The Jaur, Olargues, France.

A lovely walk along the vioe vert and the Jaur this morning. This is a super round walk taking about 45 minutes to an hour. Start at the car park beside the vine yard with the round tower just off the main road between Mons La Trivalle and Olargues. Then head along the mostly shady vioe vert to reach and cross the red bridge. Now head past the lovely little pizza place which serves super pizzas and a small version for lunch. Turning left and left again around the school/college. Now heading back towards the river, take the first right onto a small track down to an old mill ruins. Keep on this small track along side the pretty Jaur river until you reach a junction. Turn left onto a grassy track continuing beside the river. Soon the path takes you up and over a large rocky area on a tiny path to reach some wonderful views of the valley and the mountains. Keep left here at the golden post. Continue down to a little beach, then on through the woods to reach a larger track. Keep right until you reach the junction at the bridge. Turn left and cross the bridge. Soon you will be back at the main road opposite the vine yard and it's house with the round tower. The walk is unmarked except for the golden post.

St Martin des Oeufs, Olargues.

A beautiful walk starting from Olargues, in the Herault today. It's a lovely short circuit of around 7km or 8km. one blue markers. Starting by parking in Olargues. (we park near the river just past the memorial park).Turn up the small road just before the old garage on the ring road. At the end turn right and stay on this good track as it winds up the valley with lovely views of the Espinouse above. The views then turn to the east with views of the beautiful Caroux and the Jaur valley towards Mons. Here you will find the lovely little chapel of St Martin des Oeufs and a good picnic bench. Today there were lots of eggs outside it's door. Often I've seen a few placed there but today was the most. Continue on this track to cross the bridge and reach a small road. Turn right down the road were you will pass by some very friendly sheep and chickens who always run down for a fuss, clanging their large bells (not the chickens, just the sheep). After a while the road winds down into the hamlet of Le Cros. The track continues down to a right bend and then right again. The track will return you to the ring road around Olargues. There's no good way about doing this bit. Just turn right and walk along the road, taking care and soon you will be back at the car.

Beautiful swimming spot on the Jaur at Olargues.

A beautiful spot on the Jaur. With easy access. I walked back to Mons along the Voie verte before the storm which takes just under an hour. 5 to 6 km. Or the access by car is from a good car park on the ring road bend of Olargues. This is just opposite the camp site. There is a good, large, deep swimming area with a rope swing and high rocks to jump off if you like that sort of thing, or else you can relax on the sandy beach. There are picnic benches there too.

St julien, Along the river Jaur from Le colombier to Coulayro

St julien, Along the river Jaur from Le colombier to Coulayro. This is a short walk with good parking off the Voie verte at Le colombier (this is the vineyard building with a beautiful tower). cross the voie verte and walk down to the road (D908). Turn right and about 50km future along is a small track alongside a vineyard. Turn right and cross the river on a small bridge, then keep right on the track. After a short while the track disappears and becomes a tiny footpath. This path is lovely and cool under the trees and brings you out to this wonderful bathing spot (it's a secret by the way, so don't tell anyone else). Now if you would like to do the whole circular walk continue on up the little path which rises around the rock and then brings you back down to the river level. Soon the path becomes a track again and follows the Jaur into Olargues. Olargues is a delightful little village and there are a couple of cafes and bars ands also a wonderful pizzeria next to the old station building on the Voie verte. The path brings you out at the bottom of the village under the red bridge so you need to head up to the village and follow the signs for the voie verte. Now turn left onto it and cross the red bridge. Follow the voie verte back to the parking. Walking to the river takes about 20 minutes but along 1 to 2 hours for a return walk around Olargues and a swim.

Mons to Olargues on the Voie Verte.

A lovely walk to Olargues from Mons yesterday evening on the Voie verte.

Olargues, Saint-Martin des œufs

Olargues, Saint-Martin des œufs, (Les Codouls, Les Sagnes), Le Cros, Rouillouse Ravine. 7.4km. 2 hours. Mostly marked with blue or blue/white markers. This is a lovely walk with beautiful views of the Jaur valley, the Espinouse mountains and the Avant Monts. Olargues. Park next to the Pont du Diable on the D908 in Olagues. There is a lovely bakers and villages stores for picnic items or 2 bars and a restaurant in the village. From the Pont du Diable head out of Olargues and after about 50m you will see a small concrete track on your right. Take this track up the hill. The track bends to the right at a junction just before it reaches the road. Continue on up the hill will wonderful views across to St Vincent d'Olargues and the Espinouse. The view is lovely and open across the valley here. Mas du Gue is below you to your left as you turn right up the hill and into the woods. Soon you will cross a tiny col and have wonderful views of the Jaur valley looking east towards Mons La Trivalle and the Caroux. A little further and you will come to a lovely peaceful little spot, the little chapel of Saint-Martin des œufs. It's perfect for a picnic with its picnic bench and shade in the summer. Now continue to your right along the track to the road, (or take the tiny grassy path up to the Les Codouls down to Les Sagnes and through the little cherry orchard route) turn right down to Le Cros. Turn right into the hamlet and keep on the concrete track down to the next right turn. The track turns right again once in the trees and follows the Rouillouse Ravine with it's pretty stream beside you past olives and old stone walls. Soon you will return to the D908. Here I'm afraid you have to turn right and return about 500m along the road to reach the old bridge. Do spend some time in the village if you don't know it. It's one of the most beautiful villages of France, with its tower and castle at the top of the hill, lovely old streets, museum in the old town staircase, the beautiful bridges and the lovely River jaur.