Les Baucels, Combes

Les Baucels, Combes. An easy walk on a mix of wide tracks and very small amount of road and lots of lovely old cobbled paths so beautifully edged by stone walls and lovely flag stones. The walk starts by parking on the D180 just past the clinique st vital. There is a large parking area opposite the centre de secours. No walk towards the clinique but don't cross the stream. Now turning down a track before the stream, head down to reach another track turning right. After a while turn onto a track to your right again around the horse field and heading back down to the stream. There are lots of orchids up here. Cross the stream and bearing left onto a good track through the forest with st Vital below. As the track joins a small road you will have fine views of the Lamalou valley. Continue on to La Carral( a very tiny hamlet of about 2 houses) where you keep left and drop to your left down a tiny footpath that crosses the road below on a blue marker. The little track reaches La Croix des Bauscels where you cross the road and take the GR7 to Combes, Red/white. This is a lovely old path of cobblestones and lined by stone walls and large flat stones. The woods change here from Pine to oak and then to ancient chestnuts. When you reach Torteilhan drop to the left to walk through the lovely old hamlet and visit it's bread oven. Now head back up to the little road again and then bearing right continue on the path of the GR7 as it takes you through a lush valley on more lovely old paths. Cross two small streams complete with little waterfalls and then climb up the more stepped path to reach the bottom of the village of Combes. Don't forget to have a look at the church here, it dates back to 1780 and is quite delightful. There is a lovely auberge here so if you haven't packed a picnic it may be a good place for lunch. Now heading up the hill keep left after a short distance up a lovely old rocky path that winds its way up to the clinque.