Mons to Bardou

Mons to Bardou. A very beautiful.walk taking 3H 30. Leaving Mons from the church, take the road up past the little cross to reach reach the upper part of the village and turn right. The path turns left at the house with the decorative wall. The footpath is marked with a blue triangle (alternatively follow the red/yellow route up though the village and into the woods). The footpath joins the red/yellow route with a left turn. Keep on this path through the lovely woods with beautiful views to finally reach the Col du Bardou. Once at the col turn right to reach the sign posts. Turn left but don't follow red/yellow markers, take the blue one on the right. About 100m further is the most wonderful view of the Gorge d'heric you can ever imagine. This is Baou Filiti and a perfect lunch spot. Once you have eaten turn back to return to the col once again but turn right to go down to Bardou on the GR7. Near the village you will see a right turn on the red/white GR markers to pass beside the village. At the end of the car parking area you will see a small right turn directing you down the GR 7 through the beautiful woods. Now continue down to reach the stream at the bottom. If you can spot it you will find the true GR7 going down to your right, this bring you out at the river crossing and to your right a little way up a secret (oh now that ones out of the bag), perfect waterfall, tiny beach and large swimming pool. Magical and no one there on a bank holiday Monday. Well I did say it was secret. Now turn left and return along the stream (which was a lake until recently, dam now removed). At the car park turn right and take this little road down past Pibons towards Les Pradals. On a corner just above the village is a small track on your left. Take this down on a curving grassy path to a little road at Mons. Turn right to reach the edge of the village. Enjoy.

Gorge d'heric via the col du Bardou.

Mons, col de la maure, Col du Bardou, Baou filiti, Pont d'heric, heric, Gorge d'heric and return to Mons. A beautiful walk taking about 3.5 to 4 hours. Circular. This walk is not difficult but is fairly demanding. It's a beautiful walk with outstanding views. Start at the church in Mons and follow the yellow/red route up through the village and up through the wooded slopes above Mons until you reach the col du Bardou. This side gives you some excellent views down the Jaur valley. Opposite you will see continuation of the yellow/red route don't take this but take the small blue route to the right of it. This will take you the short distance to the beautiful Baou filiti, lookout high above Heric with wonderful views down into the gorge and up to the Caroux. Now go down the GR red/white path into the gorge. If coming from Baou filiti, it's a left turn. Cross the little bridge at the bottom and head up to the waterfalls. Then onto Heric where you will find a little buvette for refreshments. Keep right and take the little road down to the car park at the bottom of the gorge. Wonderful views and waterfalls all the way down. Keep going until you see a right turn sign for the yellow/red route. Take this up a tiny, quite steep , rocky path. This will take you through the woods back to Mons. Say hello to the stone cottage by the bread oven for me on your way back.

Gorge d'Heric and the ravine path to Bardou.

My beautiful walk up the ravine to the col de Bardou, Baou Filiti, point d'Heric, Heric, down the gorge d'heric and back to Mons through the chestnut woods.

The weather was like summer, just so lovely. This is a very easy walk to follow with some uphill sections at the beginning. It's not a difficult walk but takes about 4 hours.

After parking in Mons follow the red/yellow markers up through the village and all the way up the ravine path to the col de Bardou.

There are lovely views all the way along this part of the walk, stop and enjoy the views while you are climbing up the little stoney paths.

When you get to the col, be sure to cross the junction and take the little blue path to the look out at Baou Filiti it's only about 200m off your route and the views down into the gorge d'heric are divine.

Now retrace your steps to the col and take the RG7 red/white down to the gorge by turning left here.

It's a steep path and there are leaves on the path now so be careful if they become wet or deeper. Cross the pont d'Heric and make your way up to the hamlet of Heric where there is a little cafe.

Now follow the little gorge road back down to the gorge car park. Don't go into it but keep on the road until you reach a blue, red/yellow marker turning right. This will take you back through the chestnut woods to Mons.

Gorge d'Heric, Baou Filiti, Bardou,ravine route to Mons. A lovely walk in the Languedoc.

Gorge d'Heric, Baou Filiti, Bardou,ravine route to Mons. 11.5km. 3.45m. Mixed markings.A lovely walk of moderate difficulty. Park at the church in Mons.Take the red/yellow marked route and follow it through the woods along the little path from the village to the gorge. 

At the road to the gorge turn left and take the little road that goes for about 5km up the gorge d'Heric. Beautiful scenery all the way, with mountain views and waterfalls. When you reach the Hamlet of Heric turn left into the hamlet past the little cafe (a nice place for a drink or an ice cream). 

You are now on the GR7 (red/white markers) going towards the col de Bardou. The little path descends down to a pretty place beside the river where you will find some small waterfalls and pools. Keep descending down to the pont de Heric and cross the little bridge. 

Keep left after the bridge still following the red/white markers. It's a steep zigzagging path through lovely old chestnut woods and when you reach the col you can take a little side trip for lovely views. At the signpost turn right but don't follow the yellow/red markers go straight on and follow the blue markers for about 100m. 

You will soon come to the lovely Baou Filiti, a wonderful lookout where you can enjoy an amazing view down into the gorge. Now go back to the signpost at the col de Bardou and turn right, but almost straight away you take a left signposted to Mons red/yellow markers (Mons is only 5km from her so don't worry about the signpost saying it's 8km, it's not). Stay on this lovely path above Bardou until you reach a split in the trail. 

Take the left branch and keep following the red/yellow markers. There are lovely views down into the ravine here. Stay on this route and don't follow any other coloured routes they are all smaller more rocky routes that lead back down the slopes of the gorge. 

There are beautiful views of the Jaur valley just before you reach Mons. The yellow/red markers will take you back into Mons but you may find the last bit rather challenging as it's steep. If this is so turn right onto the path just before it descends into the village and follow the blue triangles, it's much easier. 

The car park it at the bottom of this road. It's a lovely route. One of my favourites.

Mons, col de Bardou, Bardou, Les Pradals a beautiful walk under the Caroux. Languedoc.

Mons, col de Bardou, Bardou, Les Pradals. 10km. 3H. Moderate. A beautiful local walk today. Starting in Mons. (There is a car park beside the church/ full today, it's a good job we live there!). 

Take the yellow/red trail up through the old village and pass between two houses at the top of the village into the woods (this part is quite steep, you can follow another route using old blue triangles that is a better start to the walk, this is goes up the road of the cross at the edge of the village and joins the red/yellow path after the steep part).

Follow the yellow/red path as it zigzags up the ravine. Ignore all other coloured routes. This path is lovely and has fine views both down to the Jaur valley and later into the ravine. It goes through beautiful holme oak and then chestnut woods. The path is most old stone and often edged with bloom and heather when on more open stretches. 

As the path nears the col (5km) you can look down on the little hamlet of Bardou and up to the Espinouse. Finally at the col you will see signs for the GR7 red/white, your route will turn left onto this but if you want a most wonderful view of the Gorge de Heric where it is possible to find a very fine picnic spot, take the blue path, opposite at the col for about 100m to Baou Filiti, the look out.

Here you can see all the way down the gorge and the beautiful Roc de Caroux. Retracing your steps to the col turn right towards Bardou but don't go all the way down to the village on the GR7 when you see it leave the route. Keep on this higher track until the track bares right. Keep straight on on this blue marked route. There are not many markers but keep going straight and ignore any other paths. The blue route finally descends onto a small zigzagging path down to the little road below. 

When it almost reaches the road you will see a vegetable garden below but stay on the little path above this for a little way until it drops down to the road a short distance further. The little road is not much more than a track as it descends into Les Pradals. It twists into the little hamlet with beautiful views of the Jaur valley again. 

Passing the pretty village you then join another road, take a left here towards Mons. There are vineyards and olive orchards here and lovely views across the valley. At the next junction take a right turn to go back to the parking or a left and a right to walk through Mons.