Circular route starting from Asprières

This circular route allows you to explore the two villages of Peyrusse-le-Roc:
- the village around the church is the current village,
- on the slopes, the ruined medieval city.
If you are already familiar with it, the hike offers an unusual arrival point. If you are not familiar with it, it will make you want to come back to explore the area in more detail.

Details

512311
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 22.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 663 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 663 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 482 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 241 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the foot of the village of Asprières, at the D994-D40 crossroads (school nearby). To get there, take the D40 south towards Naussac and Salles-Courbatiès. Stop at the first junction on the right: car park and turning area just before the small road to Les Cauffours.

(S/E) Continue on foot along the D40, passing a football pitch on your left. At the first intersection, turn left at Mas de Clamouze. 100 metres further on, ignore a small road on your left.

(1) Take the path on the left. This path cuts across a bend in the road and offers a beautiful view of the village of Asprières clustered around its bell tower. After 300 metres, turn right at the crossroads.
After passing the Coste Calde Haute farm, you will arrive at the hamlet of Blanquet.

(2) In the hamlet, take the road on the left, which continues as a path that descends (two hairpin bends). Stay on the main path, arrive at the crossroads at the bottom and continue on the right along the Tournhac stream.

(3) Ford the stream near a ruined mill (Le Moulinou); you may need to take off your shoes. Continue along the left bank of the wild, steep-sided valley. Where the valley opens out onto the plain, you will see the partly ruined hamlet of Rayla on your right and a large farm, Le Puech Lauzal, on your left.

(4) Take a small tarmac road on the left and pass a small cemetery on your left.
At the crossroads, there is a wooden calvary with the instruments of the Passion: the sword and the sponge dipped in vinegar at the end of a pike. At this crossroads, turn left onto the small road that goes uphill. Follow the road all the way up to the junction with the road leading to the houses of Peyremale Haute.

(5) Turn right. After the houses, the road becomes a track, with an unobstructed view on the right. From left to right, you can see Naussac, the Salvagnac water tower and the entrance to the Diège gorges. You will reach the track leading to Coste de Counil.

(6) Turn left. 100 metres further on, follow the small road to the right and then, in front of a large shed, take a tree-lined track to the left.
You are now entering the plateau, with large fields and scattered dwellings and, depending on the season, strong winds. A little further on, on the right, a bell tower seems to emerge from the fields. This is Peyrusse-le-Roc. It does not look very far away, but the Audiernes Gorges prevent any direct passage.
Leave a track that comes in on the right and 100 metres further on, you will reach the Bourdet crossroads.

(7) Turn right onto the road towards La Conquie. In the hamlet, turn left. There is a beautiful view of Peyrusse and, in the vegetation to the right of the village, the two towers of the castle perched above the Audiernes. Continue along the road, turning right at each crossroads. Pass through Lestrade and La Pélélie. Here, join theGR®62B(white and red markings) and descend to cross the Audiernes on a bridge. Then go around the Moulin de Bez.

(8) Leave the road on the right, staying on the GR®. Stay on this path until you reach Peyrusse-le-Roc. When you reach the road, turn right and enter the village. In front of the cultural centre, turn right towards Place des Treize Vents (Place de l'Église). This square, equipped with tables, benches and toilets, is an excellent place for a picnic, provided the thirteen winds are calm.

(9) Leave this square by passing under the archway near the toilets and turn left. Pass under the cemetery and come out onto the grassy area opposite the towers. For the more adventurous, it is possible to access the towers, but you will have to come back as they are on the opposite side of the path.

(10) Turn your back on the towers and look for a trail on the left, sometimes reinforced with railway sleepers. Descend quickly (be careful) towards the miller's house and the Parayre bridge over the Audiernes.

(11) Walk a few metres upstream to a photo spot, then return to descend the stream on the right bank. Impressive view of the castle. Reach a bridge, cross it to continue on the other bank where you will find the ruins of an old hospital and, a little further on, the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Pitié.

(12) At the crossroads, turn right, cross the footbridge and immediately after, turn left. Shortly afterwards, the path turns right and begins to climb. Pass the first path on the left and take the second one. At the next crossroads, turn right and continue climbing.

(13) At this intersection, turn left. In some places, the view is immense. Begin the descent into the Diège valley. Cross the stream and continue to the left to rejoin it.

(14) Cross it again. The path climbs a little before descending into the plain to serve the fields opposite La Cabanonie.

(15) Keep to the far right and follow a track along the edge of the fields. Join the road leading to Gaillaguet.

(16) Turn right towards the beautiful Gaillaguet farm, then left in front of it towards Biolette. Stay on the small road, ignoring the one that branches off to the right towards Le Bruel. After crossing La Salesse, go over a bridge over a stream, leave the D40E towards Tournhac and take the track on the right just after it. Join the D40.

(17) Cross it and continue straight ahead. At a Y-junction, take the path on the right that goes uphill. Join the Layzac crossroads.

(18) Turn left and pass in front of Layzac. Follow the path and descend into the forest via a few hairpin bends. At a left-hand bend, there are two paths on the right: continue on the main track. From a hairpin bend on the right, the path climbs again and reaches the road leading to La Marmiesse.

(19) Turn right towards La Marmiesse. Cross this village and arrive at the road. Turn right and then immediately left to reach the crossroads of Rue de la Solle at the entrance to Le Colombier.

(20) Turn right onto this street towards La Solle, a small industrial estate. Continue on to reach the Cauffours neighbourhood.

(21) Turn left onto the street that leads to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 380 m - Turning area car park
  2. 1 : km 0.86 - alt. 426 m - Photo spot
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 448 m - Blanquet, on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.7 - alt. 323 m - Ford
  5. 4 : km 4.08 - alt. 263 m - Le Rayla, road on the left
  6. 5 : km 6.5 - alt. 439 m - Intersection, on the right
  7. 6 : km 7.02 - alt. 459 m - On the left
  8. 7 : km 8.01 - alt. 481 m - Le Bourdet, on the right
  9. 8 : km 10.13 - alt. 398 m - GR62B on the right
  10. 9 : km 11.14 - alt. 435 m - Place des Treize Vents
  11. 10 : km 11.36 - alt. 411 m - The towers
  12. 11 : km 11.75 - alt. 342 m - Parayre Bridge
  13. 12 : km 12.39 - alt. 304 m - At the crossroads, turn right towards the footbridge.
  14. 13 : km 13.41 - alt. 441 m - Intersection, on the left
  15. 14 : km 14.28 - alt. 341 m - 2nd crossing of the river
  16. 15 : km 14.85 - alt. 264 m - Opposite La Cabanonie, on the right
  17. 16 : km 15.66 - alt. 265 m - Gaillaguet, on the right
  18. 17 : km 17.96 - alt. 270 m - D40
  19. 18 : km 18.93 - alt. 384 m - Layzac, on the left
  20. 19 : km 20.48 - alt. 401 m - Turn right towards La Marmiesse.
  21. 20 : km 21.24 - alt. 402 m - Turn right onto Rue de la Solle.
  22. 21 : km 21.92 - alt. 395 m - On the left
  23. S/E : km 22.16 - alt. 380 m - Parking area

Notes

Shops in Asprières and Peyrusse-le-Roc.

Worth a visit

The two towns of Asprières and Peyrusse le Roc are worth a visit, but given the length of the hike, it would be better to explore them in more detail another day.

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 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Picka12700
Picka12700

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Caution: demanding routes

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Josynou
Josynou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You still need to be a good hiker. Some of the climbs are quite challenging. That said, it's a very beautiful hike.

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bricoleur 2
bricoleur 2

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a wonderful discovery on this route

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MNORDIC
MNORDIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Sunday, 2 October 2022:
An absolutely superb hike starting from the beautiful village of Peyrusse le Roc, covering approximately 12 km (circular).
A challenging hike (with beautiful climbs towards the Towers and through the chestnut grove) that is truly superb for a dive into the past...
Well marked and not crowded
A sign indicating the route is located on the Place du Foirail (don't forget to visit the beautiful Roman bridge of Parayre and the miller's house: an idyllic setting! Not indicated on the initial route)
90% trails; shaded, varied... in the heart of the Aveyron countryside
A remarkable, little-known site
Visorando should definitely add it to its list
We ❤❤❤ the secret and natural Aveyron!

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mcvinel
mcvinel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I am originally from nearby Capdenac, and at the age of 65, I was able to revisit places from my childhood (trout fishing). I discovered the beautifully restored centre of Peyrusse and the Tournhac valley. If I were to do the route again with friends, I would adjust it slightly to avoid walking on tarmac, which is easily possible on both the outward and return journeys. Thank you again for this beautiful walk.

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coucou12
coucou12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A little too much tarmac on the way there, between Asprières (DA) and Moulin de Bez (point 8), but these are pleasant little roads. And there is a beautiful trail between points 2 and 4: a forest path, then along the Tournhac stream, which is very full in March: feet in the water of the torrent at the Moulinou ford. The route allows you to see the rural habitat of the region, with its stone houses and Quercy-style pigeon towers. A varied and interesting route, between woods and meadows, plains, plateaus and steep-sided gorges. Asprières is a pleasant village. But it is obviously Peyrusse le Roc that is THE major destination, and which we will have the opportunity to visit at leisure, approaching it from various sides. A great dive into the past. A beautiful visit.
On the way back, at point 16 (Gaillaguet), you can take a recently rehabilitated path (the road workers were working on it) instead of the tarmac road to reach La Salesse: turn left (not right) towards Therondel for 100 metres. Then take the path on the right just before the bridge over the Audiernes: this will take you along the stream until you reach the road to La Salesse.

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