La Roujas, from Mons.

La Roujas. 3H. Allow a little more if you want to have a picnic on route. This is a demanding walk and rocky too, it's quite difficult in parts, but very, very beautiful and one of my favourite local walks. Try to choose a dry, sunny day with no expected rain. The rocks can be slippery after rain and not a good spot to be in during stormy weather. Starting in Mons, park by the church and follow the blue markers to the top of the village, but continue on to reach the red markers next to a green fence. The route follows red markers through the pine forest as it twists between rocks and trees, finally reaching two small stone ruined buildings (cabanes de Luttes). Now the route become more difficult as it climbs through rocky outcrops with wonderful views down to the Orb valley and the Heric below. You will pass a number of cols; Peyris and l'Auge. Each time you reach a col the route either decends or evens out a little as it winds it's way through lovely oak woods. The views here are beautiful on a clear day and the scent of the trees is lovely. Very little bird song up here, this is the domain of the eagle. Watch out for short toed eagles, a pair of golden eagles and buzzards too. The sound of the Heric is with you a lot of the time too as it passes below at the bottom of the gorge. On the way up you will pass an old mine, which usually has drinking water for your dog (otherwise very little). Later you will cross a couple of scree slopes and then you will reach the Col de Coulaigo with the most spectacular views you can imagine. Heaven. It's a lovely spot to stop for a short rest before the last bit of the ascent. Be careful here to walk left around the tall pines where you will find a long screey path coming down from the col du Roujas. It's marked with a wooden marker/two red marks. Do not go down to the red marks below but keep left and going up to the col. This is not as difficult as it looks and soon you will be sitting up on the top with a truly magnificent view in either direction. Up here you can see right down to the coast or back up to the col de l'Ourtigus on the Espinouse. From here keep right on yellow markers. You will pass another wonderful lookout where you will have fantastic views down the Jaur valley. Keep on yellow markers as the route turns right again and descends through lovely oaks, pines and chestnut woods. It's rocky again here so watch out for the markers. If you miss the markers go back and look for them on any part of the walk as it's easy to lose your way up here. This part of the walk is like walking through honey, as the fallen chestnut leaves draw you in. Everything is golden. Just before you reach the Col de la Maure you will be treated to one final lovely view of the heric gorge. Now turn left onto the ravine footpath, following red/yellow markers on an easy descent. This is a lovely old path with a mostly cobbled base. Enjoy the views on the way down as the route winds through pretty woodland and drops into Mons very near where you started.