Les Mates Basses

Les Mates Basses starting from Super Bel-Air. 8km. 2.30H. Some markers of different colours.  Easy with a few short slopes.

This is a walk with some of the most stupendous views in the area. The walk starts from the car park at Super Bel-Air on the D909 near the pass of the Avant Monts. Walk across the road and passed the war memorials where you follow the tarmaced road past the houses and down to a track. Turn left onto the track which is marked yellow/red PR. Follow this wide track up the hill as it switchbacks to the top. Stay on the PR.

There is a short cut footpath but the track has some of the finest views I've seen on a walk. On this side of the Avant Monts you can see the beautiful Caroux, the Monts d'Orb and the Orb valley.

After a second short switchback you will come to picnic bench with beautiful views to the south of the Pyrenees and the coastal plain, even the sparkling sea.

Keep following the PR with views to the Caroux as you make your way down the slope again. Look out for a left turn, which twists down through a pretty valley.

You will find water for you dog here in a small pool under the trees.

Quite a long way down you will find a left turn,it just before a little clearing so don't miss it. The tiny path turns back on itself and then keeps to the left again before rising quite steeply up a slope of a rough stony path.

The path then descends through pretty woodland and little stone walls. Here begins Les Mates Basses so look out for little stone dwellings and the walled parcels of land.

Now the route joins a wide track where you go left and shortly left again onto a cycle track/PR once again.

You are quite near to the road here and here you can see the area of "The Frog" on the opposite hill just below the windmills. Shortly you will come to a sign for Les Mates Basses where you can leave the route to your left and do the short detour of a restored site.

This is a lovely area of stone houses, little fields and places to sit and enjoy the history of this wonderful area and how the mountain people lived many years ago.

Now return to the main track and continue up hill which you will shortly find yourself back at the car park. As well as wonderful views and history this walk with delight you with flowers, butterflies and the most wonderful bird song.