Circular route through the Ousse valley via the woods

Park to the east of the village of Poey-de-Lescar on Chemin du Pont-Long, just past the water tower.

(S/E) Turn right onto the country lane and then turn right again to reach the Cami Salie crossroads near Baptiste’s houses.

(1) Cross this road, walk a few steps straight on, then immediately turn left onto a footpath and enter the woods. At the next crossroads, veer left and continue along this path through the woods. Join the country lane, follow it to the right for a few metres, then turn left onto the narrow path to stay in the woods. Pass over a small pond and continue along the path opposite. You’ll come out onto the Cote des Maures track. Turn right onto it to quickly reach the D817 bypass.

(2) Turn right just before the bridge under the bypass. Follow the bypass along a path, then, as you move away from it, stay on the wider track that follows on from the path. You’ll reach the ford marked by a small footbridge.

(3) Do not cross it, but continue along the bank of the Ousse des Bois. At the bend, leave the bank and continue along the wide path to reach the school in the village of Poey-de-Lescar.

(4) Cross the road to stay on the protected section and head up the hill. Continue along the main road (D 208). You’ll reach the ‘herradé’, a place where cows and horses used to be shoed.

(5) Turn right, then a few hundred metres further on, take the Chemin du Malapet. You’ll reach the junction with the Chemin Las Senderos

(6) Turn left onto this track, which becomes a footpath and joins the Chemin Buros just before the motorway.

(7) Take this path on the left, then, after a 90° bend to the right, continue on to reach the car park on Chemin du Pont-Long (S/E).

No difficulty, but there may be a muddy patch between (2) and (3).
You follow the Way of St James in places.

(5) The ‘herradé’ was used for shoeing cows and horses.