Loop in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val overlooking the Cirque de Nibousou

This is a loop that will take you up from the banks of the Aveyron to the Grotte de la Gourgue.
You will return via the Cirque de Nibouzou.
This is a variation of thePR®18.

Details

494746
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 552 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 545 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 335 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 123 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Place des Tilleuls north of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val.
Much of the beginning of the circuit follows theGR®46trail.

(S/E) From the car park, take the D958, Avenue du Docteur Paul Benet, and head towards the bar-restaurant Le Gaspacho. Continue straight ahead until you reach the bridge over La Benette. Cross the bridge and continue on the road to Caussade. TheGR®36starts 150 metres from the bridge.

White-red markings

(1) Go up the grassy path on the right. From there, follow the white-red markings. This is a Way of the Cross. It passes in front of the ruins of the Chapelle de Condamine to the Calvaire de Pech Dax. At the Calvaire, you will be on a wide farm track for 300 metres.

(2) At the three-way junction, take the right-hand path and follow theGR® to elevation 296. Turn left at the cross at this junction.

(3) Leave the path via the track on the right, then turn right further on. The track curves to the left and reaches a hairpin bend on the right. Head towards the hairpin bend. The path descends to the Ruisseau de la Gourgue.

(4) Follow it past a cave.

(5) Continue to the Trou de la Gourgue.

(6) Cross the stream to reach the Grotte de la Gourgue.

(7) After the cave, cross the stream twice more and at the first crossroads, turn right to begin a steep climb towards Galabert.

End ofthe GR®46and the white-red markings
Yellow markings

(8) At the crossroads marked by a cross, leave theGR®46by turning right. Walk along this track, which heads south towards Pech Biel.

(9) At the entrance to Pech Biel, leave the track and take a path opposite, descending through the woods towards the Ruisseau de la Gourgue. Pass in front of La Cantalouve to find the D19.

(10) Turn right and then immediately left at the hairpin bend. You are now on the Route de Joany. It loops to the right after 400 metres and continues straight ahead towards Saint-Antonin, passing through Maillolong.

(11) Leave the road via the first path on the left after Maillolong. The path climbs up to the ridge line of Roudounas and Nibouzou. Pass above the Cirque de Nibouzou. Continue along the track, ignoring the paths that cross it, until you reach the road. Clot de Mérigot is on the left.

(12) Cross the road and continue along the wide path opposite, slightly to the right. At the three-way junction, stay on the path that veers to the left. At the clearing, continue along the track that heads to the right.

(13) At the second three-way junction, take the left path, which descends gently to the first houses of La Rodanèze, Avenue du Roc Deymie.

(14) Take the avenue on the right. Three houses later on your left, turn left onto the small path that leads to the other section of the same avenue. At Avenue Du Roc Deymie, turn right then left. Go down Rue Côte du Rodanèze until you reach the Carrefour du Collège Pierre Bayrou. At the crossroads, turn right to find the car park 150 metres away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 130 m - Place des Tilleuls car park
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 133 m - Path climbing up to the right
  3. 2 : km 1.86 - alt. 311 m - Turn right at the three-way junction
  4. 3 : km 4.2 - alt. 298 m - Track on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.03 - alt. 221 m - Along the stream
  6. 5 : km 5.97 - alt. 162 m - Small cave on the left
  7. 6 : km 6.16 - alt. 164 m - Trou de la Gourgue
  8. 7 : km 6.51 - alt. 170 m - Gourgue Cave
  9. 8 : km 8.19 - alt. 304 m - Marker 304 and end of the GR46
  10. 9 : km 9.41 - alt. 299 m - Crossroads in front of Pech Biel
  11. 10 : km 10.83 - alt. 154 m - Intersection with the D19
  12. 11 : km 12.84 - alt. 144 m - Take the path on the left.
  13. 12 : km 15.71 - alt. 329 m - Crossing a road
  14. 13 : km 16.11 - alt. 316 m - Turn left at the three-way junction
  15. 14 : km 17.08 - alt. 205 m - Entrance to the first houses of La Rodanèze
  16. S/E : km 17.82 - alt. 130 m - Place des Tilleuls car park

Notes

The car park at Place des Tilleuls is free every day except Sundays, which is market day.

Worth a visit

Way of the Cross, chapel ruins and calvary.
Gourgue cave.
Cirque de Nibouzou.

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 38 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 4659299

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A great hike, but you’ll need sturdy shoes as there are lots of stones along the route and some fairly steep descents; once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with a magnificent view

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goeland111151
goeland111151

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in bright sunshine.
Start in the valley via the PR1 and go round the Cirque de Mibousou on the left (instead of going round on the right and points 1 to 3). The first part of the route is very pleasant, followed by a steep, winding climb, but it is shaded and offers beautiful views of the town and the cirque until you reach point 3 (Point D on the PR1 route).
Then a lovely walk through typical Quercy countryside and a return via the ridge with superb views of the Aveyron. The descent is steep, difficult and very technical up to point 8, where there is a ladder and support ropes.
In summary, a truly beautiful walk with this alternative start that we highly recommend.
Marie and Jean-Jo

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User 17300057

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, enjoyable hike that’s very well signposted, so we didn’t even need to use the app.
No difficulties at all and the climbs are no problem; you’re straight into it with a climb
Magnificent flowering vegetation, a river with crystal-clear water, and an enchanting woodland with what I call moss trees...
A brilliant first hike of the spring.

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madydou
madydou ★

Thank you, Hachail, for your feedback.
I'm glad you enjoyed this route.
Happy hiking.

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Hachail
Hachail

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We mainly encountered hunters on 11 November. They seemed keen to make us understand that we should not be afraid (we were not particularly afraid).
There must have been quite a bit of rain in the previous days, because the path before point 7 was flooded, as if we were walking in the Gourgue stream. It wasn't always easy to keep our feet dry in the undergrowth.
A beautiful, varied route.
Many thanks to the hiker who posted it online.

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YORANNH
YORANNH

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

i used the navigation system with GPS tracking. It was perfect.
The two tarmac sections, covering around 2 km, are quickly forgotten given the 18 km to be covered. Above all, there are few cars.
Beautiful scenery, especially when overlooking the cirque.

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Aline 15
Aline 15

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is wonderful in good weather, following the edge of the cliff above the cirque, contrasting the ochre rock and green meadows below, alternating between wooded trails and stony paths in full sun.
The descent requires a little concentration on the small stones that roll underfoot.

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yannjam
yannjam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike, but be careful in winter or during the rainy season as part of the route is difficult to walk on. Other than that, nothing to complain about, beautiful views of St Antonin and stunning landscapes
Highly recommended.

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ALBIJOIE
ALBIJOIE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with beautiful views of the valley and the added bonus of visiting the cave.
Thanks for the route.

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Dominique F
Dominique F

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, apart from the 2 km of tarmac between points 10 and 11. Three nice little climbs and some very pretty views. Up to point 8, the red and white markings are clear, no problems. However, for the rest of the route, check the GPS track at junctions and forks, as on several occasions the yellow markings do not correspond to the Visorando track.

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madydou
madydou ★

Thanks for the feedback.
I'll revise the guide once I've done the route again.

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xav_d
xav_d

Thanks for the hiking idea, it was enjoyable and varied. However, about a hundred metres before point 14, there is a short ladder (maybe 2 metres) that you have to climb over: this should be mentioned in the guide! It's not difficult, but with a large dog that you can't carry, you can get stuck... Going back up towards point 13, you can take a path (towards the west) to reach Rue Côte du Rodaneze and return to the village, but it's probably not as pretty as the planned descent.

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Catalamar
Catalamar

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike to avoid in hot weather, but varied route with fairly limited views of the cirque due to vegetation.

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CG2513
CG2513

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with lovely views (of Saint-Antonin, the cirque, etc.), different types of environments (views of villages, enchanted forests with moss on the trees, paths under the trees between fields, a bit of road, the cirque, etc.).
We had read about the difficulties some people had encountered on the route and knew there were some tricky spots. When we asked for more information, we read the description carefully and checked the GPS map, so we had no problems.
You can cut after point 4 to reach point 10 if necessary.

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello iSenior,
Thank you for your feedback.
It's been a long time since I've been back there, and I won't be able to do so in the coming weeks.
I will review the description as soon as possible.

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