Saint-Baulery, Cebazan.

Saint-Baulery, Cebazan. 7.8km. 2H 40. Blue markers. Park at the Wine cooperative in Cebazan at the junction of the D612 and the D36.

You will see the walk signs in the parking area and a painted building opposite will a picture of Saint-Baulery from the vineyards below. Now walk up the D36 past the cemetery and turn right at the first track. Soon you will see a little path ahead of you going up a scrubby slope.

This part of the walk is a little overgrown with brambles at the moment but not to the point where you can't pass though. The blackberries on this walk were amazing and we picked two huge bag fulls. There is also a bike track here if you like biking.

Once up onto the plateau the walking is easy. Turn right onto a wide track and follow it down to a dip where you will pass two old stone buildings. The track now bear to your left at a fork and you go down until you take a turn to the left once again. Now uphill through more vineyards and scrub until the track bears to your left again at another junction.

Soon you will come to a high point of the walk where you have fantastic views to the south of the Pyrenees and to the north on the opposite side of the summit to the Caroux. Now the track goes down past more vineyards and trees until it reaches a pine topped hill where you will find the little chapel and chateau ruins just past the next left turn (so don't turn off here yet or you will miss the fantastic ruins and views across the valley).

The chapel is 12th C and the chateau is 14th C. A great place to wander among the ruins and pines. Now go back down to your turn which will now be to your right and go for some time along the little ridge, lined by pine trees until you reach a small picnic area.

Just past the picnic area you will see a small stone cairn, this is where you turn right to return down the light path back to the track and left along the road to the car park. If you want to you may like to turn right after the cemetery and return through the little streets which are quite pretty.

Du Lepassio au Rieuberlou, Berlou

Du Lepassio au Rieuberlou, Berlou. 9km/10km 2H 30, light blue markers. This walk starts by parking in the centre of the village next to the bridge, D177. You will see a walks sign for a longer route - (La Mausse 14.8km 5H) when you arrive.

The shorter walk that we did goes into the valley and follows the stream up to Le Sel, whereas the longer route keeps to high ground for much of the walk. Leave the car park and head up through the village towards the fossil museum on a small road that follows the Rieuberlou stream west.

We only saw one car on this road as we walked uphill through the valley. A little beautiful the road turns north there was a track leading down to the stream, this made a lovely picnic spot, even if we did leave the bread in the car! Soon you will see a track that turns right and uphill. Take this track as it zigzags up the hill to the summit of Le Sel, a small tree covered domed hilltop.

There are lots of chestnut trees here and the views are wonderful as you reach the top. When you reach a junction, turn right onto the wide track that slowly wides its way down to the hamlet of La Mausse. (This part of the walk is also marked with a dark blue marker for the longer walk). The views here are quite extensive, you can see all the way down to the coast and have wonderful views of the tranquil valley below.

The hills here are very green and covered with arbouses trees "l'arbre a fraises", holm oak and chestnuts. The valleys are a patchwork of vineyards spread out like a quilt. A glorious landscape. Now once you reach La Mausse take the little path to your right past the vegetable gardens and down through vineyards.

We found lots of wonderful blackberries on this part of the walk. Here the route is marked with nether colour marker but you will come out at a post for the Circuit de Mas Blanc. Finally turn left onto the little road and head back into the village.

You could combine the walk with a visit to the wine cave or the fossil museum or I believe the restaurant in Berlou is very good. Enjoy

Les Trois Tours, Faugeres to Soumatre

Les Trois Tours, Faugeres to Soumatre, circular walk. 1H.45, 6.5km. Easy. A nice walk leaving from the windmills parking area. The track up to the windmills can be accessed from the D908 and driving about 1.5km to the parking area.

Walk along the yellow/red marked track that heads north towards Soumartre. The track is mostly in the opening to start with with lovely views of the Caroux, Monts d'Orb and Avant Monts but soon becomes a tree shaded track.

The track wides down to meet the cross at the little D146E7. This small road goes gently through the relaxed little village of Soumartre with its pretty church, fountain and picnic area. At the picnic area just before the bridge, turn left and follow the track down to meet the stream (dry at the present time).

We stayed on this track but you can turn left once again to go up to the Combe de lubat if you wish. The track goes all the way out to meet the D908 but just before reaching the main road you will see a tiny path to your right leading up through scrubby trees over l'Hort de Gay.

It remained cool under the shade of the trees on our climb to regain the height of the plateau but once out in the open again it was hot for the last few hundred metres.

The path through this open area goes a little to the left before returning to a wider track that heads back to the car parking area. Lots of butterflies on the plateau and flowers near the stream. The views are lovely up here and with a fresh and welcome breeze it was a lovely walk.

If you want to visit the windmills after your walk, it's an easy walk up to the towers where there are beautiful views down to the Pyrenees and the coast.

Tour de Lac, col de la Frajure, Fraisse-sur-Agout.

Tour de Lac, col de la Frajure, Fraisse-sur-Agout. Easy 8km. 2H.30m , yellow markings. Parking at the col D169. Start by taking the path south of Mont Lebrousse on the right side of the road after the col.

It is marked by the first yellow marker and leads on a level path first through beech forest and then pine with an occasional view of the lake below through the trees. Once out of the pine woods you will arrive at a place called la Barthe where you will see a small stone building and a freshwater spring.

Now you will be in the open, where you have some lovely views as you curve around the meadows. When you see a small log bridge leading into the woods to your right, do pop into see the menhir, I believe they are about 5000 years old.

It's a lovely quite spot for a coffee stop. Now back on the main path watch out for where the track splits, you will take the track to your right. This path leads through lovely forest of beech and pine for some time.

Keep to the right on most paths and look out for the yellow markers at the junctions. The first two are right turns, then a left at a main fork (but you can go up that one to cut off the corner if you will it comes out at the second standing stone).

There is one more right turn and then the path bears right onto open land. Continue to the top of the hill on a grassy path beside pines to a large stone or rather two piled together (peyre sus autre). This dramatic spot is heaven for a picnic as the stones have a cooling tree to shelter them from the hot sun.

Now continue down the broad grassy path with it's amazing views to the south of the Espinouse all the way down to the Avant monts and the Black mountains in one direction and the summit of the Espinouse in the other. Quite a sight as a blanket of green bracken is laid before you, so inviting in the summer heat. Then path then regains the hill and then down one more time before yet another final climb to the Mourel de Cayrou. Turn right at the next junction (you will see blue markers here too) and then left at a final one. This path will bring you back to the car parking/picnic area.

Fraisse-sur-Agout.

Fraisse-sur-Agout. Very easy and pretty walk around the village of Fraisse-sur-Agout today.

The air was beautifully cool (it's a whole 10c cooler up there than down on the plain) and with the presents of a delightful river, a flower trail, picnic areas beside the water, a lovely little bar beside the water and an auberge too it made it a treat to wander around.

Even the pretty bakers was surrounded by flowers. There are plenty of walks leading from the village for the more energetic. Le sentier Prevert, le sentier Four, le sentier Borias and la haute vallee de l'agout. All lovely walks.

The first 3 being shorter and the last quite a mammoth task in this weather even with the altitude and breezes up there.

There is also a little tourist information office with a lovely lady attending but they only have walking books for sale there, so you need to go to a larger office at the lakes if you want walk leaflets.  

Les Rivieryrals, col de la Bane, Fraisse-sur-Agout.

Les Rivieryrals, col de la Bane, Fraisse-sur-Agout. 4H 12km. Yellow markers. A lovely walk, on high ground, mainly forest tracks with some super views of the valleys below. Lots of wonderful wild flowers and masses of wild fruits, including raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.

                                      
Park in the large parking area off the D169 at the col de la Bane. Turn left and follow the yellow markers along a wide forest track which crosses the GR7 (if you want to shorten the walk turn left here and you will cut about 2km off the walk).

Just before the path bears to the left and goes down hill you will see an large old ruined house on your right beside a field. This house was used by the resistance during WW2 as a headquarters. The track becomes quite rough and rocky, but the woods are very pleasant and mostly beech here. Now the track joins the GR7 which you turn right onto.

After walking through some more woodland you come to an open area where you may here the wind turbines on the hill above. A little further on after more woods you come once more to another clearing. If you want to do the full walk turn right and down past a little building to Riveryrals. The track winds through the forest with some open views too here, joining the GR7 once again and turning left onto it to meet a cleaning at the top of the slope with wind turbines in full view. (if at the small building you prefer to shorten your walk once again you can continue on the GR7 to meet the cleaning with wind turbines, cutting off another 2km from the walk).

Finally pass the wind turbines(good views here)and head north along a wide forest track. A few tracks join this one, but the route is clearly marked so stay on this track and it will return to the parking area after some time. This area of the walk has been recently deforested and offers some good views, raspberries and lovely wild flowers.

It was 30c in the Orb valley, having had a rather hot walk yesterday we headed up to the hills for this walk having checked the forecast for our valley. It was 15c, low cloud and windy up there.

Every time we came near to the edge of the mountain we saw blue sky only to return to a passing cloud as we turned the corner. Do check the forecast before you leave home. It can be a different world up there.

Compeyre, Serre de More.

Compeyre, Serre de More. 7km, 2H (some markers for GR and another walk that's marked yellow). A stunning walk, with a climb at first onto the Serre de More, then down through chestnut woods to the GR with lovely views of the Monts d'Orb.

This circular walk doesn't appear to be listed anywhere but was easy to find and for a small amount of climbing had fantastic views of the mountains of the surrounding area.

Start by parking at the bridge in Compeyre and walking up into the village where you will find a yellow marked walk. Follow these signs up through the chestnut woods, past some little stone buildings and lovely stone drailles until you reach the heather covered tops of the Serre de More.

Now leave the yellow signs and the red/yellow ones too and take the wide track to your right that leads off into the woods. There are some stunning views up here of the upper Orb valley and the Monts d'Orb. Also over to the Caroux, col de Madale and the wonderful Serre de Majous. The heather is beautiful at the moment too.

Now follow this track which goes uphill for a short distance before a switchback and then continues down on a broad track where the blue marked trail meets it just before a sharp bend coming down from the Portall de raquandouire.

Keep on this wide track and after some time it joins the GR653 The GR goes on to your left through some trees but you must continue on the broad track although you can pop into the woods on the GR a little way on to avoid the heat and cut off the corner.

When you reach a dog kennel the GR goes off to your left but you continue to your right on the wide track to pass a small stream and then up to the village of Compeyre.

If you continue on the GR it will take you into St-Gervais-sur-Mare where you will be able to find refreshments. The walk up to Compeyre from St-Gervais-sur-Mare is very pretty and you will pass the delightful old Chappelle st Barthelemy on your way back to the car. It's a super walk with lovely views. Enjoy.

Col de Fontfroide

A lovely walk from the col de Fontfroide. 5km. 1h.30m. Easy. Fairly level with just a couple of inclines.  Following the GR signs mostly.

Park at the col parking area next to the D14. Walk past the shelter and keep on the left track that follows the edge of the ravine. There are some wonderful views here to the south and east here, down to the coast, the Avant monts, Espinouse and the Orb valley.

The track reaches the col de Montplo where you keep left once more. There are lots of wonderful raspberries here and also blueberries and wild strawberries too.

We picked loads and eat even more! At the next junction you can turn left once again and go down to Grand col making circle at Rivieyrals before turning right back onto the GR7 or turn right and walk up to the group of wind turbines behind the track.

At the track turn right up the hill onto a track the runs parallel with the one that you came down on. Now you are looking north to the Somail forest and the lakes.

The rolling hills here are beautiful. Keep left onto the GR as you pass the turbines. This descends to the main track where you turn left to reach the cars.

Le Sentier Prevert 5km 1H30m and Le Sentier Borias . Fraisse-sur-Agout.

Le Sentier Prevert 5km 1H30m and Le Sentier Borias . Fraisse-sur-Agout. 2H. 6.5km total. Today it was very hot once again in the Orb/Jaur valley so we headed up to the Somail once again. Such a lovely area with high beech forest, rolling farmland and heather covered tops. This walk starts by taking the D14 to the village of Fraisse-sur-agout, and parking at the stade which is found by turning off onto the D169 that goes up to lac de vezoles. You will see the yellow signs leaving the car park. We made the walk up out of the 2 walks from there to make a larger circular one but it is also possible to do an even shorter one of 2.4km that has lots of lovely signs and information to interest children.

After turning right out of the parking area turn right one more and follow a path that leads to a junction. Take the middle path up the hill. (If you do the shorter one you will return to this point).Now follow the path up over the field (there is a tiny small here to cross and down to a track beside the fields edging woodland.

When you reach a junction you will turn left through woodland on a small path. The track crosses a small road now, (if you decide to take the short walk turn left and then right the Arboretum) The longer walk heads up to some lovely beech woods where you will see the large stone monolith, keep left and you will see the tiny path through the trees just after the place where children have been making bivouacs. The little path joins a larger track and just before the road you will see a little path to your left so you can avoid walking on the road.

Soon you will see a small path to your left over the heather tops. There are amazing views up here of the whole valley. Take this path as it decides down to a junction. (The path to your left is the way that the shorter route takes, it will follow this route and then turn off just before the arboretum) . Now turn right and follow the grassy track to the beautiful little arboretum.

This is a delightful place to rest on seats under the trees. It was laid out in 1984 and again in 2003 by the children of the village who undoubtedly made a lot of the painted information boards on the first part of the walk. It's only a small area, but beautifully kept and has a spring for thirsty dogs. (Although there are 2 more sources of water along the way). The small arboretum has ginko trees, broad leaf oaks and many others, each with little information plates below them.

Now cross the road to a track on your right with recycling bins at it's entrance. Col du Triby. The yellow Le Sentier Prevert signs turn off to your left here and the track runs parallel with the road for sometime before joining the road as it descends into the village.

The Le Sentier Borias, also marked yellow, goes straight on the track following the yellow/red markers to a small path ahead. (Don't turn left at this junction, keep straight on down the side of a field and you will see a tiny path to your left very soon that hugs the edge of the field. This goes between trees and emerges onto a track which it crosses and goes straight back into another tiny path. Soon the path descends into the tiny hamlet of Le Fau (which means Beech in Occitan I believe). After reaching the road, follow it until just before the stream and then turn left up a grassy path beside a building to a junction of paths where you turn right.

Here you will see more lovely views and pastoral images of country life. There were sheep crossing a little stone bridge below us and sheltering from the midday sun in the gentle shade of beech trees, chestnut horses and rolled hay bales left on honey coloured fields to dry in the summer sunshine. It's a delightful place to picnic, watching and listening to the whir  of the wind turbines. The track contours the golden hillside and after passing a large farm descends to the road. Finally turn right to complete the walk and find the car park. Enjoy, it's a very lovely ramble.