Arboretum de l'Espaze, Camplong

Arboretum de l'Espaze, Camplong. 1H.30m/Yellow.Easy (this is part of a 4h/11km walk or variant of 3h/9km walk) It was a very hot afternoon and Phoebe my dog and I were looking for three things, shade, water and level. We found all three here but we also found paradise. Such a pretty walk in the dappled light through the beautiful old chestnut woods of Camplong. There is good parking for the arboretum at the far end of the village and it's a very pretty village too with a bar and a little outdoor restaurant just beyond the parking area. Follow the yellow markers over the Espaze(stream) and up a slight incline to reach a little wooden bridge over the stream. Now keep following the river path as it continues along the valley for about 3km, enjoy the beautiful light in the trees, the shade and sound of running water. It's a dog or a childs dream place. Don't turn left uphill at the first turn off, just keep on this path, it does cross the stream once again. There are lots of picnic benches and wooden benches to enjoy your surrounding or a picnic. Once I reached the last old chestnut house (about 3km) there is a left turn to complete the two longer walks. I simply turned around here and returned the same way, which took about 1.30H. I will look forward to completing the full walk another time when it's cooler and I have more time. This is an old mining area and many of the features of the areas history still remain.