Mons to La Pomarede.

Mons to La Pomarede via La Coste and St-Martin-de-L'Arcon and returning on the Voie vert and le Verdier. The route uses many of the old walled paths, passes through vineyards, chestnut woods and tiny medieval hamlets, crossing the Gorge d'Heric. Views are of the Orb valley, Avant Monts and the Caroux. 2H, 6 miles/ 10km. The walk begins in Mons with it lovely old buildings dating back to the 1600's, Taking either the red/yellow trail from the base of the village or the blue trail higher up the little paths converge in the chestnut woods anyway. The path comes out on the road leading to the Gorge d'Heric and after entering the gorge a short distance further you will come to a small bridge. Follow the yellow path over the rocks to your right and this leads to the little hamlet of La Coste. Once through the hamlet you continue on to St-Martin-de-L'Arcon on yellow markers. The track passes through vineyards and then chestnut woods. It is possible to either visit the hamlet by following the blue trail or continue on the yellow until you reach the lovely church. Continue on the track past the church on the blue trail until you reach La Pomarede. Turn right and descend past the outdoor centre, crossing the road to visit the donkeys and baby goats. There were rabbits and chickens running about today too. Still following blue markers you can choose now to either go left down to the river, then through the old fields on the blue trail or up onto the Voie vert taking a right to reach the cycle track before turning left onto it. The blue trail comes back out onto it once past the first tunnel. Cross the large bridge, then through the tunnel and another bridge before descending to the right immediately after this bridge, following the blue marker. This is the lower part of the gorge car park. Take a small path beside the river that takes you up past badge sets to the top of the car park. Still follow blue markers turn left into le Verdier haut. Turn right on the blue marker to cross the road and ascend through the trees on the part that you started on. It comes out in Mons where there is plenty of parking near the church. Do look out for the old bread oven, which is still used for bread festivals by the local people.

Notre-Dame-De-Capimont.

Notre-Dame-De-Capimont. 2.30H -3H depending on your chosen route. Yellow markers.8km or 9km. Park in a bay outside the campsite in Lamalou- les-Bains.

Turn right and walk along the road a short distance to cross the road where you see a large cross opposite. Take the marked path up to Bardejean through the woods, crossing tracks a couple of times. In the hamlet turn first right and bear right.

The yellow route continues on a wide track but there are few on this route and it is about 1km longer this way. When you get to the GR go up to the chapel. Today though we decided to be a little more adventurous and took the little footpath on your left just beside a cross on a wall, don't take any notice of the yellow X on the post.

The little path go up to cross a track at cairn turn left and continue on up to the minute chapel of Sainte Anne. The tiny chapelle of Sainte Anne is to your left and the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-De-Capimont is to the right.

Amazing views ofs Lamalou-les-Bains on the way up and of the Orb valley and Herepian to the south. This is a lovely spot for a picnic (there is a car park here too).

After visiting the chapel head down the drive to turn right onto the GR on your right. Go down the GR, keeping left and then turn left again towards Herepian.

The path passes some fenced gardens before turning right onto a small concrete track. At the top of the hill just before the entrance to a drive turn left onto another grassy track and then right onto a stony one, this is the GR once again.

Go up the wide stony track alongside a fence before turning left onto a small path. Finally the path joins a wide track, here you will turn left and follow the track until it branches right.

Just after a bend you can take the small unmarked path on your left or continue a very short distance to find where the yellow path left left to take the path back through the woods to the cross on the steeps at the road.

This is an easy route with lovely views, it's usually very dry underfoot and can be enjoyed whatever the season.

It is also possible to make a short walk either taking in the first and last part of the walk or doing a short walk from the car park at the chapel.

La Cabriere

La Cabriere, 7.5 km/ 2.30H, Easy. Marked. This is a wonderful short hike on the Caroux massif without any real difficulties. Throughout the whole circuit there are exceptional views, beautiful heather on the surrounding hills, a good chance of seeing mouflon and a delightful contrast of landscape. 

You can either start at parking areas near Madale or Le Fage. For this walk we started at the parking area for Le Fage, near Rosis, but it may be easier in hot weather to start from the carpark at Madale. Walk up the wide track to another parking area with signs for climbing. Take the track to your left until you see yellow markers directing you to turn right. 

Take this path down until it splits and then take the path to the left. This path leads all the way around the upper Gorge de Colombieres with delightful rocky views of the gorge, Caroux, and the Orb valley below. Finally you start to go down to a point where the zigzags begin. 

Here you will see a wooden post, now look for a small blue marker for a trail to your left. You may find it a little difficult to see at first. Take this blue trail (do not go down the zigzags). (If you want a shorter walk there is a little green marked trail that goes up from a large cairn just above here, this would take you past the quarry and over the hill of la Cabriere itself, a walk of around 1 hour). 

Now follow the blue trail back up the hill a little and then down into the woods. It drops down through lovely old chestnut woods, on a little path with lovely views of the gorge de Madale. You will notice that you will not see many blue markers only old yellow ones this is fine. Now the trail drops down onto a wide dirt road beside a house and a yellow wooden post. 

Turn left and walk along this track towards the Col de Madale, passing a small old quarry working. The track reaches the hamlet of Madale before the col. (We saw several eagles here and hillsides covered with pink and rose coloured heather). After the village you will come to a wooden signpost at the col. Take a left turn onto the GR7 red/white markings. 

This small path leads over the beautiful heather and broom covered tops with remarkable open views of the Espinouse, Caroux, Monts d'Orb (it can get rather hot in the open on this part of the walk if left until the afternoon), and what seems like the whole of the languedoc down to the coast and over to Montpelier. The path now drops onto the wide track, turn right and go back down to the car park. This is probably the easiest walk on the Caroux massif.

Col de Fontfroide

A lovely walk from the col de Fontfroide. 5km. 1h.30m. Easy. Fairly level with just a couple of inclines.  Following the GR signs mostly.

Park at the col parking area next to the D14. Walk past the shelter and keep on the left track that follows the edge of the ravine. There are some wonderful views here to the south and east here, down to the coast, the Avant monts, Espinouse and the Orb valley.

The track reaches the col de Montplo where you keep left once more. There are lots of wonderful raspberries here and also blueberries and wild strawberries too.

We picked loads and eat even more! At the next junction you can turn left once again and go down to Grand col making circle at Rivieyrals before turning right back onto the GR7 or turn right and walk up to the group of wind turbines behind the track.

At the track turn right up the hill onto a track the runs parallel with the one that you came down on. Now you are looking north to the Somail forest and the lakes.

The rolling hills here are beautiful. Keep left onto the GR as you pass the turbines. This descends to the main track where you turn left to reach the cars.

Foret des Ecrivains Combattants.

Foret des Ecrivains Combattants. A lovely walk through forests with 2 picnic areas. 5.5km. 2 H .Easy. The area contains memorials for French writers who have died in combat. 

Park in the large parking area and walk down to the cross (first picnic area). Follow the GR7 down to a second picnic area. This is a lovely wooded walk in chestnut and pine trees. The picnic area is cool and is also the start of a sports/fitness course. 

Now turn right and follow the path until it takes another right turn and then winds up on zig zags to gain a magnificent high point with lovely views of the Orb valley down to the coast and across to the Caroux. Here are views also of the gorge de Madale and the col behind it, with views to the north. Now continue until a junction taking the higher path up to the small road. 

There are more stone memorials here once again. Cross the road at a roundabout and continue up to another viewpoint, this time of the Monts de Orb. The views are stunning here and the air is cool and breezy. Keep on the GR7 once again which you will find on your right. 

This will take you back to the road near the car parking area. http://www.randodoc.com/?page_id=4116

Mons, Piste Vert to La Pomarede, St-Martin-de-l'Arcon, La Coste, Gorge d'Heric. A walk in the Languedoc.

Mons, Piste Vert to La Pomarede, St-Martin-de-l'Arcon, La Coste, Gorge d'Heric. 7.5km. 2H. Easy. Starting in Mons from the car park beside the church follow the blue markers down the little lane through the fields with pretty views of the Juar valley to the piste vert. 

Turn left and walk towards La Trivalle where there is an auberge, a lovely bakers that sells wonder snacks at lunch time and bread for a delicious picnic. There is also a village shop selling local cheese, fruit and other items for the rest of your picnic needs. 

Keep heading along the piste vert and you will cross the first bridge with lovely views up into the gorge (ignore the blue marker on your left). Cross the bridge and through the first tunnel, it's quite long but lights will come on as you enter. Now you cross the next railway bridge over the road this time, with more fantastic views of the valleys. After a while you come to the second railway tunnel and after this there is a choice to continue on the piste vert or to follow the blue trail to your left just before a group of boxed stones marking a small under passage which takes you through fields near the river and joins the route as it goes under the main road. 

Follow the blue markers if you chose to do this or keep on the piste vert until you come to another area or boxed stones where there are some signs on your right for activity centres. Turn right here and go down the wooden steeps to join the blue route beside the bridge that passes under the road. Now go uphill past the horses to the activity centre and cross the road. Go up beside the building and around the little path beside the tree top adventure centre to come out in the little hamlet of La Pomarede. 

Turn left at the car park there and follow the road to the first left turn (at the moment there is a route barrée sign across the little road but take it anyway). The track goes through the woods in open areas with lovely views, a perfect spot for a picnic on a little wall overlooking the beautiful Orb valley. 

Now you come to the beautiful little church at St Martin de l'Arcon and at the junction turn right and left onto a yellow marked route (ignore the blue route markers now). Follow this route through the woods and old vineyards to La Coste. The path goes to your right up a slope before entering the hamlet and right again as you join the road. 

Go straight through the hamlet and turn right and quickly left down a little passage marked yellow to a small stream. Cross the stream and follow the path until it drops onto a large track. Turn right and then left onto the small path once again. Lovely views of the valley here before entering the woods again. It's a pretty path with stone walls and will bring you out in the Gorge d'Heric at a tiny bridge. 

Turn left and cross the bridge, then left again to reach the road to the gorge. Turn right onto the road and follow it until you come to some railings beside a house on your right. 

Turn right here and follow the red/yellow signs back to Mons through the pretty chestnut woods on old tracks.

Circuit of La Gleizo with a difference.

A lovely walk up the mountain behind Mons today. It's a new path for me. Quite a little gem I would say. No markings and only a few cairns on the edges of the little trail. This route cuts the Circuit of La Gleizo down from 3 hours to 2 hours, but still with all the beautiful views.

Start by taking the yellow/red trail in Mons but at the first junction turn right where there is a stone wall and a Y shaped tree. There is no markings on this trail but it goes up through the old terraces of chestnuts on a very old steeped path.

You come out on the red trail of La Gleizo but continue on instead up through the holme oaks on a tiny path to the col, where it joins the yellow path. Then go down the slope on the red path of the La Gleizo circuit. It's much more fun than using the ravine path. Beautiful views down into the Gorge de Heric and the Orb valley. It's a real little adventure path.