Cabano Naouto and Mourel des Garouilles

From the small village of Pradelles-En-Val, it is hard to miss the rocky outcrop of Cabano Naouto, which rises to the south with its sides eroded by weathering. The proposed route first crosses vineyards and broom before reaching the ridge, which offers beautiful views of the village and the valley. After Mourel des Garouilles, the return journey takes you through heath where a few vineyards dot the landscape here and there before becoming ubiquitous over the last kilometre.

Details

n°561803
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.20 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 623 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 623 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,178 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 653 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small square by the church in Pradelles-en-Val, where there are four to five parking spaces available.

There are no signposts along the entire route

(Outward/Return) Head back down to the D3 via Rue du Château. Cross the road with care and continue straight on along a wide, partly tarmac-surfaced path lined with plane trees. Continue to the cemetery.

(1) Head straight on along the path that winds its way through the broom and vineyards. Ignore the turn-offs to the left and right. The slope gradually becomes steeper and then levels out as the path runs alongside a vineyard on the left, curving slightly to the right.

(2) Look out for the path—half grass, half stones—which starts on the right at the beginning of a hedge, and do not continue alongside the vineyard (take care at this junction, as it is not obvious in the absence of signposting).

The path soon becomes much narrower. Further on, it passes through a section obstructed by overhanging shrub branches, then turns sharply left at a 90° angle. The walk along the hillside offers lovely views of the village of Pradelles-en-Val and the vineyards that carpet the valley. You’ll reach a Y-junction marked by the ruins of a stone hut and an old, rusty sign whose inscription has almost completely faded.

(3) Turn left onto a narrower path that begins the ascent to Cabano Naouto, through a landscape of flowering bushes and dead, gnarled shrubs, bleached by the elements. Enjoy the views to the left and right as you walk along the cliff edge, pass a solitary pine tree marking the highest point of the ridge, then turn right at a right angle. You will then begin a gentle descent where the path is lost in places. Keep heading south-south-west, aiming for a solitary tree 3 to 4 metres high, which is easily spot.

Ignore a narrow path branching off to the left that does not appear on the IGN map and carry on straight ahead (south), passing just to the right of the tree in question. Follow the track, which is barely visible at first but becomes clearer about fifty metres further on, until it joins a wide grassy path.

(4) Turn left and carry on straight ahead until you reach a vast, flat, grassy area where you’ll cross another wide path coming from the right. Carry on straight ahead for about 30 metres, skirting a cultivated field on your right-hand side, until you reach the start of a slight uphill bend to the right.

(5) Turn left to follow a path with multiple tracks for the first hundred metres, which then becomes clearer. Walk alongside the Mourel des Garouilles, a series of small peaks on your right. Pass in front of a wooden hunters’ hut with a corrugated iron roof and begin the descent leading to the D18.

(6) Cross the road (take care) and turn right to walk alongside it. Cross a small bridge and, about twenty metres further on, turn left onto a wide stony path. Turn immediately right at the Fork in the road, ignore a path branching off to the left, then pass a building on your left which serves, amongst other things, as a hay store. Keep left at the next Fork in the road.

(7) At the right-hand bend that follows, do not miss the start of this path leading uphill to the left (marked by a single small stone when I passed through), as it is very tempting to continue to the right on the wide path you have been following up to this point.

The route takes you through a landscape of heath. Stay on this wide, stony path, which alternates between gentle ascents and short descents, ignoring all the tracks – whether wide or narrow – on either side. A few vineyards on the right add a pleasant touch to the landscape before you reach a partially tarmacked road.

(8) Turn left, ignoring a small road on the right (a sign for Château de Roquenegade was lying on the ground when I passed by) and carry on straight ahead until you reach a T-junction.

(9) Ignore the tracks on the left and head straight on along the road, using either the grassy verges or the paths running alongside the vineyards if you wish to avoid the tarmac. Carry on to the entrance to the village.

At the point where the road turns left to join the D18, near a shed, take the grassy path on the right which starts at the foot of the concrete electricity pylon. You’ll reach a road 100 metres further on.

Turn left, then immediately right to return to the church and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 689 ft - Church Square
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 679 ft - Cemetery – straight ahead
  3. 2 : mi 0.83 - alt. 830 ft - Junction – turn right
  4. 3 : mi 1.23 - alt. 1,040 ft - Y-junction – turn left
  5. 4 : mi 1.81 - alt. 1,106 ft - Junction with a wide grassy path – turn left
  6. 5 : mi 2.01 - alt. 1,024 ft - Junction – turn left
  7. 6 : mi 2.94 - alt. 810 ft - D18 – turn right
  8. 7 : mi 3.26 - alt. 866 ft - Junction – turn left
  9. 8 : mi 3.98 - alt. 830 ft - Vehicle track – turn left
  10. 9 : mi 4.4 - alt. 738 ft - T-junction – go straight on
  11. S/E : mi 5.2 - alt. 689 ft - Church Square

Notes

There are no signposts along the entire route, so a good sense of direction is required.

I would like to draw your attention to several junctions, which may not be very visible on the ground but which you must not miss under any circumstances. The Visorando app proves very useful here, as many tracks and paths not shown on the map can be misleading.

(2) Vineyard on the left-hand side, start of a hedge opposite.
Between (3) and (4), the solitary shrub (see photo).
(5) Flat area, cultivated field on the right-hand side, start of a right-hand bend uphill (see photo).
(7) Path on the left going uphill (see photo).

These various points requiring attention justify the ‘Medium’ rating.

No shelter: the hunters’ hut before the D18 is locked tight.

No water along the route. Take a sufficient supply with you as the entire walk takes place in open country with no shade.

Due to numerous stony sections, good walking boots are recommended.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 2429754

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A really lovely walk – the only slight downside is the end, which is a bit monotonous with the tarmac path. Apart from that, there’s a magnificent view and a hut like you don’t often see. I’d recommend it without a second thought.

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Aigle noir
Aigle noir

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, the ridge crossing with 360-degree views is superb, no difficulty following the route with the GPS track, well marked, the only downside being the last few kilometres on uninteresting tarmac.

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larrigole georges
larrigole georges

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Due to lack of shade, this should not be done during the hottest months.

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mireillebbln2
mireillebbln2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful scenery.
The description is good, but not easy to follow without a GPS.
This trail would benefit from being marked.

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TROUVE Jean-Jacques
TROUVE Jean-Jacques ★

Thank you for your review. Could you please explain why you found the accuracy of the map to be very disappointing? Where exactly? What is the discrepancy between the description, which you rated as 'Very good', and the map?
Thank you in advance.

Jean-Jacques TROUVE

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FURBY68
FURBY68
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike completed on 14 January 2019
The description of the hike is clear. A beautiful hike with stunning views, but best done in spring or autumn as there is no shade.

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VeroCat
VeroCat

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful views but the route is not signposted and sometimes a bit difficult to find.

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SEGUY_MIC
SEGUY_MIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb views, easy hiking and perfectly marked despite some sections where the trails are barely visible.
Thanks to the designers.

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licianus
licianus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very good hike. The GPS track is accurate and we had no difficulty following the route despite the trails sometimes being barely marked. Beautiful panoramic views. No trees but a pleasant path. We did the hike after a day of rain and encountered a few muddy sections, but nothing that hindered our progress. You just need to clean your shoes when you arrive. The landmarks are useful and complement the track well. The final stretch on tarmac is a little long, but this does not detract from the appeal of this circular. Thank you.

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berry6971
berry6971

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Well done to those who discovered and described it.

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njafrica
njafrica

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The description is accurate and reliable. You have to follow it carefully, otherwise you'll quickly get lost shortly after starting the hike.

A route full of magnificent views.

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randonnéeaude
randonnéeaude

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent and essential description, as the network is inaccessible until point 4. Wide views, easy paths, great silence.
Best avoided in summer, as the route has no shade.

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