Circuit- Du Prieure au Castelles d'Olargues-le-Vieux

Circuit- Du Prieure au Castelles d'Olargues-le-Vieux. 6km, 2 hours.Lovely views throughout on this walk. No colour markers on most of the walk, just little white signs, blue markers up to the ruins. Park at the voie verte parking just before the St Julien turn off. There is a pretty vineyard building with a round tower that marks the entrance to the little road. Go over the voie verte and park in the new parking area next to it. Now turn left and walk up the hill to the road, turn right onto it and then left onto the little road up to the prieure. Pretty spot here and a lovely place for a picnic in the shade (picnic table). Continue on the little road to reach the road that goes up to Les Castagnes but just cross the road and take the track to your right which passes an equestrian centre. The is a little stream here for dogs to enjoy. Turn left onto the road then switchbacking right to reach the hamlet of Les Horts. Go through the pretty hamlet and continue up the hill on the track. After the switchback (ruins of an old house or chapel on the corner) turn right following blue markers up the rocky path. This part is quite scambly but easy to follow. At the first lot of ruins I lost the markers and could only find orange ones down the otherside so not sure how you reached the higher ones. Great views up here. Now return to Les Horts on the same route and take the track to your right which continues down the hill past a pretty chalet. Turn right and left onto the road. At the bridge take the little route on your right to reach the voie verte then turn right onto it and about 50 yards further you will see the cars.

Le Roc Traucat. Vieussan to Le Pin on ancient paths.

Le Roc Traucat. 7.5km 3h. blue/yellow. We had planned to do the circuit as we have done the top part before and the roc itself is dramatic with lovely views from the tops, but mother nature had different plans today and sent us a storm in the middle of the walk. It was fine as I had planned for this seeing high clouds building a little as we enjoyed the sunshine leaving Vieussan. Park in the village, there is plenty of parking up there and the blue markers start as you reach the cross. Go right at first, not taking the path up to the tour. If doing the full walk you will return this way. don't take the right hand path to the church but a little further the street splits again and you need to go down and then up passed the last houses onto a little path marked blue. Soon you will reach a lovely blue bench, enjoy the views back to the village here before setting off. The yellow cistis and rosemary is wonderful here and the air is full of scent, but if wearing shorts the path is a little overgrown and the tiny kennel oaks are prickly on your legs. There are lots of ups and downs along the way on tiny rocky steps and as many beautiful views in all directions. Unfortunately as we reached a little area of small pines the heavens opened and the storm let us know that it was staying for a while. We picnicked under the pines to let it pass and then Martin said that he was wet enough and walked back to collect the car from Vieussan while Phoebe and I made our way to the pretty little village of Le Pin. The route goes uphill for a while now and passes another old tumble down house with more little rock steps before it evens outs and contours the hillside. Turn left at the little track and follow it into Le Pin. It's a very pretty little hamlet and very much worth a little wander around it's pretty lanes. If continuing up to the top take a left turn onto a yellow marked path up to the top There is a troglodyte house on the way up quite near the top. Join the blue route at the top, marking sure that you turn left onto it. Descend to the col. Soon you will reach the col Now make sure that you take the left fork here and following yellow markers again once more you will soon come to a viewpoint of the beautiful Orb valley below, it's here that you will see some ruins I believe these are those of the little church of San Julio. Now if you want to see the roc Traucat, which is truly magnificent, you need to follow the little red markers behind the ruins for about 5 mins up to the rock itself. It's a magnificent rock arch with views too. Return to the yellow path and turn right onto it. Heading down now back into Vieussan. The views of the village are lovely once again here and you can visit the tour as you pass it. Beautiful walk but don't choose a day with a big thunderstorm in the middle of it. http://www.randodoc.com/?page_id=3658

Le Dolmen, Cebazan. A walk in the vineyards and with lovely views.

Le Dolmen, Cebazan.

A super walk despite the cloudy weather, it even rained a little. Le Dolmen, Cebazan. 7.7km /2h30m Easy.

The walk starts at a small car park at the top of the village (there are a couple more car parks if needed). Well sign posted with blue markers and clear signs at start and along the route.

The route starts at the Rue du Fraisse and after leaving the village crosses a small road before going straight up the path. 

The path turns to the left and passes a small lake,then you take a right turn to take you to the top where you see DFCI signs. 

The route turns right and goes along the ridge with beautiful views.You will see 2 small cabins and the Dolmen sign beside a green water tank.

Take a sharp right here and walk down the hill to the road. Turn right and follow the road for a short way before taking a left up a track that goes above the castle of Camp Redon. 

At the top of the hill take a right turn and pass a small olive farm before turning right again and passing an area of scrub-land dotted with Capitelles. 

The wild track turns to the right at a lime kiln below the Puech of Tabernacles. Take this track down to the village, joining the D612. Turn to the right at the roundabout walk down to the small car park.