Between the forests and vineyards above Mondragon and Mornas

Sometimes in the woods, sometimes in the vineyards, this walk takes you through the countryside of the Rhone Valley and Mont Ventoux.

Technical sheet

225190
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.08 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 238 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 233 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 175 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 52 m

Description of the walk

South of the village, between the football stadium and the community hall, go around the roundabout and take the D152. Continue on for 250m until you see a large car park on the left. This is the starting point of the hike.

(S/E) Turn left out of the car park through the undergrowth, following the D152. At the end (at the sharp bend), you need to find 'Chemin Fond'.

(1) Take this path straight opposite you and follow it until you meet the D152 again (be careful - this is a busy road).

(2) Follow the D152 for about 1km until you reach 'Chemin des Peyras'.

(3) Turn left onto this path in the direction of Maresque and continue on for about 600m.

(4) At the 'patte d'oie' (crow's foot junction), turn right until you meet you a dirt path opposite.

(5) Take the path waymarked in Yellow and Red in the direction of "la Roquette Est" for 50m. At the crow's foot junction, ignore the BU240 to your left and follow the steep path on your right. At the next crossroads of paths, take the one on the left which climbs steeply for 1km (with a view over the Rhone valley, the Diois mountains and the foothills of the Alps). You will reach the highest point on the edge of the forest and a large vineyard.

(6) Follow along the edge of the vines until you meet the road at Baumefort.

(7) Turn right and re-join the D152.

(8) Head to the left for 600m until you reach a crossroads with another road called 'Chemin des Fumades'.

(9) Turn right onto this road and continue on for 200m, then take the dirt path on the left going alongside the vines until you reach the edge of the woods.

(10) Continue on the path through the pine forest until you reach the quarry. You will reach a crossroads just before the Meunière Bridge.

(11) Turn right and follow the wide path up to the next large intersection.

(12) Head to the left in the direction of Richarde. Take the Massif d'Uchaux GRP, passing in front of the 'Ranch de Kenzo' and continue on the dirt path, which turns into a tarmacked path, for about 200m until you reach a relatively flat stone, (impossible to miss).

(13) Take the sandy path on the right. At the end of the path, take the tarmacked path on the left and then the first road on the right ('Chemin de la Montagne') up to the crossroads with 'Chemin des Combes'.

(14) Turn left and continue on to a crow's foot junction.

(15) Turn right onto a dirt path which becomes tarmacked a few metres further on.
Follow the path up to a crow's foot junction (a large sandstone rock faces you) and take the path on the right going uphill. Go through the valley until you reach a viewpoint (over the southern part of the Rhone Valley and the Mornas fortress). Look out for slippery stones. Follow the path which overlooks Mondragon and the Lou Castelas district.

(16) At the bottom of the path, which is concrete at the end, turn left and carry on until you re-join the D152 on a tarmacked section for about 100m. Leave the route and turn left to go back down towards the village. After about 300m on the well-used road you will come back to same crossroads from the outward leg (2).

Next take the 'Chemin Fond' between the green barriers - be careful as the first few steps have been washed away on this section of path (it then becomes tarmacked). Return to the D152 (1) which takes you back to the departure point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 54 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 65 m - Chemin Fond
  3. 2 : km 0.5 - alt. 90 m - D152
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 105 m - Les Peyras
  5. 4 : km 2.18 - alt. 89 m - End of the road
  6. 5 : km 2.65 - alt. 76 m - Bifurcation
  7. 6 : km 4.56 - alt. 166 m - High point
  8. 7 : km 5.27 - alt. 162 m - Baumefort
  9. 8 : km 6.17 - alt. 145 m - D152
  10. 9 : km 6.75 - alt. 151 m - Crossroads D152 Chemin
  11. 10 : km 7.55 - alt. 171 m - Woodland vineyard boundary
  12. 11 : km 8.39 - alt. 116 m - Before the Pont de la Meunière
  13. 12 : km 9.2 - alt. 121 m - Intersection with the GRP
  14. 13 : km 11.66 - alt. 55 m - Flat stone
  15. 14 : km 12.63 - alt. 77 m - Chemin des Combes
  16. 15 : km 12.86 - alt. 77 m - Three-way junction
  17. 16 : km 15.03 - alt. 116 m - Carrefour Lou Castelas
  18. S/E : km 16.07 - alt. 54 m - Car park

Practical information

Look out for slippery stones when going downhill.
During hunting season (September - February), make sure you pay attention to the signs which indicate where the hunting zones are as they are common on this route.
This route is also accessible on mountain bike (with helmet) or horse (with a riding helmet).
No water points on the route.
There are many possible places for a picnic in the grass.
It is possible to have a break in the landscaped area as you leave Chemin Fond - before the D152, a bit before the end of the hike.

In the nearby area

- You can taste and buy cheese from the Verdoulet farm if you take a small detour between points (9) and (10).
- Horse riding at the Kenzo Ranch past the 'Richarde domaine'.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
vivalpierrelatte
vivalpierrelatte

in the end I didn't do this hike

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Larzac30
Larzac30

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good overall
A little too much road, the existing signposts should be updated.

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duanertiti
duanertiti

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant, fairly shady, very well explained, great views.

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FABRE SYLVETTE
FABRE SYLVETTE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 18, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk with few signposts, but the route and explanations are good. We followed the recommendations and set off from point 3. The road is very busy, with fine views over the Rhône valley.

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alainbelmudes
alainbelmudes

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

pleasant walk

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you achettejc
What could you suggest to improve the description of wpt 13?

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achettejc
achettejc

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did need the GPS to avoid a mistake on the route to point 13.

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bary84
bary84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Bary 84 Lovely little hike, especially if you reduce the tarmac.leave from point 3, avoiding the climb from point 1.at the end of the route at point 16, do not join the D152:turn right onto a small road (leave a small secondary road on the right). Turn right onto a small road (leaving a small secondary road on the right). Continue and you will come to a gate with a sign saying: "vente de vin sur pilier" (wine for sale on a pillar). Take the small gravel path that leads to a small track that crosses the road. When you come to a villa, the road leads you back to a dirt track that runs along the back of a farmhouse on the left.Continuing along this path without difficulty you come to a small road Turn left and, after a short descent, you come back to the D152 at point 3 of the start.the end of the modified route is easy to find on the IGN map, so there is less road and a similar distance.

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Ramon26130
Ramon26130

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A mistake on the route at the end of the route, but otherwise a good walk.

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danielbarathieu
danielbarathieu

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 17, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

It could have been a great ride if it hadn't been spoilt by too much tarmac. In fact, half of it was on roads, which was a shame!
The colour of the track, a very pale green, sometimes makes it difficult to read.
Otherwise, the description is good and there are no route errors.

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CHRISTIANE07
CHRISTIANE07

Hello Pascal
First of all, thank you for calling me back and for your explanations.
I did the route again yesterday and it's true that I realised I'd made a mistake the week before.
For those who want to do it and, like me, don't have a GPS
Be careful at marker 12. At the directional signs, don't take the Richarde to the left but continue straight on following the road sign. There is a sign for Ecurie Kenzo.
I had followed the GPR towards Mornas .... which is much longer and more difficult .....
Follow the explanations carefully or use the map.
Also pay attention to marker 14 at the boisouteyrand sign and turn left.
A lovely hike that I'm going to put on the programme of my hiking association.
Thanks Pascal.
Thanks Pascal.

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pecdiou
pecdiou

Hello Christiane,

The ranch that you passed on your right is KENZO's ranch. You then had to continue straight on the carriage road until you found a tarmac section. After about 200 m, you had to take a sandy track on the right, marked by a large, fairly flat stone.
I'm sorry you've done more than expected.

Sincerely

Pascal

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CHRISTIANE07
CHRISTIANE07

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 29, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I tried to find this route with an IGN map as I don't have a GPS. Everything was fine up to marker 12.
I was well oriented towards La Richarde for 150 m and followed the GRP de Pays for a long time. I didn't see Kenzo's ranch (unless it was the buildings before the GRP???).
I followed this GRP and came to a barrier in a small housing estate and the GRP continued on the route d'Uchaux just before the main road...... I had a view of the fortress of Mornas on my left.
A little lost, I followed the yellow signs to Mondragon... But I walked 7 km further....
I looked at the map again last night and I don't understand....
I forgot to mention that on this stretch I passed a ranch... but I don't know its name.
If anyone could tell me, that would be great.

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slinky
slinky ★

Hello pecdiou,

You click on the profile of the person you want (even from the comments on this tour) and when you're on their page you click on the blue "More info" button and then on the "Contact xxx" submenu.

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pecdiou
pecdiou

sorry, I thought that replying to a message was transferred to a personal mailbox.
I just need to find out how to send a personal message on the site.

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