Le Tour du Mouscaillou, Rosis, Hérault, France.

Le Tour du Mouscaillou, Rosis. This is a simply beautiful walk in very peaceful surroundings with magnificent views. The walk is fairly easy and not too long, taking just two to two half hours. 9km. Mostly blue markers. We have done the whole walk before but made a variation on it today to take in some different views. The walk starts by parking in the parking area on the col de madale. Walk about 50m up the road towards Rosis and turn left down a small road to Le Luc. Cross a bridge and pass a track to your right, then look out as you walk about 50m beyond for a tiny grassy track down to a small bridge, the route is marked with small blue dots. Cross the bridge, keeping right ascend the hill to the house and turn right through the beech wood. Now follow this small track through the woods to Rosis. Just below the chateau you will come to a bridge across the stream, cross and take the path to reach the front of the chateau. Pass in front of the chateau and turn right to reach the road. Now cross the road and pass through the hamlet, taking a tiny path at the top that takes you along and stone walled route to the forest. Once you have walked to the end of this track you will reach the col d'Aussieres. (The main route continues down past the green water container and back up the hill via the col de vente vieille but we changed the route this time). Our route leaves the blue markers and makes a magnificent detour up the wide grassy path opposite to the top of the gently curved summit of Massaral and onto the rocky outcrops of the top of Mouscaillou. There are fantastic views up here of the Monts d'Orb, Caroux and over to Saint Gervais below. Now retrace your steps to the col and head left down the wide, zig zagging track to reach the road. Turn left onto the road and the car park is about 100m beyond. Super walk, with no difficulties.

Chemins de Haut Languedoc, Caroux. no 7. Great book.

Foret Domaniale du Somail, Col de la Frajure, Fraisse sur Agout.

A nice walk in the cool today above Lac du Laouzas, in the Foret Domaniale du Somail. The walks starts from the Col de la Frajure, between Fraisse sur Agout and Nages. D162a. There is a good parking area here with picnic tables. There is a blue walk here that appears to go the opposite way around to our walk and a little further down Ours was about 8km. Take the lower track through the cool beech woods until you reach a fork to left, this takes a bend and into lower trees, bringing you to an area where tree clearance operations are underway. Keep left and then uphill on a grassy track to meet another track coming from your right. Continue up on the track around Le Serre with lovely views of the valley and hills. Soon you join the main track picking up the coloured route once again. Continue up to the top and then down on this track to reach the parking area once again with a view of the lake below. Lots of flowers and butterflies on this route.

Circuit of Cambon.

Circuit of Cambon. 8km. Around 2h. Beautiful views, some markers. This is a lovely mixed walk that is great for a hot day. Wonderful views, flowers and scenery. Turn off the D14 at the col de Fontfroide onto the D53. The temperature is always 10c cooler up here than in the valley below (18c when it was 28c below). Starting in the lovely little mountain village of Cambon with it's pretty houses and a lovely picnic area beside the beautiful river. Head up past the church on the D53.Follow the river to reach a little turn for La Pansiere. Go a short distance past and you will find a little track on your right going up through the beautiful cool beech forest. Keep left on this all the way up the hill until you reach the junction of the GR7/GR71. Now turn right onto this and you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the Jaur valley, Avant Monts and the Espinouse. The route continues on the edge of the Espinouse escarpment, with views down to Olargues and the Montahuc. Finally you will reach a signpost, leave the GR and take the track to your right signposted to Cambon. This route is marked yellow. Follow it down through a wooded area to reach beautiful open fields full of wonderful meadow flowers. Magic. The route comes to a cross and then heads down to join the road just outside the village.

Levada Nova, Prazeres to the Atalhinho water house, Madeira

The Levada Nova today. Walking in the cloud for some of the time as the clouds blow in from the sea and up the mountain sides. We walked from the village of Prazeres to the Atalhinho water house, near Estrela da Calheta. The forest were beautiful, old pine, eucalyptus and lily of the nile along side the levada. We enjoyed a couple of coffee stops and a picnic at the water house. Martin said it was his longest walk yet. Wait until he sees what I have lined up for tomorrow!

The animals were waiting to be blessed today at the church. Just so lovely to watch and listen to. After the blessing the precision went off to bless all the farm animals in the menagerie in the Quinta Pedagogica, accompanied by women singing and the crowds. 

Pouzolles.

Pouzolles. 6.6km 2 hours. Blue markers. Easy. A lovely walk through rolling little hills and vineyards. The walk starts in the centre of the village close to the Chateau.

Take a left along Avenue Carnot and then turn right about 100m further with a quite left up a left up a small stepped path that brings you up to a small parking area at Avenue Paul Dourner.

Turn right and walk down Avenue Pasteur, if you look right down Christophe Ricard street, you will see you beautiful church that stands just behind the chateau.

look out for a left turn further down the road, this will take you past the cemetery and the ruins of an old windmill. turn right onto a paved track and continue until you come to a left turn.

Continue on this track until you see a little path that rises to your left. This takes you up through more vineyards with stupendous views of the plain.

Here you can see the Pyrenees, Avant Monts, the beautiful chateaus of Margon and Pouzolles, cap d'agde, Sete and the rest of the world. (well maybe I was fibbing a little bit there but the view are quite glorious on a beautiful, sunny autumn afternoon.

There are a couple of benches at the top, a little wobbly but ok for a picnic. The path crosses a track where you will see an old cross. Now climb the hill where you bear right through the little woods. the path bears to the right again and then right again onto the D15e.

Now follow the little road all the way back into the village of Pouzolles. in the village there is just one road to cross and walk down a little street that brings you back to the Chateau and the pretty fountain complete with goldfish.

Here you can either enjoy a rest at the cafe or sit under the trees and watch a game of Pétanque as we did. It's a small world as we even bumped into some friends from this site as we arrived back at our car! What a lovely day.