visit. Walk the little medieval streets and go up to the castle and lovely restored tower for 360' views of the valley. Once in the car park go past the old station building and you will come to a lovely little pizzeria. The girls make great pizzas and smaller lunches too. You can enjoy a little jug or wine, beer or an ice cream and the continue on the Voie verte over the red bridge and back to st Julien. Very nice.

Tarassac.

Above Tarassac. A lovely last walk, exploring the opposite side of the valley to Mons. Through Tarassac and up to the col des Parties. Here I continued on the small track straight up the hill rather than turning left to the river or right up the wide zigzags. This is a very pleasant track through lovely chestnuts and wonderful views of the Caroux. You can keep going on this track once you reach the top or like me take the track to your right which joins back up with the wide zigzag one. I came back down here but there are many possibilities if you wish to explore the tops. The views on the way down are towards Vieussan and the Jaur valley to the west. Once you return to the co des Parties cross to the track opposite but almost immediately you will see a tiny path on the left. Take this to reach the edge of the escapement above the River Orb, there are some amazing views towards the Caroux here. Now return to the track back down to Tarassac, it's a pretty little village. The yellow/blue bridge has some wonderful views too over the river to the old mill. Once over take the little track opposite the fire station to Verdier Bas, through the hamlet and up the little path beside the River Heric to the gorge car park. If you have come from Mons as I had done it's through Verdier Haut now and on through the pretty chestnut woods to the village.

Olargues, Saint-Martin des œufs

Olargues, Saint-Martin des œufs, (Les Codouls, Les Sagnes), Le Cros, Rouillouse Ravine. 7.4km. 2 hours. Mostly marked with blue or blue/white markers. This is a lovely walk with beautiful views of the Jaur valley, the Espinouse mountains and the Avant Monts. Olargues. Park next to the Pont du Diable on the D908 in Olagues. There is a lovely bakers and villages stores for picnic items or 2 bars and a restaurant in the village. From the Pont du Diable head out of Olargues and after about 50m you will see a small concrete track on your right. Take this track up the hill. The track bends to the right at a junction just before it reaches the road. Continue on up the hill will wonderful views across to St Vincent d'Olargues and the Espinouse. The view is lovely and open across the valley here. Mas du Gue is below you to your left as you turn right up the hill and into the woods. Soon you will cross a tiny col and have wonderful views of the Jaur valley looking east towards Mons La Trivalle and the Caroux. A little further and you will come to a lovely peaceful little spot, the little chapel of Saint-Martin des œufs. It's perfect for a picnic with its picnic bench and shade in the summer. Now continue to your right along the track to the road, (or take the tiny grassy path up to the Les Codouls down to Les Sagnes and through the little cherry orchard route) turn right down to Le Cros. Turn right into the hamlet and keep on the concrete track down to the next right turn. The track turns right again once in the trees and follows the Rouillouse Ravine with it's pretty stream beside you past olives and old stone walls. Soon you will return to the D908. Here I'm afraid you have to turn right and return about 500m along the road to reach the old bridge. Do spend some time in the village if you don't know it. It's one of the most beautiful villages of France, with its tower and castle at the top of the hill, lovely old streets, museum in the old town staircase, the beautiful bridges and the lovely River jaur.

A walk along the Jaur, Olargues.

A delightful river walk along the Jaur from Olargues this morning. A great walk for a hot day. 6km. 1h 30m. Park in the main car park in Olargues, near to the post office(old station yard)and walk down to the compotel de Olargues and the river, there is a lovely new Guinguette here that is open for food, drinks and music on certain afternoons and evenings thought the summer (you could combine this walk with a visit). Continue on the little track road past the old mill and keep left at the next junction(the one to the right goes up to Lisson). The track quickly becomes more of a grassy path and under a rocky escarpment the little path heads uphill (don't take the second uphill path beside the golden topped post, this goes up to Fenouillede) and then down again to reach a lovely little beach area complete with a rope swing. Our dog loved swimming here. Soon the little path reaches a source under the rocks and the path is strewn with tree debris from flooding of the river during the winter. The path joins a wider track now and at a junction turns left (the right turn goes up to the hill above Ornac). Keeping left along the track beside the field of vines join the main D908. Turn right and about 20 yards further cross to the pretty vineyard buildings and walk up the track. This is marked voie verte. Once you have joined the voie verte turn left and head back into Olargues crossing the red bridge and passing the lovely pizza place with its wonderful pizzas. They even have cool beers and snacks for lighter lunches. The car park is just past the school. There is also a bar opposite, another at the end of the village and a restaurant too. If you are in Olargues for the first time. Do wander through the pretty streets up to the tower above.