Villemoustaussou, Carcassonne and Pennautier circular loop

This unpretentious walk allows you to stroll in the fresh air through countryside that has remained very rural despite the proximity of the two villages and the town, which you can see via the Hôtel du Département, perched on its hilltop.

Details

505501
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.42 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 167 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 164 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 463 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 318 ft

Description of the walk

You’ll easily find a parking space next to the Roques sports centre.

(S/E) Head south-east along Avenue Émile Clarenc, turn right onto Avenue Jules Ferry, then immediately left onto Rue Léon Blum. Then turn right onto the D49 (Avenue du Général de Gaulle).

(1) At the fork, continue on the D49 (left-hand lane) then take the first right, Chemin de Saint-Bernard. Ignore two roads branching off to the right.

(2) Pass Chemin de la Cabane de Bacou on your left and head down the dirt track opposite. Cross the Ruisseau de la Caune and head back up to join the tarmac road to Précondal.

(3) Continue along Chemin de Précondal on the left. At the junction by the D49, turn right onto Chemin des Rivals.

(4) Turn left at the house on the corner of Chemin de la Seigne. After skirting the Seigne estate, turn right at the cross to follow the south wall.

(5) At the next junction, take the farm track opposite. Continue straight on to reach the ruins of a wind turbine.

(6) Continue to the right to reach the Domaine des Rivals. Follow the stone boundary wall and join Chemin des Rivals. Turn left onto this path and walk past the estate.

(7) Leave the tarmac road and turn right onto the dirt track. Join the D38, which you follow to the right for about 700m.

(8) At a left-hand bend on the D38, leave the road and turn right onto a stony path which joins the Chemin de Bastidou. Continue straight on to reach the D49.

(1) Turn left onto this road, then left again onto Rue Léon Blum, then right onto Avenue Jules Ferry. At the junction with Avenue Emile Clarenc, turn left to return to the car park next to the sports centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 374 ft - Avenue Émile Clarenc - Sports Centre
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 361 ft - Avenue du Général de Gaulle x Chemin du Bastidou
  3. 2 : mi 0.45 - alt. 371 ft - Opposite, on the downhill dirt track
  4. 3 : mi 0.69 - alt. 377 ft - Turn left onto the tarmac path. Pass close to the - Fresquel (rivière) - Affluent de l'Aude
  5. 4 : mi 1.35 - alt. 377 ft - Turn left onto the Chemin de la Seigne
  6. 5 : mi 1.65 - alt. 322 ft - Opposite on a dirt track
  7. 6 : mi 2.13 - alt. 328 ft - Ruined windmill, on the right
  8. 7 : mi 2.44 - alt. 371 ft - Turn right onto the dirt track
  9. 8 : mi 3.47 - alt. 446 ft - Turn right onto the stony path
  10. S/E : mi 4.42 - alt. 374 ft - Avenue Emile Clarenc - Sports Centre

Worth a visit

On a clear day, you can enjoy beautiful scenery and sometimes even see the snow-capped Pyrenees.

If you wish, you can take the path on the left for a return trip to the banks of the Fresquel to see the Pont Percé. These are the remains of a bridge that once spanned the River Fresquel. The additional distance to be covered is approximately 700m.

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
2.9 / 5
Janot11
Janot11

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A really nice route for beginners (like me ).
It’s true that the noise from the main road spoils the fun a bit. But we’re right next to the town, so that’s to be expected.

It’s true there’s tarmac, but you can easily avoid most of it by taking the side paths.

I did it on a Sunday morning and it was still very pleasant. I even almost spotted a deer, but it ran off very quickly when it saw me (or smelled me )

Suitable for complete beginners.

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nicoleroland71
nicoleroland71
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A rather uninteresting route, with too many tarmac paths and, above all, too close to busy main roads during the autumn half-term holidays. It was described as an ‘easy walk’, but we’re actually looking for hikes that take us further into the countryside

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Maïtéchincholle
Maïtéchincholle

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

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

Nothing of interest, traffic noise, partly tarmac-surfaced paths, no views.

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clubmarches
clubmarches

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

a very uninteresting route

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Carcassonne
Carcassonne
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk if you don’t want to stray too far from Carcassonne and don’t fancy a particularly long route.

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papiloumo
papiloumo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very good description of this walk, even though there are no signposts.
However, the 700-metre return stretch along the main road, with fairly heavy traffic, isn’t the most pleasant...

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scorpion11620
scorpion11620

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

For beginners who have a few hours to spare

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scorpion11620
scorpion11620

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Just for the exercise

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