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Park at the Notre-Dame-des-Auzils car park, on the La Goutine side (not the one at the bottom of the marine cemetery which has the same name on MAPS).
(S/E) Cross the road carefully, follow it to the right for a few dozen metres, then take the small road on the left, heading left to tackle the Peyral from its eastern slope. It’s a bit of a climb, but you can go round the back if you don’t feel up to it, though you’ll miss out on the view of Gruissan from the summit. Pass the reservoirs and begin the descent, following the path to the Fontaine des Chevriers. Join the road, follow it to the left for about 400 m, going straight on at the junction.
(1) Take a small dirt track on the right, ignoring a path on the right. Climb up through the vineyards, pass the old quarry and join the Route des Inférêts.
(2) Turn left, then, 150 m further on, turn right to follow the path towards the Plan Vigné climbing site, skirting the vineyard.
(3) Turn right to follow the cliff to the end and reach the plateau. You’ll come to an excellent picnic spot with views of the ponds and Mont Canigou on a clear day.
(4) Turn back.
(3) Turn right to cross over to the other side of La Clape and follow the cliffs through the forest to the Domaine des Portes.
(5) Head up to the right towards the Figuères heath, heading north-east: the path is quite narrow (and the holm oaks are prickly). You’ll reach the plateau.
(6) Turn immediately right, admire the view and continue to the next junction about 500 m away.
(7) Turn left to reach the Ruisseau du Rec: be careful, there are a few tricky sections where you can see that the water has carved its way through the limestone. Descend into the stream bed for 1.3 km.
(8) Climb up to the left to the Notre-Dame plateau and, once at the top, take the path to the right to the edge of the cliff, from where you can see the cliffs and the dam on the Rec below.
(9) Retrace your steps, continue straight on to the Notre-Dame des Auzils Chapel (well worth a visit if you haven’t been before), then head south-east down to the car park at the seaside cemetery.
(10) Head back across the forest to climb up to Les Caunes. The path used to be more pleasant, but now it has been bulldozed straight through. Once at the top, turn right.
(11) Follow the path towards the Trou de la Crouzade, pass by the edge of the Crouzade chasm, then walk along the plateau (do not go back down via the Trou de la Crouzade – dangerous scree slope), continue south then south-east to the pidgeon hunting hut at the edge of the cliff!
(12) Enjoy the view of Les Ayguades and, sadly, the traces of the fire above Château du Bouis. Turn right and head back down towards La Goutine via the climbing site – be careful, it’s a bit steep. Then follow the road to the left. Continue straight on, then cross the road with care and head to the car park on the right (S/E).
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