Bénaix walks

Although more than half of the route follows a tarmac road, the route is very suitable for a family walk as there is almost no traffic.

Hike starting from Lavelanet with a very steep climb through the woods, followed by magnificent panoramic views of Montségur Castle, to reach the Croix de Morenci and its charming metal origami bison sculptures. Beautiful view of Mont Fourcat as well.

A family-friendly route that is not too long but has a slight incline and, above all, a beautiful view of the Tabe massif, Saint-Barthélémy and Mont Fourcat. The path continues a little further but is a dead end above the cliffs of the Gorges de Péreille. The return journey can be made via a slightly sloping trail, then a path that can be muddy after rain.

A circular route with reasonable slopes and passable paths, overlooking Montferrier. Beautiful views of Montségur Castle to the east, but also of Mont Fourcat to the west. Can be enjoyed in both winter and summer, as it is mainly shaded and follows streams.

Montségur, the main stronghold where the Cathars took refuge whilst being hunted down by the Crusaders and the Inquisition, was besieged in 1244, and 225 Cathars who refused to renounce their faith were burnt right here, at the foot of the rocky peak. From there, networks were organised not only for escape but also for the spread of Cathar ideology, in order to evade the Inquisition.

A pleasant, easy loop with beautiful views of the surrounding hills and the Tabe massif: Pic du Soularac, Pic de Saint-Barthélémy, Pic de Girabal, Pic Galinat, Pic du Han and Mont Fourcat.

Circular starting from Fontestorbes, passing through Trou du Corbeau and Croix de Millet. Shady in midsummer, which is pleasant.

A short walk in the Ariège following the routes of the Cathar Trail and the Weavers’ Trail, first heading to the Pog de Monstégur and then venturing into the hills at the foot of the Madoual!

Set off to explore this part of the Plantaurel ridges with the unique Gréoulou horseshoe! Perched above Laroque d'Olmes and Lavelanet, this is an original circular route with a very steep climb up Sainte-Ruffine! Remember to bring enough water.

A circular route starting from Montferrier, mainly through woods, with a section near the Château de Montségur and a return along the Ruisseau de Freychinadel. The route is not always well marked, so follow the trail and instructions carefully at junctions.

A short hike in the Touyre Valley, starting from Monferrier, passing in front of the entrance to an old mine, and returning via the hamlet of La Peyregade. There are no difficulties or steep slopes. It can sometimes be muddy due to the proximity of the stream.

A short walk through the forest around Bélesta, passing by the Fontaine de Fontestorbes. We start with a section of the Tour du Pays d'Olmes, continue via the Col du Figuier to rejoin the Hers Valley path for a short while, before returning to Bélesta.

A shaded walk through the woods along the Douctouyre with some geological explanations.

A pleasant route – certainly long, but peaceful – which will take you through the former Royal Forest of Bélesta, with the added bonus of a visit to the incredible intermittent fountain at Fontestorbes. Complementary walk to: The Croix de Millet route.

Starting from La Bastide-sur-l'Hers, via Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers and the hamlet of Mireval, this circular offers beautiful views from the ridge:- to the north over Lake Montbel,- to the south over the Tabe Massif with the peaks of Soularac and Saint-Barthélémy, as well as Mont Fourcat.

Randonnée longue et partiellement hors sentier. Vue magnifique du sommet de la Frau à 1900 m et possibilité de visiter la grotte de l'Ourse qui est exceptionnelle. Ce parcours comporte des passages hors sentiers, l'application ou un GPS de randonnée est fortement conseillée.

Despite its modest altitude (1,618 m), this peak, well known to paragliders, offers a 360° panorama including the Cathar fortress of Montségur and the Montagne de Tabe. The circuit begins with a steady climb through the Bois de Montminier and continues over wide, grassy ridges that present no difficulty. On the way back, the Lac de Moulzoune and its picnic area offer a very pleasant place to stop.

Loop starting near the village of Montségur, via the peaks of Soularac, at 2,368 m, and Saint Barthélémy, at 2,348 m, then return via the Diable and Truites lakes. This is a fairly demanding circuit in terms of elevation and the nature of the trails.

A circular loop in Plantaurel: greenways, woods, ridge views, the Touyre and Hers rivers, and history with the Saint-Roch Chapel and the Castella de Laroque d'Olmes. Something to satisfy all hikers.

Here is an alternative hike in the Château de Roquefixade massif, which is easy and offers beautiful views of the valley, the village and the Pyrenees, weather permitting. You will also see many goats, some more wild than others, but none of them shy.

Loop starting from the Étang de Moulzoune via the peaks of Soularac and Saint-Barthélémy. To be done between June and November, checking that there is no snow on the north side (visible from Lavelanet), as access would be difficult.

Superb viewpoint over the entire eastern part of the Pyrenees. The Pic de Saint-Barthélemy also offers an exceptional view of the plain to the north. It is easily identifiable on a clear day from the motorway... The route combines beech forest, where the small Lac de Moulzoune nestles, two old quarries, grassy hilltops overlooking two high-altitude lakes, a small forest of mountain pines and ends with a stony ridge covered with rhododendrons.

This hike in the Tabe Massif leads to the Étang des Truites and then the Étang du Diable, both nestled beneath the Pic de Soularac and the Pic de Saint-Barthélemy, which they form part of the ascent routes for. The passage through the old talc quarries of La Porteille and Fangas adds a moving historical touch. Finally, on the way back, the Étang de Moulzoune offers a peaceful break in a magnificent setting.

Wide open spaces with aerial views of the Monts d'Olmes massif; reminders of an industrial past with old quarries; paths through the forest, then along ridges offering magnificent panoramic views, a small lake, two huts... Simply bliss for a family walk that everyone can enjoy!

A lovely walk up through these gorges between impressive vertical cliffs, reaching Comus on a plateau that leads to Espezel and Quillan to the east and to Montaillou, Prades and Ax-les-Thermes to the south-west.

Circular in the Douctouyre valley with a passage through the top of the cliffs of the Mouillet plateau, which offers a beautiful view of the Ariège Pyrenees in good weather. Once in the village of Roquefort-les-Cascades, you can visit the waterfalls, which have water mainly in spring.

Circular starting from Nalzen, climbing to the village of Freychenet, then taking the Col de la Lauze road and returning via the hamlet of Gabachou. This section of road is pleasant in wet weather at the foot of Mont Fourcat.

A circular loop, mainly on footpaths and a little bit of a very quiet road. Beautiful views of the castles of Roquefixade and Montségur in the distance, as well as the mountains of the Tabe massif.

The first half of the walk takes place at the bottom of the valley and passes through fields, meadows and the Ruisseau du Sautel. It then climbs steadily up the hillsides, offering sweeping views of the valley, particularly when the trees are bare. This means that, in summer, you’ll be walking in the shade for the second half of the route.

A circular route for a family hike with wide, safe paths, starting from the village of Ilhat (from below). The outward route runs along the top of the cliff with a beautiful view to the south over the Pyrenees. The return route runs along the bottom of the cliff. A path through the woods leads to the hamlet of Gréoulou. There are many alternative paths, but some of them are dead ends! So it's best to stick to the trail.

A pleasant walk in the hills above Roquefixade, near Foix. Passing by its Cathar castle and the Grotte de l'Église Catholique, used to celebrate Mass during the French Revolution. A varied route: heath, woods and clearings. Suitable for families, but caution is advised along the cliff ridge.

A beautiful hike, mostly through woods and without difficulty. Various routes are listed in a booklet available at the stopover lodge. At the start, our route is marked as No. 6.

This route (actually walked, not copied) follows the one published by Grenouille09, but shortens the return leg. A route of around 2 hours. The route along the ridge is slightly different from that of the hike mentioned above, but this doesn’t make much difference; it’s impossible to get lost. We’ve simply added a few extra details below.

A short circular walk for the whole family, from the hamlet of La Peyregade to Martinat and back along the Touyre stream.

This hike takes you to the first peak over 2,000 metres from Toulouse, with magnificent views from the summit.

This is a short circular, starting from Roquefort-les-Cascades, which climbs to the ruins of Château de Teyrac, then follows the ridge to Roc des Abeilles. You will pass at the foot of beautiful cliffs that were climbing spots for the Haute Montagne Gendarmerie platoons. The landscape is exceptional, and there is also a beautiful view of Pic Saint-Barthélémy. There are two fairly steep climbs, which are best avoided in wet weather.

A beautiful hike, without any real difficulty, in the hills above Roquefixade, near Foix, and at the Roquefort Waterfalls.The first part of the hike is uphill through the woods until you reach the cliffs above Roquefixade (castle, ridge and cave) before re-entering the forest to the waterfalls and picnic tables.

A very short walk in the woods to discover the Roquefort waterfalls.

Circular hike from Roquefort-les-Cascades to Roc des Abeilles via the ruins of Château de Teyrac and back via Jean de Lamic, Les Monges and Daribeau on the other side of the valley. The route passes through two impressive climbing spots with routes rated from 4 to 7c. Some fairly steep passages where you need to use your hands.

From hamlets to villages, forests to woods, set off to discover the hidden charms of this little corner of Ariège! Take a breather and discover a 400-year-old oak tree, small wash basins, old stone shepherds' huts (orrys), views of the Péreille Gorges... and a few steep slopes, one with a 17% gradient and another with a 20% gradient!

This hike offers beautiful rolling landscapes between the woods of La Balme, Mouillet and small valley bottoms. The main feature of this route is the Douctouyre, a river near Lavelanet, which you cross twice. The highlight is the petrifying Turasse waterfall near Roquefort, a real geological curiosity.

Circular family loop with little elevation gain. Starting from Carla-de-Roquefort, via Lieurac and the Extraordinary Garden, then a beautiful ridge towards Le Sautel, and finally along the Douctouyre and the canal leading to an old mill.

This hike from Comus leads to Pla du Boum, at an altitude of 1,250 metres. This magnificent grassy basin, surrounded by forests of conifers and deciduous trees, is well worth the sustained effort required from the outset. The route alternates between wooded areas and open spaces where the Pic de Saint-Barthélémy, the Montagne de la Frau and the Château de Montségur are particularly striking. It can be done in any season but is recommended in autumn when the colours change.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it comprises two loops forming a figure of eight. At the junction of the two loops, you can continue to Sarrat de Rouquières (second loop) or just do the first loop via Roc Rouge. Both peaks offer remarkable views. The first loop has steep slopes, both uphill and downhill, with gradients of over 20%. However, there is a gentler access route via the Col de la Gargante, which is also signposted. Please note that the name "Roc Rouge" is a local name: the peak is marked "le Poumairol" on maps.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it takes you up to the Col du Boum, then down to the Pla du Boum, a large pasture surrounded by pine and beech forests, before reaching the Cols de Camurac. In addition to forest trails, the route offers splendid views, particularly of the Massif de Tabe. This hike is also accessible by mountain bike and snowshoes in winter.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it joins the Col du Boum, the Pla du Boum, and after passing through the woods, it climbs towards the Pic des Rives, then the Cols de Camurac before reaching Montpié. This hike offers splendid views. It is also accessible by mountain bike and snowshoes.

Circular starting from the Monts d'Olmes resort, passing through the Pics de Girabal and Galinat via the Col de Girabal, the Col de l'Étang d'Appy (with a beautiful view of the lake) and finally the Col de Cadène. Some sections require the use of your hands but are not particularly dangerous (in the absence of snow). You can also make a round trip to Pic du Han (from Col de Cadène) or Saint-Barthélémy (from Col de Girabal), but the additional elevation gains are not included in this technical data sheet.

There are several ways to reach the Pic de Saint-Barthélémy. This seems to me to be the simplest. Starting from the Monts d’Olmes resort, which is easily accessible by car, you’ll first climb up to the Étang de Fage Belle, then on to the Col de Girabal, before finally reaching the summit where an exceptional view awaits you. The more adventurous can continue on to Soularac and back, which adds a total of 300 metres of elevation gain.

Snowshoe hike from the Monts d'Olmes resort. We did this hike on a Friday in January, outside of school holidays, which was great. It's likely to be a bit busier during school holidays or at weekends! If possible, choose a day with clear weather. It would be a shame to miss the view.

A pleasant walk around Lake Montbel. You will pass several dams with beautiful views. Enjoy the activities around the lake: swimming, water sports, fishing. A lovely shaded walk in the coolness of the lake during the summer months.

A beautiful circular starting from Lake Belcaire, towards Pic des Rives (1,436 m), which offers a magnificent panorama of the Pyrenees peaks and Bugarach in the Aude. A shorter alternative route is possible by descending after the bench (3); it offers a view of the lake and Belcaire: the route can then be taken in the opposite direction.