Termes and Villerouge-Termenès circular loop

This circular walk, starting from Félines-Termenès, passes through woodland and heath, leading first to Termes and then to Villerouge-Termenès, two charming villages boasting exceptional architectural heritage. Numerous sections through the woodland or alongside small, fast-flowing streams provide welcome shade and coolness during the hot season. Once on the ridge, the view stretches as far as the Pyrenees and Mont Canigou, as is particularly the case at the Col de Termes.

Details

n°22293174
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.55 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,972 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,978 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,699 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 889 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

In Félines-Termenès, park in the shaded car park next to the tennis court on the edge of the D613.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head towards the village centre, taking the left-hand pavement after crossing at the pedestrian crossing.

YellowPR® signposting

(1) Turn left onto Chemin du Libre, then left again in front of the Foyer de Campagne. At the last house, the tarmac road turns into a wide, partly grassy track. At the first junction, keep left and continue uphill. At the next junction, leave the wide track and take a path on the right at a wooden post in poor condition marked ‘sentier touristique’.

(2) At this point, the path splits in two, with a sign for “enceinte pastorale” on the right and “dolmens” on the left. Take the left-hand fork and head towards Pla de Ferriol. Go through a metal gate and cross a section where the path becomes less distinct, especially if the grass is tall. Avoid heading down towards the ruins of a building; instead, go round them on the left to find clearer signposting. On the left, enjoy the view of Mont Tauch, easily recognisable by its tabular silhouette. Go through a second gate and then turn right along the path to begin the winding descent leading to a junction with a wide cross-country path at a signpost.

No signposting

(3) Turn left and follow this path until you reach the D40 at a place called Moulintour.

YellowPR® signposting

(4) Follow the road to the right for a few dozen metres, then turn left onto a stony track that leads into a pretty little valley. Cross the ford over the Sou using the concrete blocks if the stream is flowing, and continue to a right-hand bend, at the end of which there is a small riverbed.

(5) Do not cross the ford, but look out for the cairn on the right, which marks the start of a very faint track that climbs steeply through dense low vegetation and eventually joins a cross-country path.

Signposting:PR® yellow +GR® white and red

(6) Turn right and follow the path which runs alongside the Sou at varying distances depending on the section. Don’t hesitate to take short detours to the right to admire the Caune Pont Gorges, but do so with caution as these various viewpoints are not secured. You’ll reach a small picnic area with two tables situated near a concrete road that forms a very tempting pool of water in hot weather.

(7) Continue on to the village of Termes, which boasts the imposing ruins of its Cathar castle. Walk past the town hall, cross the footbridge and head left for about 40 metres.

GR® white and red markings

(8) Take the first alleyway on the right, continue up the steps opposite to reach a tarmac road, which you should follow to the left. At the last house, the tarmac gives way to a path that climbs up the hillside. When you have a clear view, do turn round to take in the scenery and the beautiful remains of Termes Castle, perched on a rocky outcrop. You’ll come to a junction.

(9) Ignore the path opposite (GR®36A) and turn right, following the sign for “Villerouge Termenès – Lagrasse” via theGR®36. Further on, you’ll reach a wide track suitable for vehicles; take this to the left, heading uphill, to reach the D40 at Col Caroun.

(10) Follow this road, turning left and keeping to the left-hand verge.

No signposting

Let theGR® head off to the left and continue along the road to the Col de Termes, where there is a magnificent view of the Pyrenees and the Canigou.

(11) Retrace your steps for about fifty metres and turn right onto a wide path that runs along the southern flank of the Serre de Termes and, further on, rejoins theGR®36that you left earlier.

GR® red and white markings

(12) Carry on straight ahead. Pass a hunting post, then negotiate a hairpin bend to the right.

(13) Leave the wide path you have been following and take a narrow track that begins a long descent towards the Ruisseau du Bac valley. In its first section, this deeply incised and ravined track often requires you to walk along the left or right embankment. This is followed by a long, extremely stony stretch where you’ll need to be careful to protect your ankles. Once at the bottom, wade across the stream and continue along the valley floor to reach the lovely site of the Notre-Dame Chapel, which has been beautifully restored.

YellowPR® signposts

(14) Carry on straight ahead to reach Villerouge-Termenès, emerging near the castle.

(15) Turn right, then right again towards the castle. Follow the small street to cross the bridge and turn immediately left to head up the road that runs below Saint-Étienne Church and the cemetery. At the junction, head straight ahead to join the Route du Termenès (D613) and follow it to the right for about a hundred metres.

No signposting

(16) Turn right onto a track suitable for vehicles. When the track bends to the right (near a truck wreck), keep to the left. Cross a concrete slab, walk alongside a site used as a graveyard for old agricultural machinery, turn left at the junction and rejoin the D613. Follow it by turning left and cross the bridge: be careful, there is no footpath.

GR® signposting: white and red

(17) Follow the small tarmac road to the right until you reach a junction. Continue straight on along what has now become a wide dirt track. Stay on this track at the next junction.

No signposting

Let theGR® head off to the left and complete the bend to reach a disused stretch of road which you must take to the left to join the D613.

(18) Cross with extreme caution as the bend significantly obstructs drivers’ visibility, then turn left to walk alongside the road on the right-hand verge. Then take the first path on the right and, at the junction a few metres further on, keep left. Join the D613 one last time.

(19) Use the pavement on the right to return to the village and then to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,093 ft - Car park, tennis court
  2. 1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 1,076 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.51 - alt. 1,407 ft - Three-way junction, to the left
  4. 3 : mi 1.87 - alt. 1,394 ft - Junction, signpost, turn left
  5. 4 : mi 2.83 - alt. 1,414 ft - Moulintour, D40
  6. 5 : mi 3.57 - alt. 1,430 ft - Rocky outcrop, cairn
  7. 6 : mi 3.79 - alt. 1,624 ft - Junction with the GR°°®°°
  8. 7 : mi 4.87 - alt. 1,155 ft - Picnic tables, after the - Sou de Laroque (rivière) - Affluent de l(Orbieux
  9. 8 : mi 5.41 - alt. 1,109 ft - Termes, on the right
  10. 9 : mi 5.68 - alt. 1,375 ft - Junction, turn right
  11. 10 : mi 6.16 - alt. 1,549 ft - D40 - Col Caroun (470m)
  12. 11 : mi 6.97 - alt. 1,699 ft - Col de Termes (517m)
  13. 12 : mi 7.83 - alt. 1,526 ft - Junction with the GR°°®°°
  14. 13 : mi 8.32 - alt. 1,348 ft - Path on the left
  15. 14 : mi 9.82 - alt. 997 ft - Chapelle de notre dame des champs bons
  16. 15 : mi 10.24 - alt. 1,060 ft - Villerouge-Termenès
  17. 16 : mi 10.54 - alt. 1,089 ft - Exit via the D613
  18. 17 : mi 10.82 - alt. 1,086 ft - Road on the right
  19. 18 : mi 11.65 - alt. 1,220 ft - D613
  20. 19 : mi 12.26 - alt. 1,083 ft - Félines-Termenès entrance
  21. S/E : mi 12.55 - alt. 1,093 ft - Car park, tennis court

Notes

The signposting is good.

Towards the end of the route, you’ll need to be very careful where the path runs alongside the D613, which is a busy, winding road, meaning drivers have limited visibility. Take the usual precautions, particularly if you’re in a group.

The view of the Caune Pont Gorges after the (6) is not easy to see due to the vegetation. Several small viewing points are accessible a few metres from the path, but they are not secured and a fall would be fatal. Exercise extreme caution.

After the (13), the route becomes tricky. Rutted and very steep for the first few hundred metres, the path then becomes stony over a very long stretch. Take extra care and wear high-top walking boots for this section. Walking poles will also be very useful.

There is a water point at the start, next to the picnic table.

Food and drink are available in Termes and Villerouge-Termenès.

Worth a visit

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

4.2 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
patgab
patgab

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Hello
Hello
Point 5 states ‘faint trail to the right of the cairn’
In fact, there were no visible tracks at all on 6 August 2024, nor was there a cairn.
So the hike was abandoned. A shame
Kind regards
PGabet

Machine-translated

denis.jauvin
denis.jauvin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk without any major difficulties

Machine-translated

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