Family walk to the Cova de l'Alarb dolmen

This family walk invites you to take a stroll through more than 5,000 years of history between the Cova de l'Alarb dolmen and the Château de Valmy estate.

Details

2665982
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 137 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 176 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 42 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Château de Valmy car park.

(S/E) From the car park, go back down the access road. At the stop sign, turn left and go down towards Les Mimosas campsite. Just before the ford, turn left (south) onto the DFCI-AL track no. 42. Follow the PR® ARG2 directional markers.

(1) At the Mas Peyrot three-way junction, take either the footpath on the left or the DFCI track opposite (marked on the map). In both cases, climb up and overlook Château de Valmy.

(2) At the crossroads, take thesecond path on the right (thefirst is reserved for mountain bikes). The path descends and climbs into the cork oak forest, ending at the Cova de l'Alarb dolmen (information panel).

Turn around to return to the DFCI track.

(2) Follow the track to the right, with a fence on your left. After about 200 metres, you will come to a metal gate.

(3) Turn left (close the gate behind you) and descend the "El Correc de la Coma Fosca" path. Follow the yellow markings on the trees (cork oaks) and, at the various intersections, take the left-hand path. You will need to open and then close a gate.

(4) At the crossroads at the corner of a vineyard, turn left and walk along the vineyard on your right. At the crossroads, take the track opposite (west-southwest) which quickly leads to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 60 m - Valmy car park - Château de Valmy
  2. 1 : km 0.63 - alt. 80 m - Mas Peyrot
  3. 2 : km 1.34 - alt. 139 m - Access to the Cova de l'Alarb dolmen
  4. 3 : km 2.12 - alt. 136 m - Metal barrier
  5. 4 : km 2.94 - alt. 44 m - Intersection - Vines
  6. S/E : km 3.49 - alt. 60 m - Valmy car park - Château de Valmy

Notes

Access: RD 914 - exit 12 - Route de Valmy - Car park

Yellow markings: Dolmen de la Cova de l'Alarb,PR® ArG2

Water fountains are available in Valmy municipal park.

Annual opening hours of the park:
From 5 February to 30 April, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
From 1 May to 30 September, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
from 1 October to 6 November, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Exceptional closure for the festival: 6 June to 22 June

Worth a visit

https://www.argeles-sur-mer.com/

Valmy Municipal Park
To complete your visit to Argelès-sur-Mer, take the interpretive route that recounts the history of the area, the environment of the Albera Massif (vegetation) and the culture of local life

Outdoor sports centre:
At the reception desk located at the park entrance, you will find all the information you need about the wide range of outdoor activities available in Argelès-sur-Mer. Whether you love the sea (kayaking, paddleboarding, diving), the plains (walking, jogging, hybrid biking, etc.) or the mountains (hiking, trail running, mountain biking, etc.), you'll find something to suit you!
(opening hours: from the February half-term holidays to the end of the All Saints' Day holidays).
Tel: 04 68 95 34 28

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.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
VALMON G
VALMON G

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little stroll for a Sunday afternoon

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Bob Timmerman
Bob Timmerman
• Edited:

22-10-2025 Very pleasant hike. No difficulty following the route. A second dolmen (Dolmen dels Small Passes de Cotlliure) is located about 700 metres further on. It is much less well preserved, but nevertheless interesting.

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bimbelos
bimbelos

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Mane1331
Mane1331

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great app, only downside is that the signposting tells you to climb over a barrier and you end up in an enclosure with a bull... we were extremely frightened, so don't go that way.

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veromenard03
veromenard03
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike with little elevation gain. Ideal for a Sunday stroll with the dogs.
A few brave athletes run or mountain bike here, but there is very little traffic.
We passed the fork in the road because we didn't dare go through the gate.
Then we turned around, opened the gate, followed the marked trail and closed the gate behind us.

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User 17096594

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route. It's a shame about the noise from the four-lane road in the background... Otherwise, the vegetation and views are superb.

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nubi61
nubi61

Signposting, missing in places!

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FrancisG034
FrancisG034

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting hike. Peaceful. The climb up to the dolmen is rocky but pleasant because it is shaded. At the bottom of the path before the second barrier, we had to crawl under the fence wires (perhaps we missed a passage)

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julielolly66
julielolly66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb walk with my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. We alternated between carrying her in a baby carrier and letting her walk.
There are magnificent views.
We'll definitely be back!

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francefamily
francefamily

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this walk as a family with our 6-year-old children and it took us 1½ hours. Magnificent views of Canigou, the Mediterranean Sea... We all really enjoyed it.
The route is very well marked with signs and yellow markings.

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moralda
moralda

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy hike offering beautiful views.

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FL31
FL31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Enjoy your family outing... Allow around two hours to complete this circular walk...

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dehaurelie
dehaurelie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short family hike with a lovely view of the castle. Please note: half of the hike is in direct sunlight!
Negative point: noise from the main road in the background for most of the walk

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Catemi
Catemi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A hike enjoyed by two city children (aged 6 and 11) and their grandparents, offering an opportunity to talk about dolmens with information available on site.

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elisabeth maury
elisabeth maury

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant and enjoyable outing

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