Mines Route from Andabre

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Starting from the Andabre sports complex, opposite the cemetery, this is a lovely walk in a corner of the Hérault that once lived off coal mining. Although mining ceased in the early 1990s, it has left a lasting impression on the local community. This walk gives you an insight into another type of activity, still practised today, namely agriculture, specifically chestnut farming.

Details

n°86045943
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.59 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,417 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,414 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,215 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,178 ft
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Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park of the Andrabe sports complex (GPS: 43.66708, 3.00691), take the road heading north. At the hairpin bend, continue straight on Rue du Caladou until you reach the D922. Follow it carefully to the right towards Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare until you reach the first street on the left, Route de Plaisance.

(1) Take this road, cross the Bouissou and continue along the stream until you reach Plaisance. After the bridge over the same stream, continue on the main road for about 400 metres.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin des Cantines, climb for about 100 m, then take the road that climbs to the right and follow it to the D922 (Route de Murat).

(3) Turn right onto this road and follow it carefully for about 150 m. After the left-hand bend, turn right onto the forest track and climb until you reach a house.

(4) Continue along the path uphill until you reach a forest track.

(5) Follow this forest track to the right for about 1.3 km. Before reaching the hamlet of Marcou, look for a path on the left.

(6) Take this path, which climbs for 500 metres, then descends for another 500 metres, until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Take the path that descends to the right and follow it to the D922.

(8) Turn left onto this road and walk carefully for about 300 m.

(9) Turn onto the track on the right which descends to a hairpin bend on the left.

(10) Follow this bend and continue downhill until you reach a forest track.

(11) Follow this track, which curves to the right with the path, and descend along the Ruisseau du Péras stream until you reach a road.

(12) Turn right, cross the bridge, then look for a path that climbs to the right.

(13) Follow this path until you reach a road near the hamlet of Moulières.

(14) Turn left onto this road, go around the hamlet and arrive at a crossroads with the D22E19.

(15) Cross the road and take the path opposite for about 60 metres until you reach a junction with a footpath. Turn left onto this path and follow it until you reach Castanet-le-Haut. After the town hall, descend to the road junction.

GR®653: White and Red

(16) Turn left, then right onto the bridge. Cross the Mare and follow the GR® markings for about 1 km until you reach the left-hand bend before the bridge in the hamlet of Nougayrol. Along the way, you will pass the Visigothic site of Nougayrol.

(17) Ignore the bridge, take the path on the right and follow it for 200 m until you reach a fork.

(18) Continue on the path on the left until you reach the bridge over the Mare à Andabre.

End of the GR®653

(19) Turn left to cross the bridge, then right. After the church, take the road on the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,188 ft - Andabre sports complex - Bouissou (cours d'eau) - Affluent de la Mare
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 1,191 ft - Route de Plaisance
  3. 2 : mi 0.66 - alt. 1,217 ft - Chemin des Cantines
  4. 3 : mi 1.37 - alt. 1,539 ft - D922, Route de Murat
  5. 4 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,736 ft - House
  6. 5 : mi 1.95 - alt. 1,808 ft - Forest track
  7. 6 : mi 2.75 - alt. 2,057 ft - Fork in the road before the hamlet of Marcou
  8. 7 : mi 3.32 - alt. 2,110 ft - Crossroads
  9. 8 : mi 3.69 - alt. 1,929 ft - D922
  10. 9 : mi 3.88 - alt. 1,886 ft - Fork in the track
  11. 10 : mi 4.06 - alt. 1,824 ft - Hairpin bend
  12. 11 : mi 4.42 - alt. 1,667 ft - Forest track
  13. 12 : mi 5.55 - alt. 1,358 ft - Andabre Road
  14. 13 : mi 5.6 - alt. 1,348 ft - Fork in the path
  15. 14 : mi 6.09 - alt. 1,578 ft - Road to the hamlet of Moulières
  16. 15 : mi 6.3 - alt. 1,699 ft - D22E19
  17. 16 : mi 6.68 - alt. 1,414 ft - Castanet-le-Haut - Mare (rivière)
  18. 17 : mi 7.31 - alt. 1,332 ft - Bridge in the hamlet of Nougayrol
  19. 18 : mi 7.44 - alt. 1,375 ft - Fork
  20. 19 : mi 8.42 - alt. 1,191 ft - Bridge over the Mare
  21. S/E : mi 8.59 - alt. 1,188 ft - Andabre sports complex

Notes

This route follows sections of road, so please take care.

Please note: check for hunting season information.

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