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.

Along the River Orb at Roquebrun.

A lovely walk along the River Orb at Roquebrun today. Easy walking on a track that runs alongside the river, south from the beach car park. Super walk for dogs who enjoy a good swim. Marked blue as it's part of a longer walk that can be enjoyed from Roquebrun.

Roquebrun

A beautiful walk by the river at Roquebrun yesterday. This is part of the lovely blue walk that starts in the village and takes in all the lovely vineyards of the area before returning to the pretty river. My family with their baby had enjoyed a walk around the beautiful village while I walked along the river Orb with our dog.
There is also a very good Mediterranean garden above the village, with lovely views. 

Serignan Plage

A beautiful place for a wild beach walk. Serignan Plage. The beach is littered with trees and driftwood from the earlier storms this autumn.

It's a lovely place to walk, sit and enjoy or fish. Children love all the driftwood for making camps and houses, adults just seem happy to relax.  The views were beautiful too, down to the Pyrenees and up to the Caroux.

Parking at several large free car parks. It's possible to walk all the way along the beach from Grande Maire to the outlet of the Orb and also possible to walk behind the sand dunes in a nature reserve of sea lavender and samphire.

Access from the D64 Valras-Plage road, taking left turn onto the D37E11 and then taking a right turn onto the double laned one way road to the Les Serignan Plages.  This location is just south of Beziers.

Lower balcony from Mons to La Pomarede and return

Lower balcony from Mons to La Pomarede and return. 9.5km. 2H.30. This is a super walk that kisses the edge of the Caroux, giving you a glimpse of times not so long ago, when the fields were terraced with vines and chestnuts, donkeys were the main transport and villages were the homes of many agricultural workers.

I begin the walk in Mons because that's where I live but you can see by the map that there are any number of different places to start form. The walk is made up by joining the blue walk in Mons with the blue walk in St Martin de l'Arcon. This is achieved by using the Voie verte and the yellow route that joins St Martin to the Gorge d'Heric.

Start by following the red/yellow path in Mons down through the chestnut woods towards the gorge. Once you arrive at the road cross it and take the little passage marked blue that goes through Le Verdier Haut.

Turn left to reach the gorge car park and continue following the blue path down through it. It follows the river and arrives at the base of the voie verte in Le Verdier Bas. Don't go under the bridge, if you look to the righthand side of it there is a way up onto the greenway.

Once on the greenway turn left over the bridge, pass through the first tunnel, over the bridge, through the second tunnel and after about 100m further you will see a small tunnel marked by stones in wire casing. Just before these stones turn left at a blue marker and take the little path that goes under the voie verte. (You can continue on this route and leave the Voie verte when you see the signs for La Pomarede).

Now you are in the little fields that edge the Orb. Keep left at the first junction, right at the second and left again at the third. You will pass beside the river and then turn left beside a small field, sometimes containing donkeys. Now turn left again and up a tiny walled path to meet the steps coming down from the voie verte.

Turn right and pass the railings and then left under the bridge. You will now see the donkeys and goats before crossing the road to walk past the activity centre. Go up past the building for the adventure centre on a tiny path until you reach the hamlet of La Pomarede. Turn left and right and the next junction. There is a route barrie sign here but it does not mean people or cycles, just that the track has been damaged in the winter and not passable by automobiles.

Continue on through lovely chestnut woods and you will soon come out onto more lovely views. Soon you reach St Martin where you can visit if you wish and join the route later (stay on the blue route to do this). Or follow the yellow markers by turning right and then left down the concrete track. Pass through more chestnut woods, vines and turn right when you reach a slope. Soon you will reach La Coste.

Turn right and go through the hamlet, finally turning right at the end. Now you pass under a white house and turn left down a small passageway to the stream below. After going up to the top of the track you will need to quickly turn right, cross the track and turn left onto a small path that continues through the woods to reach the gorge d Heric. Here you need to cross the footbridge and turn left towards the car park. Passing this and turning right at the railings to reach Mons via the chestnut woods. All very pretty, quaint and rather lovely.

Saint Michel de Mercairol, Les Aires.

Saint Michel de Mercairol. A delightful walk starting from Les Aires in the Orb valley and walking up to the light chapel and castle ruins though a beautiful lush valley and back down through chestnut and holm oak woodland. 6.5km / 2h with yellow markers on the descent. 

Leave the car park on the D160 at Les Aires and walk up through the streets of this pretty little village past the church and then keep right where you will see a few yellow markers. End the end of the western side side of the village you will find a small lane which shortly splits. 

Take the right fork and follow this track which is marked as a cycle route up the hill for some way. After about 3km you will come to a hairpin bend at the foot of the castle, look carefully for a small path on your right beside a large standing stone/rock which marks its entrance. 

Now climb to the top of this small path which is quite steep,it will bring you to a junction marked with yellow markers. Turn right here and it will take you to a wooden sign for the steps to the castle and chapel. The little path takes you first to the castle ruins with amazing views in every direction. From here there is a lovely view of the Orb valley and it's mountains. 

Further up you will come to the little chapel which you may enter. After one more flight of steps you reach the table of orientation, with a beautiful panorama of the Caroux and the valley below. It's a great place for a picnic before taking the steps back down to the small path below. 

Once you reach the wooden sign again turn left and this will take you to the north gate, You then reach a little picnic area will a small road leading down, marked yellow. Follow the road through the chestnuts until you come to a sign for Les Abbes. 

Turn right onto this pretty little path through holme oaks until you reach the village of Les Abbes. Just before the village take a left once again and this path will lead to Les Aires. 

Lots of interest on this pretty route and many beautiful wild flowers including thyme, hare's ears and lots of soles too. 

The smells were wonderful the views stupendous. We picniced at the little picnic area just below the castle, it's nice and cool under the shade there, although most of the walk had some shade. We really loved this walk today.

Saint Michel de Mercairol. A walk from Les Aires in the Languedoc.

Saint Michel de Mercairol. A delightful walk starting from Les Aires in the Orb valley and walking up to the light chapel and castle ruins though a beautiful lush valley and back down through chestnut and holme oak woodland. 6.5km / 2h with yellow markers on the decent.

Leave the car park on the D160 at Les Aires and walk up through the streets of this pretty little village past the church and then keep right where you will see a few yellow markers. At the end of the western side side of the village you will find a small lane which shortly splits.

Take the right fork and follow this track which is marked as a cycle route up the hill for some way. After about 3km you will come to a hairpin bend at the foot of the castle, look carefully for a small path on your right beside a large standing stone/rock which marks its entrance.

Now climb to the top of this small path which is quite steep,it will bring you to a junction marked with yellow markers. Turn right here and it will take you to a wooden sign for the steps    to the castle and chapel. The little path takes you first to the castle ruins with amazing views in every direction. From here there is a lovely view of the Orb valley and it's mountains.

Further up you will come to the little chapel which you may enter. After one more flight of steps you reach the table of orientation, with a beautiful panorama of the Caroux and the valley below. It's a great place for a picnic before taking the steps back down to the small path below.

Once you reach the wooden sign again turn left and this will take you to the north gate, You then reach a little picnic area will a small road leading down, marked yellow. Follow the road through the chestnuts until you come to a sign for Les Abbes.

Turn right onto this pretty little path through holme oaks until you reach the village of Les Abbes. Just before the village take a left once again and this path will lead to Les Aires.

 Lots of interest on this pretty route and many beautiful wild flowers including thyme, orchids and primroses. The bird song was just so beautiful and the views stupendous.