Circular walk between Pézènes-les-Mines and La Braunhe

Start from the car park in front of the Pézènes village hall, at the junction of the roads from Bédarieux and Clermont-l’Hérault.

(S/E) From the car park, opposite the village hall, at the bridge over the River Peyne, head uphill along the Route de Clermont and then immediately turn left down the track that winds round the house. When you reach the River Peyne, follow it to the right along the track until you come to an unmarked crossroads (water intake point).

(1) Head up the track opposite, which is more or less overgrown with grass, with occasional concrete gully sections. After a kilometre’s climb, you’ll emerge at another track junction, punctuated by the barking from a securely fenced kennel. 100 metres further on, you’ll reach the road at the entrance to the hamlet of Les Vignals.

(2) Cross the hamlet following the road, and continue for about 500 m until you reach the track junction. Follow the track that descends to the left.

(3) The track turns left (if you look carefully, you can see a funeral chapel above) and becomes a path through the scrub. Be sure to take the one that is most clearly marked; this turns back into a faint track, gently descending alongside old low walls overgrown with brambles, and reaches the edge of a field.

(4) Depending on the season, the grass may be tall or already mown. From the edge of the field, head for the low point opposite and follow the footprints in the grass to reach a dry stream bed, which is easy to cross, then climb back up the opposite slope through the scrub along a path that is now clearly marked. 200 m further on, cross another field of dry grass, this time heading towards a fine tree running alongside a fence. This path leads, 200 m further on, onto a proper farm track; follow it to the right until you reach the junction with the departmental road

(5). Turn left onto it and pass through the hamlet of La Braunhe. Continue on towards the old red bauxite quarries. After the La Frégère farm (goat farm), the road bends left (an old, water-filled quarry is visible on the left); look out for a path near a post which branches off to the right of the road towards the quarries

(6) The path, though little-used, is nevertheless easy to follow at the foot of the quarries and then climbs gradually through the scrub. Cross a clearly marked dry stream bed and, after a short climb, the path widens to join a broad track (used for fire prevention and farming).

(7) Follow it to the left, high up above the red cliffs, with a panoramic view of the road you have just taken. After about 500 m, the track joins a road. Continue to the left for about 150 m and, when the road begins a downhill bend to the left, look out for an electricity pole to the right of the road which marks the start of a path.

(8) Follow the path as it heads off to the right into the scrubland, then runs alongside a fence and turns towards a clearing. Cross the clearing, heading for a hunting lookout at the far end. As you approach, the path turns left into the Bois de Levers.

(9) From there, you can’t go wrong. The single path climbs gradually for 500 m, then continues in the shade of the trees for 1.5 km before reaching a clearing and a track.

(10) Follow the track, which curves as it descends, passes in front of a mobile home and leads out onto the road to Bédarieux.

(11) Carry on along the road to the left, cross the bridge over the Peyne and reach the village hall (S/E).

There are no water points along the route; a GPS is required to follow the trail; there are no steep ascents or descents.

(S/E) In the shade by the banks of the Peyne, picnic tables await you at the end of the walk.

The village of Pézènes-les-Mines, just off the route, is well worth a visit. The bauxite quarries along the way form a remarkable natural site with their red cliffs. The scrubland and woodland provide a refreshing atmosphere throughout.