Around Mont Saint-Baudille via Val Durand

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A hike to enjoy in winter or summer; the outward leg takes you through refreshing woodland, whilst the climb back up to Saint-Baudille is in open country but offers 3D views from one of the highest points in the department.

Details

n°18440533
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,611 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,614 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,769 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,375 ft
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Photos

Sheep at the start
Photo taken during the first section
Photo taken from Mont Saint-Baudille
Photo taken from the woodland in the first section

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the junction of the D9E1D road and theGR®74.

(S/E) Take the path across the plateau heading south towards the radio mast. After several hundred metres, begin a stony descent and head slightly into the woodland. The slope becomes steeper and zigzags as you approach the canyon formed by a stream.

(1) You’ll reach the stream bed (dry this winter) in the middle of a cool, semi-shaded woodland. Further on, leave the stream on your left and climb slightly to follow it from higher up and alongside it; this is the Val Durand stream.

(2) Continue due south along a wider path, then begin a circular loop towards the east when you reach the top of the limestone cliffs that overlook the entire foothills. Enjoy the unobstructed view here, now that the path runs along the rock.

(3) Here, you enter the area where goats and sheep graze and carry on until you reach the Font du Griffe farm, where you join theGR®74, which climbs up from Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.

(4) Turn left onto it and head uphill via wide hairpin bends and long straight sections. At a bend below the Mont Saint-Baudille mast, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths.

(5) Here you have two options:
- turn left onto the path marked in yellow to avoid the climb up to the antenna’s orientation table and join theGR®74and theGRP® Tour du Larzac Méridional further on.
- keep right on theGR®74and head for the junction with the road leading to Mont Saint-Baudille (route marked).

(6) Turn right onto this road to reach the mountain, then return to the junction. Continue left along theGR® andGRP® trails and you will soon reach the junction with the path marked in yellow.

(7) Carry on straight ahead, reach the D9E1d road, leave it on your right and turn left downhill onto theGR®, thus reaching the car park at the junction of the D9E1D road and theGR®74(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,254 ft - Car park at the junction of the D9E1D and the GR74
  2. 1 : mi 0.54 - alt. 1,847 ft - Stream bed
  3. 2 : mi 0.86 - alt. 1,768 ft - Stream trail
  4. 3 : mi 1.19 - alt. 1,972 ft - Highest point
  5. 4 : mi 2.37 - alt. 1,375 ft - La Font du Griffre
  6. 5 : mi 4.14 - alt. 2,490 ft - Junction: 2 options
  7. 6 : mi 4.59 - alt. 2,740 ft - Crossroads below Mont Saint-Baudille
  8. 7 : mi 5.18 - alt. 2,277 ft - Optional path junction
  9. S/E : mi 5.87 - alt. 2,251 ft - Car park at the junction of the D9E1D and the GR74

Notes

There are no water points along the route.
Trekking poles are recommended for the descent through the woodland.

Worth a visit

From (3) The views change as soon as the path emerges onto the rocky outcrops at the edge of the woodland. On a clear day, the views are magnificent, stretching all the way to the Pyrenees from the climb up to the relay station.
After (6) On Mont Saint-Baudille: from the Mont Saint-Baudille telecommunications relay station, enjoy numerous views of the surrounding area. The Pic Saint-Loup becomes increasingly visible; you can see the sea glistening on the horizon and the snow-capped Pyrenees are also clearly visible.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
denis34
denis34

From Pt 6 to S/E, no problems – it’s a track and stony paths

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Lamikaouet
Lamikaouet

Hello,
if you take the route in the opposite direction, is it possible to cycle from the S/E to the summit on a mountain bike?
Thank you

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Yvoty ha Yvaga
Yvoty ha Yvaga

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I followed this circular route in the autumn in the direction indicated. To start with, I didn’t find it particularly pleasant up to point no. 3, as I had to keep ducking down to get through the undergrowth. On this first third of the walk, where you walk along the (dry) stream bed, the path isn’t signposted and isn’t that easy to follow. It gets much better after that, with spectacular scenery and good signposting. Walking boots are essential, as there are plenty of rocky sections. Thank you in any case for this alternative route leading to Mont St Baudille.

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Ripgibbon
Ripgibbon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk that we did in the opposite direction – by chance, but I think it turned out better that way.
Because that means you do the climb through the woods rather than in the blazing sun

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kinou1273visorando
kinou1273visorando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through heath countryside, taking in the scenery of the Languedoc wine-growing plains. Two minor drawbacks: the paths are a bit tricky to walk on, with plenty of ‘loose stones’, so sturdy footwear is essential. A second point: at the summit of Mont St Baudille, the orientation board faces south only; there’s no information on the views to the north, which is a shame. We recorded the coordinates using a Garmin Oregon 11k 8 GPS; to be checked.

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Echo34
Echo34
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No designated car park. The first few kilometres are through woodland. A lovely climb up to Mont Saint Baudille with a gradual ascent. Beautiful panoramic views throughout the walk.

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