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(S/E) From the car park at the bridge, take the D12E6 for 500 metres towards the hamlet of Cantignergues until you reach a hairpin bend.
Blue trail markers.
(1) At the bend, follow the marked trail westwards, cross the concrete bed of a small stream via a detour and head south-west towards a crossroads.
(2) Continue northwest on the main balcony track, cross a stream, continue climbing while observing the Moulin d'Alger mill on the other bank, and finally descend northwest towards La Cesse. Follow the river, staying on the left bank as you go upstream (north). You will arrive near a submersible crossing on a DFCI track.
No markings.
(3) Leave the marked path that branches off to the right and cross the Cesse river on the concrete weir (be careful if the water level is high). Go up the track around a bend to the Ferrals road (D12). Cross it and take the vineyard path almost opposite to rejoin the Livinière road (D182E6). Turn right and then left at the crossroads onto the D12E3. Head towards the village of Cassagnoles.
Blue trail markings.
(4) At the sign at the entrance to the village, follow the markings again, which take you through the village and then up towards La Caune.
(5) In the hamlet, continue to follow the markings, descending to the right. Climb up to the left onto the concrete path, then the dirt track. Ignore a signpost on a path to the left and continue to a bend in the road. Stay on the track that climbs northwards, bending around some antennas. You will reach Le Devès. Pass a fork to the right in a bend, then another, and after 1.4 km you will reach a three-way junction.
No markings.
(6) Look for the unmarked DFCI AVM4 track on the right, which descends (north-east) into the Minervois National Forest, making a detour towards the Bailliaure stream. Pass under an EDF power line before a final bend, then alongside a water tank (No. 464) and the Rescue Centre before rejoining the road.
(7) Turn left, noting the direction you will take on the way back. Climb to the top of the village of Ferrals-les-Montages and turn left onto the Route de la Pode. Cross the bridge over the Cesse.
(8) After the bridge, leave the road on the right and take a path below, wedged between the river and an old irrigation channel. Pass an iron gate (garden) on the right and continue along a path to the area around the source of the Cesse (Wikipedia gives the source of the Cesse further north).
(9) Return by the same path to the road.
(8) Take the small tarmac road opposite (south) (no vehicles over 5 tonnes) which leads to the parish church of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul.
(10) Turn left (east) and cross the gently sloping meadow behind the church to reach the road. Take the road (D 12) on the right (south) for 120 metres.
Blue trail markers.
(11) Turn left onto the path leading down to the waterfalls, following the markings again. At the river, pass the remains of an old mill (millstone) and note several waterfalls before reaching a metal footbridge that allows you to cross. Go up to the right and follow this path, which crosses another stream. A little effort is required to cross a pile of rocks. Further on, the path becomes a track.
(12) At the junction with a track, descend to the right towards the bottom of the Saint-Hilaire valley. After a bend, follow it and then cross the stream via a culvert bridge, which may be submerged during heavy rain.
(13) You will come out onto the DFCI AVM6 track, which you noticed on the way there, and follow it to the Cesse ford.
(3) Ignore the ford and turn left, retracing your steps along the river. Go through the gates, remembering to close them behind you. The path then widens and climbs above the valley.
(2) Return to Cantignergues.
No markings.
(1) Take the road again to return to the car park after the bridge over the Cesse (S/E).
Visorando member
Tourist office
Difficult 
Easy 
