Hérépian and Villemagne-l'Argentière

Our walk today between Hérépian and Villemagne-l'Argentière on blue markers, starting by parking at the Intermarché Hyper and walking over the voie verte to continue on a small track road up onto the hill with pretty views of the valley. There are lots of flowers, vineyards and cherry orchards here. The walk id described in a past walk of mine It's always a good shopping trip walk with our dog but today, due to the rain we cut it short. The whole walk takes you to Villemagne-l'Argentière where you cross the river, then the road to continue on the opposite side of the valley. Passing a kennel you descend, remaining on blue ,markers to reach the outside of Hérépian before gaining the road to reach the voie verte. Now turn onto the voie verte and keeping east you with return to the Intermarché in about 1km. This section is very pleasant as it crosses the river once again. The whole walk is about 7.5km and takes a couple of hours. 

Garston wood, Dorset.

Garston wood this morning. Go early if you want a parking space at the moment. The car park is quite small. Full by 10.30am but cars do park along the road too. Walk up to the lovely rapeseed field at the top first and then all the way do to the left (a little way back by the seat). Keep going and you will come to all the wild garlic too. At the second entrance turn left and then left again to going up through the middle (you are not near the road then and can enjoy the bird song). Turn right and walk through the area with the most bluebells (this is lovely for photographing the flowers or photoshoots and then left again, before passing through two gates to return to the car park. You will find this wood just north of Sixpenny handley, it's about 30 minutes from Verwood and is a very pretty ride through the yellow rapeseed fields.

Les Orgues de Taussac- L'Horte.

Les Orgues de Taussac- L'Horte. 3H.30/ 8.5km. Yellow markers. This is a super walk with great views. It takes in 3 small hamlets, woods, rock views from the Orgues, vineyards and the lovely oratoire. The walk starts at the mairie in L'Horte, just north of Lamalou-les-bains. Next to mairie you will see a signpost for the walk and your first yellow marker taking you under the small arched tunnel to cross the road behind. Here you pick up a wide track beside the white cross. This track winds up past chestnut trees to a lovely oratoire which makes a wonderful spot for a first stop and a coffee. Here you can look over the vineyards and enjoy the before valley views and up to the forests of the north of the Caroux. The oratoire has a lovely history about a very special lady who worked hard to save many lives during the conflicts of WW2. It's a very special spot of peace and serenity and a great place to get out of the rain, wind or sun, whichever season you chosen to make you walk. Continue up the hill from here on the wide track until you reach a smaller path on your right up through the little oaks. This path soon reaches a wider track, where you turn right and quickly reach the road at the col. Cross the road and take the track to the right, still following the yellow markers. Continue on this path through the trees and rocks to reach a small cross. At this point there are two possible routes. The first and longest is to continue to the left down to Taussac, passing the lovely church and continuing through the pretty village to the road. Turn right and right again to follow a little road up to a small path leading through the trees. The path turns right again up some small steps to climb steeply, reaching a rocky terrace. Turn right up these rocks and enjoy the spectator views in all directions. It's magical up here, jumping from rock to rock like a mouflon snapping pictures and exclaiming its loveliness. Now the time comes when you have to leave and return to the world below us. Keep left down this little path enjoying yet more wonderful views. Soon the track widens and comes out on a small tarmac road, turn left here and right at the vineyard, keeping to the track around its edge. At this point you will return to the cross once again so if you want a shorter walk and this will take about an hours loop off your walk and save you quite a bit of climbing, make this your return point. Go down the small path, it's quite rocky here. It will soon cross a small road and continue down a rocky path to reach the road. At the road cross over to your right and down the tiny path to reach the little hamlet of La Bourbouille. Turn right and head up a concrete track past the houses and under the rocky curve. The track keeps left and then takes a left down a small stoney path back to L'Horte.

Lac du Salagou

Glorious walk at Lac du Salagou. Yellow. 10km. 3.30h .It is an easy walk either along the edge of the northern shore of the lake or on the middle track, halfway up the hill. A return route is then made either on the top track or the middle one. There is a beautiful deserted village on the shore of the lake which was a valley, dammed and flooded back in 1950. A lovely chapel and a village on the hillside is also on the route. The views here are wonderful and in summer it's a lovely place to swim and picnic. Mind you we did today as it was 24c. Not bad for almost November.