Le Roc Rouge, A lovely walk above Bedarieux, Languedoc.

Le Roc Rouge, Bedarieux. 5.5km / 1.30h  Blue markings. A lovely varied little walk, up to the rocks with fantastic views of the Orb valley, Caroux, Avant Monts and the Monts de Orb. Then over beautiful little Causses, woodland and garrigue.

The walk starts at a junction of the D146/D908, park on the Rue des Sablons (it's not far from the school, beside a roundabout with a blue sculpture). Walk up this little road to join a little chemin and cross the road to another chemin with a sign for climbing on the Roc Rouge.

Take this little path which is marked blue. The track climbs quite steeply here (There are also new yellow markers here that go as far as the Roc Rouge). The track goes up hill and turns slightly to the left before reaching  a sign for the climbing routes. Keep straight on here on a small path the goes right to the top of the rocks.

You come to a junction of little paths, (the yellow path leaves to your left but it's worth a detour along the edge of the cliff to see the views and small stone huts that dot the landscape,lots of orchids up here too). At this junction go straight on, the path descends between beautiful old stone walls that divide the once farmed little fields. Here there are lots of little mazets that have been long forgotten, it's another world.

You now keep straight on when you reach a turning to the right and the track descends gradually through woodland and garrigue. When you reach another junction onto a small road turn right and right again at the next junction beside a house. 

This little road then ends at another house where you take a turn to the right onto a tiny rocky path through the trees where you will find more orchids, it comes back out onto a small take which goes downhill to a road.

Turn right onto the road and follow this road back to the roundabout with the blue sculpture were you parked. Lots of beautiful flowers on this walk and wonderful views. It's not too long and easy to do for a family walk.

Saint Michel de Mercairol. A walk from Les Aires in the Languedoc.

Saint Michel de Mercairol. A delightful walk starting from Les Aires in the Orb valley and walking up to the light chapel and castle ruins though a beautiful lush valley and back down through chestnut and holme oak woodland. 6.5km / 2h with yellow markers on the decent.

Leave the car park on the D160 at Les Aires and walk up through the streets of this pretty little village past the church and then keep right where you will see a few yellow markers. At the end of the western side side of the village you will find a small lane which shortly splits.

Take the right fork and follow this track which is marked as a cycle route up the hill for some way. After about 3km you will come to a hairpin bend at the foot of the castle, look carefully for a small path on your right beside a large standing stone/rock which marks its entrance.

Now climb to the top of this small path which is quite steep,it will bring you to a junction marked with yellow markers. Turn right here and it will take you to a wooden sign for the steps    to the castle and chapel. The little path takes you first to the castle ruins with amazing views in every direction. From here there is a lovely view of the Orb valley and it's mountains.

Further up you will come to the little chapel which you may enter. After one more flight of steps you reach the table of orientation, with a beautiful panorama of the Caroux and the valley below. It's a great place for a picnic before taking the steps back down to the small path below.

Once you reach the wooden sign again turn left and this will take you to the north gate, You then reach a little picnic area will a small road leading down, marked yellow. Follow the road through the chestnuts until you come to a sign for Les Abbes.

Turn right onto this pretty little path through holme oaks until you reach the village of Les Abbes. Just before the village take a left once again and this path will lead to Les Aires.

 Lots of interest on this pretty route and many beautiful wild flowers including thyme, orchids and primroses. The bird song was just so beautiful and the views stupendous.

Le Pioch Arnaud, a pretty rural walk in the Herault, Languedoc.

A real little gem of a walk today. A pretty, rural walk in the hills of Villemagne. Easy, 7.5km, 2h, with no markings.

The walk starts in Herepian, either at the Intermarche or at the parking place beside the D922. We started at the Intermarche where there is parking for the piste vert (greenway). 

Walk up behind the store to find the greenway and turn left. When you reach the D922 turn right and in a very short distance you take the little road to your left (Pradelles Avenue). Then take the small road on your right (chemin des cherries) that goes up the hill. 

You arrive at a first junction (orchard), continue up taking a left at the next junction. There is a faint blue marker on a rock here. The track curls up the hill, passing a kennel and then reaches a small stone mazet with red and yellow markings. 

Take the track to the right which descends past a small dump and some orchards and reaches the road at Villemange. Cross the road and turn left into the village. It's a really sweet village with a lovely old church and places to eat if you wish to have lunch there.

Cross the river on the small bridge and turn right to walk along the river bank. It's a nice place for a picnic with some benches.

When you reach a small cross turn left and climb the small hill. at the next fork take a right turn and continue up the hill to pass a stone building. At the next junction take another right, the views are lovely on the whole walk but here you seem to have a view of the whole valley and the Caroux too. 

The area is full of little orchards full of cherry blossom and vineyards. Continue on this small concrete road for about 1.5km and then go down to the bridge over the greenway. This is the junction with the Intermarche. 

It's a most beautiful walk and easy to follow even without route markings. I loved all the open views, spring flowers, village views, following the pretty river and walking in the vineyards and orchards. Just such a lovely walk.

Irises in Mons La Trivalle, Languedoc

A lovely walk up through Mons (Mons La Trivalle), Through the woods on the blue trail and up the ravine path. I've found a tiny unmarked path up the left hand the mountain on the left hand side of the gorge. It's between the blue spotted path and the red spotted path. I followed it up most of the way but had to get back to make tea. I think it must come out at the top. Anyone know the path? It's not on any maps and only has a couple of cairns on it. I will investigate it next week, it looks like a nice one.

From the ravine looking towards Olargues

A Short Walk Around Mons La Trivalle, Languedoc

Lovely short walk in Mons La Trivalle. Takes about 45 mins. Start in Mons. Park at the church. Walk down to the gorge by following the yellow/red path. When you get to the gorge cross the little footbridge and follow the yellow makers to La Coste. At La Coste go down the hill to join the Piste vert. Turn right onto track. Follow the blue markers, cross the bridge and turn right at a small stone marking the blue trail. Take the blue trail up through the little track in the car park. Follow the trail though the houses on the left, cross the road and go back to the church on the same path through the woods.

Deer and Ponies at Abbots Well, Hampshire

Lovely walk from Abbots well car park near Frogham (Between Ringwood and Fordingbridge) in the New Forest, down to Ogdens and back up to Hampton Ridge. Just a short walk today as we had a picnic with my family and my daughter's 2 year old was happy to walk. Lovely stream to paddle in at Ogdens and lots of beautiful deer, ponies and cows on the grassland. There are lots of long walks there and some nice pubs nearby. 

A walk to Ringwood through the forest.

A lovely walk to Ringwood and back from Verwood today. Via; Pottern Park, Kings gate, Moors valley, Pine avenue, Castleman trailway and over the river and Millstream at Ringwood. Takes about an hour and a bit each way, depending on how near you are to Pottern Park. Lots of lovely places to stop on the way if you take a hot drink and a spot of lunch or go into the town at Ringwood for lunch there. It's about 5 or 6 miles and takes around an hour or so.

Walk from Pottern park down to the bridge, and cross to the path which goes along the riverbank. Cross the next bridge. Walk the length of the lake to the 3rd bridge. Cross and turn left. The trail goes to the right and up a slope to King Gate. 

Opposite here you will see a smaller trail, take it and follow it through the wood. Cross the main track and it will take you through the wood once again. Now turn left and follow this track until it reaches a junction. 

Cross this track and take the main track to Pine Avenue. Walk along this track ignoring left and rights until it splits at the top of the hill. Take the right track and it will come to a small down slope trail. This crosses a little road and then turn left onto the Castleman trailway. 

Follow this trail to get to the main Ringwood road. Turn right and go under the bridge, Cross the road again and go through the small car park to take the trail over the river and down to the Mill stream. Now turn left to go into Ringwood.