Fairy Walk in Boissezon de Masviel

de fr

The walk is mainly in the shade of the forest. Very pleasant to do during hot weather.

Details

n°3536488
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.44 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 797 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 787 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,854 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,136 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Crossing the Rieu Pourquié
Viewpoint
In front of the Grotte des Fées
Flora and fauna

Description of the walk

The hamlet of Boissezon de Masviel is small and is crossed by the D162. Stop next to the statue of the Virgin Mary, which is the starting point for two walks: the Grotte des Fées and the Balade des Fées. The latter is described below.
The route is very well marked in yellow, with additional signposts and a few information boards.

(S/E) From the car park, head west for about 100 metres, then leave the main road and take the tarmac path on the right. After about 300 metres, turn right onto a path between two hedges. Continue along this "drovers' road" (path used for herding animals) until you reach the junction with another path.

(1) At the end of the path, continue straight ahead for 150 metres and turn right onto the farm track between two cultivated fields. Shortly afterwards, you will enter a forest. Continue straight ahead and pass the first crossroads.

(2) At the second junction, take the path down to the right. After 300 m, turn left. Follow the path, keeping to the right for about 1,500 m until you reach a junction.

(3) Begin the descent on the right until you reach the road. The path becomes a little technical.

(4) Cross the road and take the path opposite, which descends quite steeply and must be negotiated with caution. You will reach the river at the bottom of the valley.

(5) A metal footbridge allows you to cross to the other side and admire the potholes carved out by the stream. Once you have crossed the footbridge, climb up the other side. The first 200 metres are a little steep, but after that the path widens and the slope becomes gentler.

(6) After about 800 metres, you will reach the Grotte au Fées (see the information panel). Continue along the path uphill. The forest path first turns sharply to the left and then, a little further up, to the right.

(7) Leave the path on the left and continue straight ahead. The path narrows but leads to the village. When you reach a house, take the tarmac path opposite and cross the bridge to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,621 ft - Car park next to the Statue of the Virgin Mary.
  2. 1 : mi 0.6 - alt. 2,785 ft - Junction with farm track
  3. 2 : mi 1.26 - alt. 2,808 ft - Fork to the right
  4. 3 : mi 2.07 - alt. 2,762 ft - Turn right downhill.
  5. 4 : mi 2.41 - alt. 2,490 ft - Crossing the road
  6. 5 : mi 2.63 - alt. 2,136 ft - Metal footbridge - Dourdou de Conques (rivière)
  7. 6 : mi 2.97 - alt. 2,293 ft - Grotte des Fées
  8. 7 : mi 3.97 - alt. 2,671 ft - Straight ahead
  9. S/E : mi 4.44 - alt. 2,618 ft - Car park next to the Statue of the Virgin Mary.

Notes

Please note: the descent to the river is a little technical and can become very difficult after a period of rain.

Worth a visit

At the start, do not follow the arrow for "Grotte des fées" unless you want to make a round trip via the same route without doing the walk described above.
However, you can walk towards the ruined tower that remains of the medieval castle.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Bernard Roumestant
Bernard Roumestant

Hello,
The town hall has announced that work to repair the damage caused by the storm will be carried out, including the reinforcement of the footbridge, with the help of the volunteers who set up the route.
Kind regards
Could a variation on the plateau be the reason for the difference in measurements?

Machine-translated

User 29685956

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly shaded but challenging route, with a long, rather slippery descent. More like ten kilometres than seven… though we hadn’t spotted the ‘No Entry’ signs!! Fallen trees blocking the path!! Don’t go there for the time being!!!
Otherwise, it’s a lovely walk that will be worth revisiting once it’s been cleared and the weather’s cooler.
We crossed the footbridge, which is indeed in poor condition…
The route description and map are fine

Machine-translated

User 28230234

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, not too difficult, and well signposted.
The only downside is that access is ‘prohibited’ by a local by-law, following the damage caused by the recent bad weather.
From the start to marker 5, all clear.
At marker 5, the footbridge is partially destroyed and therefore cannot be used to cross the stream.
On the descent, from the finish line towards marker 6, landslides and uprooted trees line the route.
Clearing work is currently underway.

Machine-translated

Bernard Roumestant
Bernard Roumestant

Les Bassines, a secluded spot in the heart of the countryside …
Thank you for your feedback

Machine-translated

User 29026679

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, especially around the ponds where we stopped for a picnic.

Machine-translated

Fernandez Benjamin
Fernandez Benjamin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, pleasant route (PR) in summer. Afternoon rounded off with a swim in Lake Laouzas.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Machine-translated

Bernard Roumestant
Bernard Roumestant

Thank you for your feedback
The volunteers at Passion Boissezon will appreciate it!

Machine-translated

Ren007
Ren007

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well-marked hike, well-maintained paths and trails.

Machine-translated

Bernard Roumestant
Bernard Roumestant

Thank you for your comments, which are appreciated by the volunteers who initiated and created the trail.

Machine-translated

StephiJack25
StephiJack25
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had already done this beautiful hike with our first dog Sully in 2021 and it had been a wonderful day. We came back this year with our new dog Solo and he also really enjoyed this hike in the forest. Be careful if it has rained, as the descent can be difficult due to slippery ground. We even found some porcini mushrooms
Thank you for the route, which is perfect. The markings are very easy to follow.
A beautiful hike in a magical setting.

Machine-translated

Teisseire bernard
Teisseire bernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant forest route, but the downhill section after crossing the road is more technical than the start of the descent. Nice view of the potholes from the footbridge.

Machine-translated

Vincent LORENTE
Vincent LORENTE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route. The difficulty level indicated is accurate. Two sections before and after crossing the river require a little caution, especially if it has rained.

Machine-translated

Bernard Roumestant
Bernard Roumestant

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very detailed description of a beautiful hike in a Sensitive Natural Area, made comfortable by a footbridge that avoids crossing a stream, which is mostly dry in summer but more complicated to cross from autumn onwards.
Signs provide information about the flora and fauna, along with some local anecdotes.

Machine-translated

pierrelabonde
pierrelabonde

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike
Everything
deserves to be extended

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Les Tourelles in Murat-sur-Vèbre

Visorando Member
Les Tourelles à Murat-sur-Vèbre
↔7.07 mi ↗+938 ft ↘-942 ft ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murat-sur-Vèbre (Tarn)
In the heart of the Monts de Lacaune, a family hike from the village of Murat-sur-Vèbre through the grazing lands of the Lacaune sheep, whose milk is used to make Roquefort cheese, the first French cheese to receive an appellation d'origine. With a break in a restored sheepfold, a walk through a typical hamlet (where traditional sheep's cheese is sold directly) and the return to Murat via Le Castelas and its old village.

Walking Col des Saints route

Visorando Member
Circuit du Col des Saints
↔12.03 mi ↗+1,617 ft ↘-1,627 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murat-sur-Vèbre (Tarn)
A very beautiful hike where you will find a dolmen and a menhir statue, flower-lined paths, and views of the Murat countryside, Camarès and the slopes of Espinouse. Part of this route follows the ancient Roman road which became the Via Tolosana in the Middle Ages, the route from Arles to Santiago de Compostela.

Walking Roc d'Orque Circular Route

Visorando Member
Boucle du Roc d'Orque
↔7.80 mi ↗+2,448 ft ↘-2,444 ft ◔5h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Castanet-le-Haut (Hérault)
This marks the completion of this beautiful hike after several weeks of research to create the route described below. It’s a great achievement that will help people discover and get to know this small mountain range located east of the Caroux and Espinouse ranges. Some sections (fairly short) are a bit tricky to follow, but the Visorando GPX track is very useful.

Walking The Razigade Ridge starting from Castanet-le-Haut

Visorando Member
L'Arête de Razigade au départ de Castanet-le-Haut
↔10.61 mi ↗+2,700 ft ↘-2,694 ft ◔7h 15 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Castanet-le-Haut (Hérault)
A superb circular route starting from Castanet-le-Haut: can be done in one day or over two days with a stopover at the bivouac in Caissenols-le-Haut. Ascent to the Plo des Brus plateau via the Razigade ridge, passing through the Col de l'Ourtigas, then descent to the abandoned hamlet of Caissenols-le-Haut. Continue towards the Roquandouire gate, heading towards Saint-Gervais along the ridge, before joining the GRP® de la Mare trail and following it upstream along the river towards Andabre and then Castanet-le-Haut.

Walking Espinouse - Colombières

Visorando Member
Espinouse - Colombières
↔14.42 mi ↗+2,008 ft ↘-4,760 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Rosis (Hérault)
On the second day, you can return to Colombières sur Orb from the summit of Espinouse via the Héric gorges.

Walking The Roquandouire Gate at the start of the Ourtigas

Visorando Member
Le Portail de Roquandouire au départ de l'Ourtigas
↔4.89 mi ↗+1,503 ft ↘-1,512 ft ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rosis (Hérault)
A lovely circular route starting from the Col de l'Ourtigas, with the Plo des Brus viewpoint and belvedere, the descent from the Serre de Majous, the Portail de Roquandouire pass, the return via the Casseloubre valley, the abandoned village of Caïssenols and the climb back up to the Ourtigas via the stream of the same name in the forest.

Walking Roc d'Orque Spring

Visorando Member
Résurgence du Roc d'Orque
↔3.90 mi ↗+1,260 ft ↘-1,243 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal (Hérault)
A short half-day hike to discover these magnificent surroundings. Despite its ‘easy’ rating and the minimal elevation gain, it features a fairly steep climb from Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal and a similarly steep descent after the Orquette ruins. Sturdy footwear and a good level of fitness are essential.

Walking Short circular loop of Roc d'Orque

Visorando Member
Petite boucle du Roc d'Orque
↔6.97 mi ↗+1,752 ft ↘-1,739 ft ◔4h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal (Hérault)
This walk in the Roc d’Orque massif takes place largely on the south-facing side, which is lovely at this time of year. A lovely route at the foot of high limestone cliffs, passing close to a large waterfall that cascades down from the base of one of them. A resurgence causes the water to gush forth, having travelled through the mountain from the catchment area formed by the plateau above the cliffs. Well worth a visit. Hikers who completed this circular route after Storm Nils reported difficulties in following the route from the starting point (10). Extensive work has been carried out by a forestry company, enabling the route to be restored. See Practical Information.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.