Peyriac-de-Mer, Aude.

Our second walk of the day over on the other side of the Etang. We drove over the causeway to walk along the shores edge and up onto the top where the views are wonderful in all directions. The walk continued by turning left at the top and taking the little path along the edge through the rosemary and then trees to a place where you can if you wish climb up to the high point or continue on to where the path turns left again and then returns down to the Etang once more. The birds were beautiful all around the area. Pelicans, egrets and waders. Beautiful. I was even treated to a few orchids, but mostly it was a day for rosemary, thyme, turpentine and bay; a smelling deliciously in the warm sunshine. 23c. A nice easy circuit with no difficulties, taking about 40 minutes.

Les Aires.

Our Les Aires walk this morning up to the castle and lovely chapel. We only went out and back today but there is a wonderful circular walk with fabulous views of the mountains and valley below that can be done in a couple of hours of easy walking.

Mons, evening walk.

An evening walk in Mons with Phoebe. Walking on the little blue route. What a beautiful sunset.

Mons. A short walk.

Lovely walk down to buy bread from the village bakers this morning. The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day. Staying on the blue walk down from the church and back. One of my favourite views. 

L'Esquirol. Roquebrun. Laguedoc.

L'Esquirol. Roquebrun. Just did a section of it today, between Roquebrun and des Bezenedes and back to Roquebrun. It looks a lovely route but I didn't have time today to do a lot of walking. 

The whole route is 18km 6H. The part I did goes up from Roquebrun with lovely views of the area.

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.

Olargues to the waterfall (Source Frejo) on the Piste Vert, Languedoc.

Olargues to the waterfall (Source Frejo) on the Piste Vert today. A lovely little stroll along the pretty track with plenty of beautiful views of the Caroux and Espinouse and lots of wild flowers, including orchids. 

If you want to go down to the waterfall you need to go up the steeps and down a little path through an orchard for a short way as the access is form a small car park for the falls. 

We even saw a lovely Hermann's tortoise along the way. About 3km. All I could manage with my injured ankle from yesterday's walk. 

Olargues is a lovely village to visit, with a castle and tower on the hill, a couple of little bars, a very good restaurant and even a new little pizza restaurant along the Piste Vert beside the old Station building, with nice seating area outside. 

It's always a delight to wander around the lovely old streets with the deep coolness of the old stone buildings. It also has a most beautiful 13th century bridge over the river Jaur.

Laval de Nize, a beautiful spring walk in the Languedoc.

Laval de Nize, 6.5km, 2H 30 yellow markers. Easy. A lovely walk in the Monts de Orb above Lunas, with beautiful scenery, ancient chestnut forest, lovely waterfalls and pools along the river Nize and lots of wonderful flowers. 

The walk starts by taking the little D35E9 up from Lunas to park just before the bridge at Laval de Nize. You will see the walks post at the back of the parking area. Follow the yellow markers along the track towards the stream, it takes you do some stone steps and then beside the river. There are lots of lovely little waterfalls here and pretty pools too.

Cross the stream and walk up the other side. The woods begin to open up as you go higher and you will see more and more cowslips and orchids as you climb. Then you cross the stream once again and climb higher with views of the tops opening up. 

The little path bares right and joins a larger track (marked yellow/red) which goes up to the GR7. Here you turn right and walk towards the little hamlet of Briandes, which is about 2km along this wooded track, high above the valley. The views of the Monts de Orb are lovely here amongst the old chestnut trees.

Here the edges of the track is lined with cowslips and dotted with different types of orchids. Look out for wild peonies and aquilegia too. The route bares right at a view point and then heads into the hamlet of Briandes. Go through the hamlet taking first |a right and then a left onto a tiny path beside a field of sheep. 

This path is first wooded and then it has the most lovely open views of the valley with still more orchids adorning the path. At the small stone steeps turn right on the little road to the car park a few yards away.