A walk along the Jaur, Olargues.

A delightful river walk along the Jaur from Olargues this morning. A great walk for a hot day. 6km. 1h 30m. Park in the main car park in Olargues, near to the post office(old station yard)and walk down to the compotel de Olargues and the river, there is a lovely new Guinguette here that is open for food, drinks and music on certain afternoons and evenings thought the summer (you could combine this walk with a visit). Continue on the little track road past the old mill and keep left at the next junction(the one to the right goes up to Lisson). The track quickly becomes more of a grassy path and under a rocky escarpment the little path heads uphill (don't take the second uphill path beside the golden topped post, this goes up to Fenouillede) and then down again to reach a lovely little beach area complete with a rope swing. Our dog loved swimming here. Soon the little path reaches a source under the rocks and the path is strewn with tree debris from flooding of the river during the winter. The path joins a wider track now and at a junction turns left (the right turn goes up to the hill above Ornac). Keeping left along the track beside the field of vines join the main D908. Turn right and about 20 yards further cross to the pretty vineyard buildings and walk up the track. This is marked voie verte. Once you have joined the voie verte turn left and head back into Olargues crossing the red bridge and passing the lovely pizza place with its wonderful pizzas. They even have cool beers and snacks for lighter lunches. The car park is just past the school. There is also a bar opposite, another at the end of the village and a restaurant too. If you are in Olargues for the first time. Do wander through the pretty streets up to the tower above.

Gorge d'heric, Mons and La Coste.

Gorge d'heric, Mons and La Coste. 1.30H 3km. easy. A short walk with lots of pretty scenery, but not today though, it was all hiding behind the wispy low lying clouds in the valley.

The early morning rain had gone and we walked from Mons on the red/yellow path down to the gorge d'heric then over the bridge of sighs to take the right-hand yellow marked path to La Coste. Down the track just before the hamlet to join the voie vert.

It's a lovely little trail all the way there through chestnut and oak woodland. Now on the voie vert turn right and head towards Mons.

Just after the big bridge over the Heric there is a little blue path on your right which take to down the the picnic area of the car park below (Le Verdier base). Go to the other side of the little road and you will see a post and a blue marked trail.

This little path follows the River Heric up to the car park. Then turn left just before the road, to find yourself in the little hamlet of Le Verdier haut.

Go through the hamlet and turn right, go up the footpath to the road and cross to the footpath back to Mons through the chestnut woods once again. A super little walk in any weather, lots of wildlife to see and pretty too.

St-Etienne-d'Albgnan.

St-Etienne-d'Albgnan. 6km. 2H. no markers. 

We were just exploring a new area this morning so we parked in the Voie vert car park at the old station and turned right to reach the greenway. 

Turn left onto the Voie vert and walk a short distance until you reach a bridge, cross the small bridge and turn right off the bridge to meet a small road. Turn left onto it and continue up towards Mas du Rieu. Pass through Valausse and continue uphill until you reach a track on your right at a small col. 

We kept to the lower track and after the zigzags turned right on the road towards La Mouline. We didn't go into the hamlet there, maybe that was what we should have done as if you reach the main road there doesn't appear to be a way back onto the voie vert until you return to St-Etienne. 

We thought that there were two other better possibilities to try another time the first being the circular 1H.30 route called "Promenade de Callasourdes". which takes the same route as far as Valausse and then turns left and back down the valley on the other side of the stream before returning on the voie vert. 

Or taking the road up to the track at the col but returning on the upper track which descends into Valausse and then return on the Callasourdes routes. Lots of possibilities up there.

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.

Les Trois Thermes, Lamalou-les_Bains. A beautiful walk in the Orb Valley. Languedoc.

The Three Spas. 7 km / 2 H . Mostly marked - blue and then red/white. Easy but the first part is uphill. A walk from Lamalou-les-Bains through the woods and up the hill with beautiful views of the Caroux before returning via le-Poujol-sur-Orb. The walk has lots of interest with a 12th century chapel, vineyards and 2 little towns to visit of have lunch in on the way if you want to.

Park at the Voie vert parking beside the old station in Lamalou (above St Pierre-de-Rhedes). Start walking towards Poujols sur orb. On your left you will see the lovely old 12th century church of St Pierre de Rhedes, it's worth going and having a look at it before the walk.

After 100m you will come to a small path on your right, marked blue. The little path climbs through woodland of chestnut and pine (Usclade) and then joins the GR7, red/white markers. Turn left here on this rock path. The path continues to climb with some views through the trees of Lamalou. You will then come to the intersection of the Three Spas. Turn right and then left as you pass the green water tank. Leave the GR and turn right almost straight away at the next junction. The track descends slightly to reach a stream (Borie) and then it rises again.

Ignore the small grassy track that descends to the left and continue up until you come to a crossroads where you take the path on your left (GR signs, red/white) again. This little path runs beside a little stone track but you can use either path.

 It goes downhill for about 1 km (ignore any smaller tracks on either side of the path) before joining a small concrete road that winds its way past pretty vineyards and newly restored chestnut terraces. ( you will pass a sweet little shrine and iron cross with a bench on the way) .The views of the Caroux and the Orb valley are lovely here.

 The little road comes out in the Poujol-sur-orb near its pretty church. (You can visit the little town if you wish and have lunch). Turn left at a small parking area and about 400m down the small road you will see some steps leading to the Voie vert, go down these (they are opposite the old Poujol station) and turn left. 

Walk to Lamalou les Bains now, which is about 1.5 km down the greenway.

This is a lovely walk with lots of contrasts, it was a lovely little find and we really enjoyed the beautiful scenery and lovely history on the walk.