Circular route from Aventignan

Park in the small square in Aventignan under the lime trees. Note: as parking spaces are very limited, you can also park in front of the school/town hall a little further up the village and walk down Rue de la Carlasse (one-way street) to start the circular route.

(S/E) Carefully follow the RD26 southwards through the village. Reach the bridge over the Ruisseau du Nistos.

(1) Leave the RD26, which turns left, and continue straight ahead on the road. You will reach a Y-junction at the edge of a wood.

(2) Turn onto the road on the right. At the crossroads marked by a cross, keep right and quickly join the^GR®®78. Take it to the right and follow it to the point where it turns right at the bridge over the Ruisseau de Larize.

(3) Leave the trail here and continue straight ahead, staying on the road until you reach the entrance to Générest.

(4) Turn left onto the main road, which quickly branches off to the right. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead on Route du Plan de Pouts and leave the village. You will reach the crossroads leading to the hamlet of Plan de Pouts.

(5) Leave the road and take the farm track slightly to the left. Climb up the mountainside, passing through two cattle gates (remember to close them behind you), and climb up to the meadow on the plateau after a hairpin bend and passing a hut.

(6) Cut across the meadow and find a path that descends into the undergrowth. Stay on this path, which makes a few turns, descend into the woods and reach a crossroads of paths directly above the Rioutord stream.

(7) Turn left, following the yellow markings on a path that quickly becomes passable by vehicle. Continue until you reach a crossroads near a building.

(8) Here you have two options:
- either take the path on the left and head for the Gouffre de Laspugues, then continue and rejoin the path you were following at the fork.
- or continue straight ahead along the stream and arrive at the crossroads leading to the chasm.

(9) Continue straight ahead and rejoin the^GR®®78coming from the hamlet of Labat on the right. Follow this^GR®® to reach the village of Tibiran.

(10) Turn left onto Rue du Rivarès and cross the village of Tibiran. Opposite the church, follow the red and white^GR®® markings to the left, Chemin du Moumou, then immediately right, Chemin de la Fontaine, then right again, Rue des Castagnères. You will reach a hairpin bend.

(11) Continue almost straight ahead on the path that climbs through the woods, following the direction of Lombrès indicated on the small hiking signs. Follow the path through the woods. Do not follow the direction of the Prehistoric Caves of Gargas (unless you wish to visit them), but descend to the left on a small path with many stones. You will reach the Monteil signpost.

(12) Continue level to the right, towards Gargas Mazères via the^GR®®86variant. Leave it at the road crossing to continue and cross the hamlet of Gargas. Then return to the Y-junction you passed on the way there.

(2) Turn right and retrace your steps to return to the car park you chose at the start (S/E).
Note: in Aventignan, go up to the left, Rue Carrière Dessous, then very quickly to the right, Rue Carrière Dessus, to ensure a safe return by avoiding the RD26 for the last hundred metres at the start of the hike.

Between (S/E) and (1) Take care when walking along the RD 26, which has no pavement or pronounced shoulder
Between (5) and (6), once on the plateau, there is no clear path to connect to the point, but the path is easy to find in the undergrowth. A dotted line is shown on the map to go around the meadow to the south and then east: I haven't seen it, but it may exist, without guarantee.
Between (8) and (9), there is a possible detour to pass near the Laspugues chasm with an additional 50 m elevation gain.
Between (10) and (11), the descent is slippery in wet weather.
As this is a circular route, you can start from other points on the route: Tibiran, Générest, or even St-Bertrand, extending the route.
If you walk well and due to the short climbs, the circular route can be completed in just over three hours.

Between (11) and (12) Prehistoric Caves of Gargas Nestpolia