Mons, Greenway, La Coste, St Martin de l'Arcon,

Mons, Greenway, La Coste, St Martin de l'Arcon, Heric gorge. About 5km. 1H.30. A super little breakfast walk this morning. Down the blue marked route from the church in Mons.

This is a pretty little concrete road that passes olives, fruit trees and donkeys enjoying the last of the summer's grass. At the bottom turn left and head to the village.

The is a lovely little auberge there were you can enjoy your breakfast coffee or if you prefer to  do what we did buy some of Clermont the bakers super croissants or even better the lovely sticky pain au raisin ones that he makes and take them all the Greenway (heading east) until you get just past the bridge over the River Heric. There is a lovely shady picnic bench there and we ate them hungrily with a flask of hot coffee that we had brought with us. Heaven!

Now, the important bit is out of the way, keep going along the Greenway,There is a super view from the bridge of the gorge d'Heric. through the tunnel and once out into the open look for a little path through the hedge on your left a few metres before you get to a large bridge going over the main road. (it should be marked blue but the stone had been moved again this morning).

Take this little path, it passes through a small vineyard then almost down to meet the road before heading up on another left turn into the trees above. It's a bit tatty here so look carefully for the blue markers. The path goes just above the road and then left into the most lovely old chestnut woods with delightful little stone edged walls.

Follow this path up to meet a larger concrete track below St Martin. (When you see a right turn marked blue, don't take it unless you want to visit St Martin).

Now turn left and head towards La Coste across the vineyards with lovely views of both the mountains above and the valley below. At a junction you will see a yellow marker on your right, this track goes up the hill and then down into La Coste. Turn right and then left to go through the hamlet. At the last house turn right and after the white house with a tunnel go left down a tiny passage to the now dry stream.

After crossing the stream the path descends to a wider track which you cross by taking a right and then left quickly to a small path with lovely views. A second drinks stop for us. This path is still marked yellow all the way to the gorge.

Once there cross the little footbridge and turn left towards the car park. Turn right before the entrance to the parking area and head down the road to a house with railings and some rather tricky marker signs.

Turn right here and up to the cool chestnut woods that lead back to Mons. You will pass the old Bread oven on your way before arriving back at the church. Hope you enjoy it. It's one of our favourites.

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.

Le Pioch Arnaud, a pretty rural walk in the Herault, Languedoc.

A real little gem of a walk today. A pretty, rural walk in the hills of Villemagne. Easy, 7.5km, 2h, with no markings.

The walk starts in Herepian, either at the Intermarche or at the parking place beside the D922. We started at the Intermarche where there is parking for the piste vert (greenway). 

Walk up behind the store to find the greenway and turn left. When you reach the D922 turn right and in a very short distance you take the little road to your left (Pradelles Avenue). Then take the small road on your right (chemin des cherries) that goes up the hill. 

You arrive at a first junction (orchard), continue up taking a left at the next junction. There is a faint blue marker on a rock here. The track curls up the hill, passing a kennel and then reaches a small stone mazet with red and yellow markings. 

Take the track to the right which descends past a small dump and some orchards and reaches the road at Villemange. Cross the road and turn left into the village. It's a really sweet village with a lovely old church and places to eat if you wish to have lunch there.

Cross the river on the small bridge and turn right to walk along the river bank. It's a nice place for a picnic with some benches.

When you reach a small cross turn left and climb the small hill. at the next fork take a right turn and continue up the hill to pass a stone building. At the next junction take another right, the views are lovely on the whole walk but here you seem to have a view of the whole valley and the Caroux too. 

The area is full of little orchards full of cherry blossom and vineyards. Continue on this small concrete road for about 1.5km and then go down to the bridge over the greenway. This is the junction with the Intermarche. 

It's a most beautiful walk and easy to follow even without route markings. I loved all the open views, spring flowers, village views, following the pretty river and walking in the vineyards and orchards. Just such a lovely walk.

Artenac. St Pons, A walk in the Languedoc.

Artenac. St Pons. 4.5km 1h.30m Easy. Yellow way marking. A short but interesting walk with lovely views of the Black mountains, the Jaur valley, St Pons and the Espinouse. 

Start by parking at the swimming pool and walking along the old railway track (Piste vert). You will pass through two tunnels and shortly after the second one you will come to a sign post, turn left and go up to a bridge turning left again onto a track going uphill. 

The track comes near to a road, just before the road you will see the right turn. Then the will be another right turn quickly after which goes up hill onto a small track with more views down to the valley bellow (south).

Then track curves left and down alongside a dry stone wall into chestnut woods. You descend through the woods with views down to St Pons (north now). 

The little path now joins a bigger track where you take a right turn and very quickly a left onto a grassy track. Keeping left again you go down a wider track which join one coming from the right. Take this track down pass a couple of houses to the car park.