Circular loop around Cabrerets

This beautiful circular route will allow you to discover both banks of the Célé from the village of Cabrerets. On one side, the Montclar State Forest, planted with Atlas cedars and punctuated by an interesting human and natural heritage: Cuzouls, Lake Saint-Namphaise, cazelles (dry stone huts) and dolmens. On the other bank, Pech-Merle and its oak grove offer beautiful views of the village of Cabrerets and the Lot valley, with the added bonus of a visit to the Pech-Merle caves.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.52 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 397 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 397 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 348 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 133 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Cabrerets (46330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.506259° / E 1.653939°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2138OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Park in the village square in Cabrerets. In summer and on Fridays, market day, use the special car park indicated.

(S/E) Take the street at the back of the square after passing the sculpture workshop and then the pottery and basketry workshops. Pass the pastor's house and continue downhill to the D 40. Turn left onto it until you reach the bridge, cross it and you will come to a crossroads.

(1) Take the left-hand road uphill, following the yellow markings. At the top, you will come to a crossroads marked by a cattle grid.

(2) Take the track on the left just after the cattle grid to make a round trip to Cuzoul de Monclar, which you will find 150 m higher up on your left. It is possible to descend there safely.

(3) Then return to the cattle grid.

(2) Continue left on the main track without taking any side tracks. You will then come to a crossroads with two directions.

(4) Stay on the right-hand track and continue until you reach the Dolmen du Mas d'Arjac.

(5) Continue along the track, pass the small Lake Saint-Namphaise*, cross another cattle grid, admire the beautiful cazelle (stone hut) on your left and return to a tarmac road. Turn right and a few metres further on you will find another crossroads.

(6) Turn left onto the Route Forestière des Cèdres. Continue downhill through the forest until you reach a more open area.

(7) Leave the track and turn right onto the small path. Continue downhill to rejoin the tarmac road. Turn left and return to the bridge you crossed on the way out.

(1) Cross the bridge again and shortly afterwards descend to the banks of the Célé via the concrete ramp. Walk along the bank and go back up the stairs. Then go back up the concrete stairs almost opposite to return to the alleyway where you started, leading to the pastor's house. Turn left to the wash house.
Cross the main road and start climbing Rue du Château. Quickly turn right onto the small Ruelle de l'Église staircase that climbs up to the church and runs alongside the cemetery.

(8) Leave the road and turn left onto theGR®651, marked in red and white, for a few metres. Turn left after the large natural limestone steps onto the path marked in yellow and green. You will reach the viewpoint at theGR®651crossroads.

(9) Turn left and follow it to the crossroads of the discovery trail.

(10) Turn right onto this discovery trail, known as the Chemin du Temps (Path of Time), which is marked with large explanatory signs. Follow the yellow markings to the Pech-Merle equestrian farm. Continue for a few metres until you reach a crossroads.

(11) Turn right and follow it to the Pech Merle Cave.

(12) Then descend via theGR®651to return to the cemetery crossroads at the entrance to the village.

(8) Take the road on the left and descend to the Ruisseau de la Sagne peatland stream.

(13) Cross it and continue right on the D 13 to return to the car park in the village square (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets Village Square
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 142 m - Bridge over the - Célé (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 2.32 - alt. 283 m - Carrefour Cuzoul de Monclar
  4. 3 : km 2.62 - alt. 284 m - Cave - Cuzoul de Monclar (Cabrerets)
  5. 4 : km 3.76 - alt. 302 m - Track junction
  6. 5 : km 4.58 - alt. 308 m - Dolmen of Mas d'Arjac
  7. 6 : km 5.56 - alt. 280 m - Route Forestière des Cèdres
  8. 7 : km 6.29 - alt. 233 m - Open crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.02 - alt. 162 m - Cemetery
  10. 9 : km 8.92 - alt. 317 m - Viewpoint
  11. 10 : km 9.37 - alt. 328 m - Discovery trail
  12. 11 : km 10.79 - alt. 316 m - Pech-Merle Equestrian Farm
  13. 12 : km 11.91 - alt. 283 m - Grotte de Pech Merle
  14. 13 : km 13.12 - alt. 156 m - Bridge over the - Sagne (rivière)
  15. S/E : km 13.52 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets Village Square

Notes

(S/E) Cabrerets: water point, toilets, bar, restaurant, grocery store.
In summer, shop selling local crafts and produce.
Basketry and pottery workshop and shop.
Art Wave exhibition and sales workshop (painting and engraving).

Worth a visit

(1) From the bridge, the view of the village cliffs and especially the Devil's Castle is impressive.
Between (5) and (6) Cazelle
Cabrerets Town Hall website.

  • The small Lake Saint-Namphaise is carved out of a large limestone slab. It was once used as a water reserve for livestock (extract from the town hall website above).

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

4.1 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
matflaujac
matflaujac

Thank you for your feedback.
The description says: "Take the track on the left just after the cattle grid to make a round trip to Cuzoul de Monclar, which you will find 150 metres higher up on your left. It is possible to descend there safely."
The path before the cattle grid did not exist when the trail was created, and the one after is only 10 or 12 metres from the one you are referring to, so there is no risk of getting lost.
Enjoy your hike!

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Jean-Y
Jean-Y

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, not very busy except around the Pech Merle cave. The village of Cabreret is very pretty.

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ricou33
ricou33

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice route, a few discrepancies between the track and the actual route but no problem if you follow the GPS. The first loop is not very interesting as there are no real viewpoints. The next loop allows you to visit the original Pech-Merle cave (not to be missed!). Hardly any hikers except in the village of Cabrerets. This route was taken during the Pont de l'Ascension.

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User 24708854

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike between Pech Merle and the Monclar national forest.
Some parts are a bit technical and demanding, but it's really worth it because the view is just magnificent 🤩
You can take the opportunity to visit the Pech Merle cave, which is on the route and well worth a look 👀
The description is sometimes vague, and you may find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out which direction to take when you're on the trail. It's probably to make us think!
The Cuzoul de Monclar is a kind of cave that is not to be missed, it is very beautiful!
Enjoy your walk! 🤗

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Fafa24
Fafa24

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good application.

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Alain VERDIER
Alain VERDIER

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

accessible and easy

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boncl
boncl

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lack of directions to access the cave.

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Pasco 87
Pasco 87

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk, but with a lack of signage, for example at the start of the route, to find the cave, which is well worth a visit with its bats.
The section marked with yellow and green markings and limestone steps is quite challenging and not necessarily accessible to everyone.
There are some beautiful sites to discover during this walk, which is very varied in every respect.

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Rocker3
Rocker3

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Cabrerets is a remarkable site. We had the pleasure of watching a pair of peregrine falcons perched on top of the cliffs for a long time, which was wonderful. The circular route through the national forest is not very interesting, but the Pech-Merle side is well worth the effort.

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Cblars
Cblars

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is very pleasant and easy, at least in its first part, which is located in the Monclar forest. I haven't yet done the second part towards Pech Merle. However, I only give it an average rating for "ease of following the route" because it seems to me that there is an inconsistency between the GPX track and the small path mentioned in (7) in the description. But don't worry, with GPS and basic mapping, you'll eventually find the right path.

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pommade
pommade

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A priori a little longer than indicated
Some directions are missing to avoid searching (such as access to the cave, where it would suffice to indicate "before the cattle grid, take the path on the left and about 100m after, take the first path on the left") because this cave is worth the detour.
But overall, it's a very good hike, even if the climb on the second circular loop is quite tiring and, in my opinion, not suitable for everyone.
Thank you.

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