Circular route to the paragliding launch site in Douelle

A short walk to discover the paragliding launch site and the superb view it offers. The route consists mainly of footpaths; only the first section alternates between road and wide track, whilst the final part is a rather steepGR® trail but offers a beautiful view of Douelle.

Details

34052996
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 195 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 196 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 305 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 106 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Douelle (46140)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.469728° / E 1.360131°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2038E, 2039E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts in Douelle, near the church, where there are a few parking spaces; alternatively, there is a car park near the school.

(S/E) From the church, turn right onto Rue du Barry and walk for 30 metres.

(1) Turn left onto Rue de la Prade and continue to the 90° left-hand bend.

(2) Continue straight on along the track where it is signposted: dead end. Follow this track for 600 m.

(3) Turn left into a field (a 4x4 track crosses it) to reach the tarmac road, cross it heading slightly to the right, then go round an old tobacco drying shed on the left. Look for a small, fairly inconspicuous path.

(4) Follow it for a long while; it is a gently ascending single track. After a few minutes, you’ll reach a junction of several paths and follow the valley opposite, still on a path.

(5) The slope becomes steeper. When you reach a small pass, take the stony path that climbs to the right (yellow markings). At the next junction, turn left and leave the yellow markings.

(6) After 200 m, turn left again onto theGR®36for 300 m. Cross the main track, veering slightly to the right, and take a small path for 200 m before turning left once more to reach the viewpoint overlooking Douelle.

(7) Continue the walk by following theGR® towards the antennas, then descend (caution: steep path!) for about 800 m. At the next junction, turn right. 100 m further on, turn right onto a small path overlooking the rooftops of Douelle, ending up in the village’s narrow streets. Head towards the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 110 m - Church - Lot (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.06 - alt. 111 m - Rue de la Prade
  3. 2 : km 0.72 - alt. 124 m - Dead end
  4. 3 : km 1.38 - alt. 126 m - Crossing the field
  5. 4 : km 1.54 - alt. 127 m - Passage behind a tobacco drying shed
  6. 5 : km 2.37 - alt. 161 m - Rising valley
  7. 6 : km 3.66 - alt. 301 m - Junction on the GR
  8. 7 : km 4.46 - alt. 304 m - Take-off area
  9. S/E : km 6.01 - alt. 109 m - Church

Worth a visit

(7) Lovely view of the Lot valley from the paragliding launch site.
Chamizo mural in Douelle on the banks of the Lot.
Small wash house under a bridge in Douelle.

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 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
visorando46
visorando46

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The first part is flat, with a very manageable climb up to the paragliding launch site. Both this spot and the return route offer magnificent views. However, the descent to the starting village via the GR trail is very difficult, very steep, punctuated by high steps and very slippery in wet weather as it is very stony.

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User 9254965

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is slightly difficult at times.

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Jmflottes
Jmflottes

Hello, indeed, with high temperatures like today, it is advisable to leave early in the morning at this time of year. However, regarding the tobacco drying shed, I can confirm that there is a single-track trail that is difficult to find, but it is there. I ride there myself on my mountain bike. You have to go around the drying shed on the left, otherwise on the right it's a 4x4 track that leads to the same place but is less interesting.

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Franck_47
Franck_47

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I do not recommend this route in hot weather, as exposure and the thermal properties of the rock meant that we got very, very hot, excessively hot. Especially in the valley, which is enclosed and exposed to direct sunlight. The view is worth the detour, and if there are a few paragliders in the air, it's even nicer. Be careful, the descent to Douelle is quite technical, you have to be very careful, and as a result, I find the "easy" level indicated a little presumptuous. It is better to be very well equipped. I find the description provided by the VisoRando website a little light. Fortunately, we had GPS with us, as not enough landmarks are given. What's more, on the route, after the tobacco drying shed, the path is not a single track but has three distinct tracks. It's not at all difficult to find, there's only one, but you have to make sure you leave the tobacco drying shed on your left and don't "go around it on the left".

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MNORDIC
MNORDIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On Thursday 9 May 2024, after completing the morning hike – 12 km – along the ‘Vines and Castles’ route around Château des Bouysses (and enjoying an excellent meal at the château 😋!), we continued in the afternoon on this circular route
The paths are superb and well-marked – only the stream, the Auronne, had flooded the fields and made the ford almost impassable! Hence a detour! – the GPS track is very good!
The climb is gradual and the view over the meandering Lot is superb!
Especially as, on this bank holiday, the paragliders were taking off: a brilliant spectacle
The descent towards the village is rugged and superb
20 km of pure joy!
We recommend
The Lot: we 💚💜💛 it!

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Jmflottes
Jmflottes
• Edited:

The area is full of narrow, unmarked footpaths, so it’s true that a GPS isn’t a bad idea; what’s more, the Viso app is very well suited to this. It’s a shame about the viewpoint, which is the highlight of the hike...

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Val194
Val194

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The rather vague description meant I couldn’t reach the viewpoint overlooking Douelle. Fearing I might get lost, I decided to head back down to Douelle via the path that leads to Combe de la Chaux.
From the church square, take Rue de la Prade, then Impasse Combe de la Chaux. At the end of this, take the stony path that climbs up. At the top, continue to the left... I imagine

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