Mons circuit.

Lovely walk in the valley from Mons today with Madeleine and Brian. We walked along the voie verte up through the chestnut woods to St Martin de l'Arcon. Here we visited the pretty old village and then walked along the balcony through the little hamlet of La Coste and down to the Pont des soupirs in the Gorge d'heric before returning to Mons for a cuppa. Well done to you both. I do hope that I didn't wear you out too much it was quite an adventure. Thank you for coming all that way to share the walk today.

Balcony walk, Mons la Trivalle.

One of my favourite walks this afternoon, though the valley on the balcony path. From La Pomarède, to Saint-Martin-de-l'Arçon, onto La Coste and down to the Gorge d'heric before heading back up to Mons. Beautiful late afternoon sunshine. Takes about 1h to 1h30 and around 5km. following blue markers, then yellow and finally yellow and red.

Mons and St Martin Circular.

Lovely walk to St Martin, from Mons through the woods and down to the gorge d'heric. Yellow/red Crossing the river and taking the track to La Coste and onto St Martin.Yellow.  Then taking the blue markers down through the chestnut woods to the road and up onto the voie verte. Follow the blue markers carefully here as they continue up the track before the bridge and turn left to the voie verte. Go through the tunnel and over the bridge then down the blue markers beside the bridge to little track up through the car park. Passing through the hamlet and over the road back to the yellow/ red route to Mons in the woods.

Mons to La Pomarède, a valley walk.

Mons, Gorge d'heric, La Coste, Saint-Martin-de-l'Arçon, La Pomarède, passing Arbracadabranche Parc Aventure, Along the Orb, Voie Verte, Le Verdier base, Le Verdier Haut, Mons. This is a super walk taking around 2 hours, allow a little longer for stops as there are lots of lovely views and places to picnic or enjoy a drink along the way. Starting in Mons (The old village above Mons La Trivalle). Park at the church and follow the yellow /red signs through the village (If you want to see more of the village follow the blue markers up to the top of the village and go down through the woods to join the red/yellow path. At the gorge road turn left to reach the gorge and cross the first little bridge(super spot here to let a dog play/drink if it's not busy) to join the yellow marker, turning right along the other side of the river. This is a lovely old path with pretty views. It's quite a rocky path too just here.The path crosses another track just before La Coste and then a stream. In La Coste pass through the hamlet still follow yellow markers. The path passes the parking sign and keeps to a little concrete track across the fields to reach the chestnut woods below Saint-Martin-de-l'Arçon. If you want to go up into the village follow the blue marker to your left which will join the yellow path at the church. Turn left at the Mairie and pass the church now on a track with blue colour markers. This track takes you to La Pomarède. There are a couple more small streams for dogs along the way. In La Pomarède turn right taking a little path next to the car park (still following blue markers past Arbracadabranche Parc Aventure and cross the road passing the donkey fields. If you have children with you they will love all the baby animals here. Pass under the road in the tunnel and now you have a choice. I like to go down to the river on the little blue path as I walk with my dog but you may prefer to go up onto the Voie verte and left heading west. If you stay on the blue route it comes back onto the voie verte after going through a small tunnel. So now turn right onto the green route. There are some super views here. The is also a little snack stop in season. First pass through the first long tunnel (lite) then over the bridge with the road below. You now pass through the second tunnel with lovely views of the blue bridge over the Orb and the Gorge too. Now go over the next bridge and look out for the little blue marker on the other side of it. Go down to the track below (Le Verdier base)and then onto the little path beside the wooden post. A little way up this path is a way down to the river Heric another good watering hole. At the car park there are toilets and a cafe. Now turn left onto the yellow/red/blue path into Le Verdier Haut, turn right and cross the road to head back up the path through the woods into Mons. This path passes the old bread oven before turning left after the little tunnel. Depending on the route you take it will be around 8 to 10km.

La Coste to La Pomarede.

A rainy walk today, just getting some fresh air and exercising Phoebe. It rained all morning but as forecast it's not now that we are back home. La Coste to La Pomarede and back along the lower balcony of the Caroux. 7km, 1.30-2 H easy walking. Parking in La Coste and following yellow signs towards St Martin de L'Arcon along a small concrete track, through mostly disused vineyards and normally wonderful views of the valley and mountains. But not today, although it was pretty dramatic watching the swirling clouds around the Caroux. Continue on this track through chestnut woods and up to the road. Turn right and then left at the Mairie. Towards the pretty church (Blue markers). Keep on this little track to reach La Pomarede and then return the same way to reach the Mairie in St Martin. Turn right and keep on the upper track above the road, following the blue markers. On a bend you will see a tiny left turn between a stone wall down into a tiny stone path. This is very small path behind the houses. The tiny old path (blue markers)finally comes out in the village where you pass under a few lovely arches and then turn left to return to the road. Now turn right and head for a small path that goes left down between the houses on the corner. The little stone path twists it's way down to join the concrete track where you rejoin the yellow markers and turn right to return to La coste. We saw a little red squirrel but Phoebe took a fancy to him and he took refuge in the trees, so no Photo's of him.