Around the Ruisseau de Candour

In Saint-Martin-Laguépie, take the D9 towards Lagarde-Viaur and Montirat. Follow the Viaur river to the bridge over the Ruisseau de Candour. Just after this, park in a space that is usually free and can easily accommodate five or six cars. In April 2022, this area was occupied by logs: if this is still the case, take care not to hinder the foresters’ work.

(S/E) Return to the bridge, cross it, then turn immediately left onto a wide, carriage-accessible track.

(1) Before reaching the next bridge, turn right uphill onto a dual-track path. At the first hairpin bend on the right, ignore a path branching off to the left (not shown on the map) and continue along the same path. The route continues steadily through the woodland until you reach the plateau after a few hairpin bends. Continue straight on and join the tarmac road at a farm. Keep going in the same direction.

(2) Before reaching Moncla, leave the road and follow a grassy path on the right that runs alongside a pasture. This narrow path, which can be muddy depending on the weather, runs flat between hedges and meadows until it reaches a junction.

^GRP®® Yellow and Red markings

(3) Turn left and climb a short, steep, stony slope which can be very slippery in wet weather. Once at the top, continue on level ground, passing a ruined sheepfold and the stone cross opposite it, then rejoin the road you left earlier. Take a quick first turn right then left to join the track leading to the hamlet of La Sirgarié. Pass the first houses and arrive opposite a large building with a porch and inner courtyard (Le Sigarié).

(4) Turn right, following the signposting. Reach a fork and keep to the right. Then negotiate a hairpin bend and continue downhill to a junction marked by a wooden post bearing numerous signposts.

Yellow^PR®® signposting

(5) Turn right up a steep climb, following the sign for “Le Ségur – Monestiès”. After a stretch through the woods, the path emerges onto the plateau and becomes a partially tarmac-surfaced track, which you should follow straight on until you reach a crossroad.

(6) Turn left, then left again a few metres further on to join the narrow road leading to Le Crouzet. Walk through this tiny hamlet.

(7) When the road bends to the right, continue straight on along a path that winds through meadows, where the view opens out onto the villages of Narthoux and Saint-Christophe. Enter the woods and reach a fork.

(8) Turn right, cross the valley floor and then head uphill to join the access road to Mas du Gou. Turn left for a few dozen metres, then right onto a dirt track leading to another small road at the entrance to La Grefeille. Head left towards the houses.

No signposting

(9) Ignore the yellow markings, which suggest turning right, and continue straight on. As you leave the hamlet, the road turns into a wide stony track that descends through the meadows to the Ruisseau de Candour.

(10) Cross the recently built footbridge and then continue along the wide farm track which climbs, becomes tarmac at the first houses you come to and leads to the hamlet of Le Brésil. Take the first road on the right and walk past large farm buildings before reaching a three-way junction.

(11) Turn left onto the D27, which leads directly to Saint-Christophe and ends right in front of the church.

(12) Turn left. Walk past the town hall and leave the village by following the road. After a few bends, the road reaches a junction where you should ignore the right-hand track.

(13) A good hundred metres further on, stay on the D27, ignoring the narrow road branching off to the left towards Jouanens, and enter the woods.

GRP®°°®° Yellow and Red markings

Continue to the hairpin bend.

(14) Leave the D27 and take the path on the left leading to Jouanens. Once you reach the hamlet, turn right onto the narrow road which bends to the left and then runs straight on to a four-way junction.

No markings

(15) Go straight on and enter Narthoux. Take a short detour to the left to have a look at Saint-Salvy Church, retrace your steps and go straight on to reach the junction where you rejoin the^GRP®®. Continue straight ahead, quickly reaching a three-way junction; take the right-hand branch towards Caylusset (road sign).

(16) When the road begins to curve very slightly to the right, leave it and take a wide, partly grassy path on the left. Enter the woodland and walk to the point where this path splits into two indistinct branches: take care.

(17) Keep to the left. Further on, ignore a steep path coming from the left and, at the next fork, keep to the right as you head downhill. You’ll reach a crossroads with four paths; behind you, painted on a rock, is the sign “Private, no motorbikes”.

(18) Cross this junction and take the path opposite, which turns immediately left. At the next junction (slabs stacked like pallets in April 2022), take a sharp right-hand bend and then a left-hand bend a little further on towards a beautiful, perfectly restored house: the IGN map is incorrect at this point. You’ll come out onto the road leading to Narthoux; follow it to the right until you reach the car park (S/E).

No water sources have been identified along the route. Bring sufficient water with you.

Hiking boots are recommended but not essential.

(10) The ford across the Ruisseau de Candour can be problematic in high water. You will then need to take your shoes off to cross it: make sure you have something to dry your feet with. There is no alternative route, so please bear this in mind before setting out on this hike.

Despite the relatively modest elevation gain shown, the route alternates between sometimes steep climbs and descents, and the effort required should not be underestimated.

Saint-Salvy Church in Narthoux.

Christ on the cross at Saint-Christophe.

Saint-Martin-Laguépie Castle.