The Escoudats woods

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In Verlac, three circularPR®1,PR®2andPR®3loops all pass through Aurelle and follow the same route up to that point. These three hikes will dazzle you in spring with the extremely rich flora of the Aubrac meadows and in autumn with the combinations of brown, yellow and orange in its forests.

Details

n°44697
Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 219 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 216 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,011 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 808 m
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Photos

Mandialou stream
Aurelle Chapel
View of the Olt Valley
Hiking trail on the way back from Aurelle.

Description of the walk

Park in the square in Verlac (signs).

(S/E) Take the tarmac road westwards, following the signs for Aurelle,PR®1,PR®2andPR®3. Continue to Verlaguet.

(1) Continue west on the dirt track marked Aurelle. Enjoy the breathtaking views as you cross the clearing. Continue through the Devèzes de Rajals woods and then reach another clearing. You will come to a crossroads.

(2) Walk along the woods on the left to reach the road leading to Les Escoudats.

(3) Leave the hamlet on your right and take the road on your left for a few metres. You will reach the crossroads with the path leading to Aurelle. Take it on your right. You will reach the Mandialou stream, cross it and finish the climb to reach Aurelle.

(4) Follow thePR®1,PR®2andPR®3signs. At the next crossroads, thePR® trails separate:
-PR®3goes left at the first crossroads,
-PR®2also turns left at the second crossroads.
-PR®1: stay right at both junctions to reach the Mandialou stream further down.

(5) Cross it via the footbridge. Follow the markings to the right and climb gently to reach the hamlet of Les Escoudats.

(6) Turn 90° left heading due east. Continue uphill to reach the crossroads of four paths at an altitude of 1,000 metres.

(7) Take the first path on the right and follow it, ignoring all the paths on the right or left at the crossroads. You will then reach the Verlaguet crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto the path you took on the way up to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 910 m - Parking - Église Saint-Jacques (Verlac)
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 948 m - Verlaguet
  3. 2 : km 1.99 - alt. 922 m - Les Escoudats crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 841 m - Chapelle d'Aurelle (Saint-Geniez-d'Olt)
  5. 4 : km 4.03 - alt. 881 m - Mandialou footbridge
  6. 5 : km 4.72 - alt. 931 m - Les Escoudats
  7. 6 : km 6.1 - alt. 1,008 m - Crossroads at an altitude of 1,000 metres.
  8. S/E : km 7.78 - alt. 910 m - Parking - Église Saint-Jacques (Verlac)

Notes

A non-potable water source in Aurelle.
Shelters in the village of Aurelle.
Consider bringing a stick to intimidate cows if they become hostile, without provoking them.
Wear high-top shoes, a hat, and bring water bottles and a windbreaker.
FFRandonnée trail markings.

Worth a visit

The church in Verlac; the key is at Lili's.
The basalt columns after Verlac, going up the D503, on the left
These hikes are secured by numerous signs, the markings are those of the FFRandonnée, and these paths are listed in the PDIPR.
If you discover the face carved into a chestnut tree in the Aurelle Forest, you earn the right to return.
Aurelle, with its Romanesque chapel, oven, water mill, houses, cemetery and garden, bears witness to a bygone era.

 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.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
lïbë
lïbë

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

A very beautiful walk done in the opposite direction to the one suggested.
Please note: there is no longer a path between points 1 and 2, and neither the track (gpx) nor the description have been updated (see previous reviews). You can get around this by crossing several pastures where cattle graze peacefully, or at least we hope they do, until you reach the next barbed wire fence, where there are a few bulls... and finally end up somewhere between points 5 and 6. Despite this major inconvenience, we have no regrets, as this route is very pleasant.

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Yolande P.
Yolande P.

Thank you.

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grandin
grandin ★

Yolande P.
The itinerary was changed in August.

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Yolande P.
Yolande P.

Planning to do this hike, has the route been changed? Thank you.

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grandin
grandin ★

bush
Thank you for suggesting it, and for doing so when you have a moment.

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brousse
brousse

I am no longer responsible for the hikes in the commune of Saint-Gêniez d'Olt et d'Aubrac, but recently I noticed, as you did, that the start of the route was very difficult, if not impassable. It's a shame, because this section, which we called the Balcons de Verlac, was truly magnificent. Just yesterday, I returned to Aurelle and noticed that the markings put in place by the council led from Verlaguet northwards and joined the new, almost passable road that leads from Puech Iber (water tower) to Corbières. You leave this road before Corbières.
As I am apparently the only one who has the password, I suggest correcting the route on Visorando.

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Ktor
Ktor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful panorama, but the start of the route to point 3 is difficult because the path is not maintained and grass, ferns, mud and nettles have taken over... It's a shame because the route is marked in yellow and very pretty.

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CLDudu63
CLDudu63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk. We didn't go inside the chapel but enjoyed the spot for a picnic.

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BACH
BACH

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The distance is 9.6 km instead of 8.6 km (according to two smartphone pedometers).
A beautiful hike with plenty of shade.
The Aurelle Chapel: remarkable with its bald sisters.

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yv5954
yv5954

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Perhaps the most enjoyable outing of my holiday
A big thank you for letting me enjoy this outing.

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jomad
jomad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful panoramic views, pretty chapel in Aurelle (but don't disturb the bats that have made their home there), the small stream has pools at its first crossing.

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brousse
brousse

OK, I will inform the team of new markers. For my part, I am no longer involved in the field due to health issues and my resignation from the committee.

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Closerie
Closerie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike with breathtaking views. Don't forget to bring a walking stick or Norwegian walking poles (if you encounter a snake, the vibrations caused by the stick hitting the ground will scare it away).
Close gates behind you when crossing fields.

Be careful at the intersection before point 7: ignore the yellow hiking trail marker that goes straight ahead and take the path on the left, which will take you to point 7 (your compass will confirm this).

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Ben2Bretagne
Ben2Bretagne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant route, but the start is difficult due to vegetation that makes the path hard to navigate (brambles, ferns, etc.). A few sheep or goats could help solve this problem.

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randoactive
randoactive

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great hike, I recommend it.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.