Bruniquel and Montricoux via Cabéou

A circuit from Bruniquel to Montricoux through the Aveyron valley, which will take you back via the heights overlooking the valley you have just crossed. Beautiful wild trails and a beautiful view of Bruniquel on the opposite side of the river.

Details

510670
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.75 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,381 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,378 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 778 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 292 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Bruniquel (82800)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.055221° / E 1.663872°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2141E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is at the junction of the Town Hall and the cemetery. Park along the Promenade du Ravelin or in the car park below the cemetery.

(S/E) From the junction, head up towards the Château via Rue de l’Hôpital. Continue up the steps until you reach the Esplanade du Château. Turn left and walk past the toilets.

(1) As you leave the grassy area, immediately take the dirt track on the right and walk through the woodland. At the track, turn right and continue straight ahead along the Chemin des Gardes until you reach the D115E, passing through Foncave without taking any side paths.

(2) At the D115, turn right and, 150 m further on, turn left. At the next road, turn right twice. Pass under the Penne road (D115).

(3) At Moulin des Bordes, follow the path – marked in yellow – running parallel to the River Aveyron.

(4) Pass the confluence of the Vaysse stream and the River Aveyron

(5) At the junction by the bridge over the Aveyron, turn right onto theGRP®® de Midi-Quercy, crossing the bridge (white-and-red markings). At the next junction, turn right onto Rue de la Brèche and climb the steps on the left up Impasse Saint-Antoine to rejoin the Grande Rue. Walk through the village, following this street to the right.

(6) At the crossroads by the wayside cross, take the road on the right. You are now on the Route des Sept Perdrix and theGRP®® de Midi-Quercy. About 350 metres further on, turn left onto the Chemin de la Timballe, which leads to Saint-Geniest and then branches off to the right towards the Moulin d’Embarre.

(7) At the wash house, cross the Ruisseau d’Embarre and turn left. Do not follow Les Sept Perdrix. Leave the dirt track to the right at the next junction. Follow the stony path uphill to the four-way junction.

(8) Leave theGRP®® trail, head right, then turn left twice.

(9) At the wayside cross and in front of Camis Haut, pass the wooden barrier on the right. Follow the path heading south to Cabéou, ignoring any cross-paths.

(10) At Cabéou, walk past the farm and cross the stream. Follow the stream along the dirt track that starts to the left of the road. Walk alongside it, passing Les Issarts and Montalba, until you reach the junction at Cote 174. The path curves to the right and crosses the Cabéou stream again.

(11) At the wash house, head up to the left along the stony sunken track towards Joanny. The track ends as a dirt track as it approaches the road. At the road, turn right.

(12) Leave the track and take the dirt track on the right. Follow the yellow markings; pass the Roudolle Calvary, the ruins of La Vignasse and a fountain. Keep heading generally south-west towards the Aveyron.

(13) At the junction with the path leading directly up from the Cabéou farm, turn left.

(14) Picnic table overlooking the valley and a view of Bruniquel.

(15) Junction with theGR®®46; continue downwards southwards towards the Aveyron. Follow the white-and-redGR®®46markings. Cross the Aveyron, follow the D115 to the left for about 50m and turn right onto the D1E. Take the first right and continue to the lower entrance to Bruniquel (rest area and car park).

(16) Leave theGR®®46and follow the yellow signposting to the right to climb back up to the village. Turn left into the street and return to the car park (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 492 ft - Start in front of the Town Hall
  2. 1 : mi 0.21 - alt. 636 ft - Dirt track on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.31 - alt. 377 ft - Junction with the D115
  4. 3 : mi 1.82 - alt. 312 ft - Moulin des Bordes - Aveyron (rivière)
  5. 4 : mi 3.09 - alt. 328 ft - Vaysse (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Aveyron
  6. 5 : mi 3.42 - alt. 331 ft - GRP Midi-Quercy junction
  7. 6 : mi 3.79 - alt. 397 ft - Crossroads at the Montricoux exit
  8. 7 : mi 4.98 - alt. 423 ft - Turn left at the wash house
  9. 8 : mi 5.45 - alt. 686 ft - On the right, the end of the GRP
  10. 9 : mi 6.04 - alt. 748 ft - Crossroads, wooden chicane
  11. 10 : mi 6.96 - alt. 338 ft - Cabéou Farm - Cabéou (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Aveyron
  12. 11 : mi 8.54 - alt. 633 ft - Washing house
  13. 12 : mi 9.16 - alt. 774 ft - Crossroads, dirt track on the right
  14. 13 : mi 10.3 - alt. 715 ft - Crossroads, path leading up from the farm
  15. 14 : mi 10.46 - alt. 735 ft - Picnic table
  16. 15 : mi 10.86 - alt. 515 ft - GR46 junction
  17. 16 : mi 11.51 - alt. 387 ft - Crossroads back to the village
  18. S/E : mi 11.75 - alt. 492 ft - Arrival in front of the Town Hall

Notes

In winter or during periods of heavy rain, it is recommended that you shorten the walk by skipping the section that runs alongside the Cabéou.
To do this, take the steeply ascending path (a quarter of the climb) which starts a few steps after leaving the road.
So head directly from point (10) to point (13).
Ignore the Yellow Cross.

If you start the walk from Montricoux, you might want to plan a picnic at point (14)
A beautiful viewpoint, with peace and quiet and natural surroundings guaranteed. This is private land made available to walkers. Courtesy and respect for the area are essential

Worth a visit

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

4.5 / 5
Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
PatFromTls
PatFromTls

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I love this walk – it offers a lovely variety of scenery, plenty of shade, and a magical atmosphere when the Cabéou is flowing.

I did it in February in these conditions and again yesterday when the Cabéou was dry – the walk remains enjoyable.
It finishes on a high note with a lovely climb – perfect for a lovely day out with a picnic.

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figaubert
figaubert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful trails – we set off from Montricoux. This walk offers some lovely views, and much of it takes you through the woods, which is pleasant whatever the season. It’s an easy walk, contrary to what’s stated.

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geneviève crokaert
geneviève crokaert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route we did starting from Montricoux. The paths and trails were very easy to walk on and pleasant, with very little road walking. Contrary to some reviews, we really enjoyed the section between Bruniquel and Montricoux.

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Kiaora
Kiaora

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with no difficulties whatsoever, including the fords (Cabéou was dry).
Done at the end of March, just as the vegetation is about to burst into life. A pure delight, these colours and scents here and there.
Beautiful views of Bruniquel on the way back.

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ThC
ThC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Apart from the section between points 2 and 3 (the path that runs alongside the Aveyron river, just below the road) to Montricoux, which isn't great, the rest of this hike is very pleasant.
The big advantage of this hike is that it is mostly shaded. I did it on 3 August, and despite the heat, it was bearable. There are some very beautiful paths (the wash house with water flowing even in August, the path that descends along stone walls just after point 7 and climbs back up along the Cabéou stream, which is dry at this time of year but very shady and with a very pleasant atmosphere, coolness, a tunnel of vegetation... and which ends at an old wash house. A visit to the village of Bruniquel at the end of the hike is also worthwhile as it is a very charming hilltop village in the Tarn.

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Rio de J
Rio de J

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike along the Cabéou.

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randovolant
randovolant

Hello Marco 64
You can avoid this section by taking the road at point 8 and returning directly to Bruniquel
If I remember correctly, between point 8 and the bottom of point 9, the slope is very gentle. The only problem you might encounter is when there is water in the cabéou that you have to cross. The only slight difficulty is between points 9 and 10, then it's flat all the way to 11.
From point 11, there is a stony descent to point 13

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Marco 64
Marco 64

Hello. I would like to do this route but make it a little shorter. The trail you indicate as an option, going directly from point 8 to P11, is not visible on the map and is probably very steep.
Do you have it in GPX format and do you know if it is suitable for average hikers?
Thank you in advance for your reply

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peyroles12
peyroles12

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

be sure to choose the right season to see water in the Cabéou!!! Guaranteed effects!

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wol14
wol14

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

we had a wonderful hike in beautiful weather, not too hot, with a very steep slope at the end offering a magnificent view of the castle.

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SERGE 24
SERGE 24

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, Montricoux and Bruniquel are worth seeing, the CABEAOU stream is dry even after recent rains, so the climb and the fords are not difficult.

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randovolant
randovolant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today, magnificent route and views. Very beautiful villages of Bruniquel and Montricoux (Mont Ricoux). No major difficulties

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Soie Douce C.
Soie Douce C.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I had already done this hike on foot, but this time we did it on mountain bikes.
A very beautiful and technical ride (with some great climbs and descents!!!).

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marizou1957
marizou1957

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, easy under a clear blue sky and bright sunshine, offering lovely views of the countryside and Bruniquel Castle.
Montricoux and Bruniquel are very pretty villages worth seeing.
However, we got lost after the wash house at the crossroads where you have to leave the GR (red and yellow) trail. At this point (point No. 6), I think there should be signs indicating the names of the hikes.
We didn't meet anyone on this part of the hike, but there were lots of walkers on the Cabéou Bruniquel loop.

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SOKA82
SOKA82

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, as this route is the modified PR8 of the Seven Partridges of Bruniquel, the signposts and directions are confusing. My daughter and I got lost due to a lack of clear directions (particularly after the wash house and the cross). Otherwise, it was a very pleasant and varied route. Best regards.

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