Mons, Greenway, La Coste, St Martin de l'Arcon,

Mons, Greenway, La Coste, St Martin de l'Arcon, Heric gorge. About 5km. 1H.30. A super little breakfast walk this morning. Down the blue marked route from the church in Mons.

This is a pretty little concrete road that passes olives, fruit trees and donkeys enjoying the last of the summer's grass. At the bottom turn left and head to the village.

The is a lovely little auberge there were you can enjoy your breakfast coffee or if you prefer to  do what we did buy some of Clermont the bakers super croissants or even better the lovely sticky pain au raisin ones that he makes and take them all the Greenway (heading east) until you get just past the bridge over the River Heric. There is a lovely shady picnic bench there and we ate them hungrily with a flask of hot coffee that we had brought with us. Heaven!

Now, the important bit is out of the way, keep going along the Greenway,There is a super view from the bridge of the gorge d'Heric. through the tunnel and once out into the open look for a little path through the hedge on your left a few metres before you get to a large bridge going over the main road. (it should be marked blue but the stone had been moved again this morning).

Take this little path, it passes through a small vineyard then almost down to meet the road before heading up on another left turn into the trees above. It's a bit tatty here so look carefully for the blue markers. The path goes just above the road and then left into the most lovely old chestnut woods with delightful little stone edged walls.

Follow this path up to meet a larger concrete track below St Martin. (When you see a right turn marked blue, don't take it unless you want to visit St Martin).

Now turn left and head towards La Coste across the vineyards with lovely views of both the mountains above and the valley below. At a junction you will see a yellow marker on your right, this track goes up the hill and then down into La Coste. Turn right and then left to go through the hamlet. At the last house turn right and after the white house with a tunnel go left down a tiny passage to the now dry stream.

After crossing the stream the path descends to a wider track which you cross by taking a right and then left quickly to a small path with lovely views. A second drinks stop for us. This path is still marked yellow all the way to the gorge.

Once there cross the little footbridge and turn left towards the car park. Turn right before the entrance to the parking area and head down the road to a house with railings and some rather tricky marker signs.

Turn right here and up to the cool chestnut woods that lead back to Mons. You will pass the old Bread oven on your way before arriving back at the church. Hope you enjoy it. It's one of our favourites.