Arphy walks

This magnificent hike is featured on the beautiful Massif de l'Aigoual map published by the Mont Aigoual Causses Tourist Office. Enjoy the diversity of the forests you will pass through, where you will constantly switch between beech, oak, fir and spruce trees. The panoramic views at (3) and at the André Chamson Monument are sublime.

A short hike passing by Pic de Barette, which offers a beautiful view of Aigoual and the Hérault valley. The route also passes by the tomb of André Chamson, resistance fighter, writer and member of the Académie Française.

A very wooded circular route, crossing numerous streams, but with some beautiful viewpoints. After a very steep climb, the route reaches the top of the waterfalls but does not offer a breathtaking view of them.

Le Vigan is not a particularly pretty or touristy town. However, if you stop off there, here's a walk to discover a few aspects of the historic centre and the banks of the river Arre.

A circuit on the southern slopes of the Aigoual massif around the Lac des Pises, which can be done in winter on snowshoes (average altitude 1250 m) or on foot.

These paths lead to terraces that were once cultivated and offer views of the surrounding hamlets. Most of this hike is in the shade of holm oaks and chestnut trees. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time in these typical Cévennes landscapes.

From Molières-Calaillac (greenway car park), climb towards Esparon, then descend towards Bez, then Lasfons and along the greenway.

Starting from Peyregrosse, on the banks of the Hérault, the hike takes a beautiful path, once used by young villagers to go swimming in the river, up to the village of Saint-André-de-Majencoules. It continues with a circular route that allows you to visit the village and its surroundings.

Starting from Peyregrosse, a round trip along the Hérault river followed by a circular route passing through the hamlet of Villaret and the Jardin des Sambucs, a remarkable garden (see opening times).

From Valleraugue, take the famous 4000-step trail that climbs up to the Mont-Aigoual observatory. To complete the loop, follow theGR®6for a long descent through the forest towards Aire de Côte, before finishing with a crossing of the chestnut grove above the hamlet of Berthezène.

A short hike to discover the village of Valleraugue, the legendary starting point of the 4000 Marches, and its terraces overlooking the Hérault.

For experienced hikers, here is a 40 km loop starting from Valleraugue and reaching Aigoual via the famous 4,000 steps. It descends to Lac du Bonheur near Camprieu, then climbs back up to Espérou and ends along the ridges facing Mont Aigoual, which you will have discovered a few hours earlier. This hike is not technically difficult but is very long with some steep sections and requires good stamina.

A magnificent circular route in the southern Cévennes for experienced hikers, offering a wide variety of biotopes and panoramic views. Gorse, beech forests, pine forests and grassy plains await you, dotted with streams and lakes. Discover Pic Saint-Guiral, a pyramid-shaped rock on the grass, as well as Lac des Pises and its astronomical observatory. There are no particular difficulties on this route apart from its length.

Saint-Guiral, the legendary rock of the Aigoual massif, can be reached from the Col de l'Homme Mort. The first part overlooks the upper Vis valley. The view stretches from Pic d'Anjau to the whole of Séranne. From the summit of Saint-Guiral, you can enjoy a 360° view. But you'll need to climb with your hands! In the second part, the trail is off the beaten track and runs alongside the charming Crouzoulous stream. It will take you to the beautiful abandoned farm of Grandesc Haute, lost in the forest.

The route follows part of the drovers' road from Colognac to Mont Aigoual.

A short hike to discover two typical hamlets, consisting almost exclusively of old houses, on the southern slope of the Aigoual.

Circular route on the northern slope of the Hérault valley allowing you to climb to the crest of the Aigoual massif, which offers superb views of the Cévennes.

A complete hike to discover Mont Aigoual, its panoramic views and forests, passing through the Hort de Dieu arboretum. Partially shaded route alternating between large and small paths in the forest and open trails.A few kilometres on a DFCI track that quickly joins a more shaded area.

When it's very hot in the plains, there's nothing like coming to cool off on a short route in the Aigoual forest on its northern slope.

From the summit of Mont Aigoual, discover l'Hort de Dieu, the Garden of God, a favorite spot for botanists since the Renaissance, and a testing ground for today's botanists."Remembering the good advice of the fabulist, we wanted to plant without delay; in the spring and especially in the autumn of 1903, we planted more than 1,200 plants, including 773 trees at the Hort de Dieu... As of now, we have 219 species of trees and shrubs in cultivation or under study at the Aigoual". Charles Flahault, 1904.

A short, easy hike, provided you're not prone to vertigo, from the summit of Mont Aigoual, offering breathtaking views of the Cévennes and the Hérault valley.

A beautiful autumn walk. Moderator's addition: For a slightly tricky section on the descent, it is advisable to do this hike in the opposite direction to the description

Despite its uninviting name, this is a superb hike under the forest canopy. The name comes from the fact that there was once no cemetery in Camprieu, forcing the inhabitants to carry their dead to the hamlet of Saint-Sauveur.