Belmont-sur-Rance walks

In the shade of the pink sandstone collegiate church and the surrounding woods, a peaceful escape on bushy paths, mills and hamlets, forest trails wind their way along the river Rance. Yellow markings and a ford on the Rance. ⚠️To be avoided in periods of heavy rain, otherwise one passes at ease by taking off one's shoes.

Very interesting hike as much for the landscapes (Rance valley, Rougier de Camarès) as for the culture (village of Combret, Notre-Dame d'Orient, numerous crosses). Some portions on tarmac, but with the magnificence of the small paths and the beauty of the landscape, you'll quickly forget them.

Pleasant walk starting from the centre of Camarès (you can also start from the leisure centre car park) along the Dourdou river, passing through Camarès "Ville haute" (upper town), the ruins of the old fortified town, the castle currently being restored, the rose garden, and enjoy the panoramic view from the old bell tower.

Thanks to the diversity of its landscapes, the Monts de Lacaune offer a remarkable palette of colours and a delight for hikers.

From the narrow streets of Lacaune, with its already mountainous atmosphere, the ascent to the summit of Montalet takes place in the hushed atmosphere of magnificent beech forests. The Pic de Montalet peaks at 1259 m. A day of hiking and fresh air to take in the beauty of the landscape. The 360° view of the Massif Central from the Rocher de la Vierge is breathtaking.

This hike, mostly in tree-shade, takes you through coombs and valleys to the south of Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance. Beautiful paths, some of them forgotten or seldom used, add a pleasant touch of wilderness. A breath of fresh air in absolute calm, in an unspoilt natural setting, not forgetting the two menhir statues at Pousthomy, which add a touch of historical interest to this walk.

This is a family-friendly round-trip hike offering splendid views of Lacaune and its surroundings from the famous Roc des Écus. More than half of the route follows a wide forest track, then a beautiful, easy trail that is shaded almost all the way.

Through a coniferous forest, we discover the Russian Orthodox Chapel nestled in the heart of the woods, in an idyllic green setting. Time to pause and meditate on this magical place. Superb views. The trail is mainly woodland, which is pleasant in hot weather.

Walk along the trail and discover reconstructed stone markers: cairns, drystone shelters and more. You will have a magnificent view of the Monts de Lacaune. From May to September, you can linger at the Maison de Payrac, a 19th-century farmhouse that has been restored in keeping with the lifestyle and objects of yesteryear.

Perched on a rocky promontory, at the confluence of the Tarn and Alrance rivers, the magnificent small village of Brousse-le-Château is noted for its exceptional location.

This hike, which is quite long but not difficult, allows you to discover varied landscapes. It follows part of the GRP® des Monts du Haut-Languedoc and the GR®653, which is one of the variants of the Chemins de Compostelle. It runs along the southern edge of Lake Laouzas and part of the upper valley of the River Agoût

On the second day, you can return to Colombières sur Orb from the summit of Espinouse via the Héric gorges.

This hike forms a loop with a 360° view at the highest point, offering a magnificent panorama of the sea, the Carroux plateau and all the mountains to the north and east of this remarkable dome: Mont Marcou. The climb is quite demanding with steep slopes where you sometimes have to use your hands to climb rocky passages. The descent also has some fairly steep sections. This hike may therefore be difficult for some. However, the first 45 minutes allow you to warm up before tackling the tough climb to the antennas. A beautiful route.

A beautiful hike on the Causse du Larzac to admire the Cirque du Brias, commonly known as the Cirque de Tournemire. It is surrounded by one of the most beautiful cliffs on the western edge of the Larzac, from the top of which you can enjoy a vast panorama. The best time to visit is May/June to admire all the flowers on the causse. Continue towards Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux with its magnificent restored hospital tower.

A variation on the classic Caroux plateau hike, allowing you to discover the diversity of the Haut Languedoc's flora and fauna at an altitude of 1,000 metres: deciduous and coniferous forests, streams, peat bogs, and heathland covered in broom and heather. You can also take advantage of an orientation table and sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. During the second part of the hike, you will discover the mineral world of the north and west faces of the plateau, which are wilder and less frequented, near Roc Caroux and the mouflon populations.

This is the second day of the Haut Languedoc trip.Loop hike around the Montagne d'Aret.Depending on how much time you have, the hike can be shortened from (1) directly to (4). Updated by the author on 10 June 2025, as the OFB reports that after (6) it is a Caroux-Espinouse hunting and wildlife reserve. Unauthorised entry is a 4th class offence punishable by a €135 fine. The route and description have therefore been modified.

A bucolic circuit starting from Douch, passing through the Col de l'Airole and Col du Tirondel, offering beautiful views of the Gorges d'Héric and Gorges du Salis, and stunning panoramas of the hamlet and surrounding mountains (Roc Noir, Espinouse).

Access from the village of Douch to the plateau and Roc du Caroux, then a semi-climbing route and balconies around Roc de la Siejo, to go around the peaks and enjoy a 360° view of the Héric Gorges below. Return via the plateau to the village. ⚠️ Poor mobile phone reception in the rocks of the peaks. The circuit is challenging, so make sure you tell your loved ones about your route.

In a varied landscape of rocks, broom, old farms and ruined hamlets. A discovery on the plateau: mouflon traps (not for hunting, but for monitoring populations).

This very pleasant loop allows you to discover the work of our ancestors who, in order to communicate, cultivate and live, had created paths that hikers are now delighted to walk along. For our ancestors, sustainable development had not yet been imagined, they had simply created it. They were all a bit like Monsieur Jourdain.

Starting from Bardou (a small but charming private hamlet), the route joins the Tour du Montahut, where the view is simply magnificent! It then passes by the little Chapelle Saint-Martin-du-Froid, which offers a sumptuous view, and ends with a descent with a view of the splendid Caroux massif and the Gorges d'Héric.

Walk on the Caroux plateau, which offers magnificent views of the Orb valley, the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees.

This is the first circuit in a "pentalogy" of routes along the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. The loop starts from the hamlet of La Fage and follows the upper part of the Colombières Gorges, before heading horizontally below the Caroux plateau, at the foot of the climbing cliffs. The climb back up to the plateau is near the orientation table, before returning via the south-eastern edge of the plateau.

View and passage through two villages isolated from the main roads, featuring beautiful stone houses. This hike may be prohibited depending on the fire risk level. Remember to check the map.

This is the first day of the Haut Languedoc trip. It will take at least 5 hours to reach Douch. The climb to the Col de la Maure is unmarked but follows a well-marked, safe path. See § Practical information (¹).The access to the Col du Bardou is beautiful. The descent to the Ruisseau d'Héric and the climb back up to Douch via the hamlet of Héric are very varied.

This 14 km loop takes you past the main points of interest in the area: the Gorges d'Héric, the Refuge de Font Salesse, the Caroux plateau and its orientation table, and the very charming village of Héric.

This is the fourth circuit in a "pentalogy" of balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. An aerial, athletic and technical route, without being challenging or dangerous. Not to be attempted in wet weather, as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly around the boulders that need to be crossed. This circuit starts from the hamlet of La Coste, climbs straight up the ridge of the same name towards Roc de Bartouyre, before continuing horizontally towards Col de l'Ours and Saut de l'Âne, descending via a stony path towards Saint-Martin de l'Arçon, and finally returning to the starting point in the neighbouring hamlet.

Climb up a little-used path to reach the Caroux plateau. Challenging due to its configuration, the ascent in this part of the massif is wilder than the usual access routes. This hike is for experienced walkers, as the route is not always easy to find and some passages are a little difficult or exposed, but not dangerous.

The Caroux Massif offers a remarkable view of the Hérault plain, the nearby Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees in the distance. The orientation table located on a belvedere is the ideal spot to enjoy this panorama.

This is the third route in a series of five balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very rocky landscape of ledges and ridges. An aerial, athletic and technical route, without being challenging or dangerous. Not to be attempted in wet weather, as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly on the large schist slabs. This circuit starts from the village of Saint-Martin-de-L'Arçon, climbs straight up the Saint-Martin ridge towards the summit of Caroux, to the orientation table, before descending, just as dry, via the Sentier des Gardes and the Sentier de Saint-Martin.

This is the second route in a series of five balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very rocky landscape of ledges and ridges. An aerial, athletic and technical route, without being challenging or dangerous. Not to be attempted in wet weather, as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly on large slabs of schist. This circuit starts from the hamlet of La Pomarède, climbs the ridge of the same name to the Col des Jonquilles, before descending via the Biterrois and Garel paths to the sublime Albine waterfall (30 metres high) and back to the car in the valley.

This trail in the Forêt Domaniale des Écrivains Combattants allows you to discover megalithic tombs.

Day one: Climb up the Colombières Gorges towards the Caroux massif. Cross the Caroux massif towards Douch, then follow the Vialais stream before climbing back up to the Espinouse massif and settling down for the night.

Located in the Haut Languedoc Natural Park, the two massifs of Caroux and Espinouse offer a multitude of hikes. I suggest a two-day circuit that allows you to explore a variety of landscapes and admire the abundant wildlife (including mouflons). The hike starts from the car park below the church in Colombières sur Orb. The bivouac area is located around the summit of Espinouse. The second day is spent returning via the Heric Gorges, with the option of a final detour to the old chestnut groves on the mountainside.

An exceptional circular walk above the torrent of Arles where you can discover a cave dwelling and a superb Cervennes collection in the hamlet of Fage.