Park in the village of L’Hospitalet, north-east of Rocamadour.
Note: The first part of the walk descends through the dry Alzou valley (be careful, as it does occasionally carry water)
(S/E) Follow theGR®®6(red and white markings). The tarmac path turns into a limestone-gravel track, then, after a small bridge, becomes tarmac again and climbs the left-hand side of the valley to reach the Croix du Crouzol or Col de Magès, the boundary between the Ouysse and Alzou valleys.
(1) Continue along theGR®®, heading for the left bank of the Ouysse. A path branching off to the right at a ‘no entry’ sign provides a shortcut to the hamlet of La Fage.
From the Col de Magès, head down towards the Cabouy resurgence along the tarmac road. From Cabouy, keeping to the right bank of the Ouysse, climb a little higher to rejoin theGR®®6. This route follows the river as it climbs, then becomes a path that descends to the Caoulet mill, which you must cross. The path becomes tarmacked and, at the road leading to the Peyre mill on the opposite bank, crosses the Alzou (a stream from Rocamadour).
(2) Before crossing this bridge, you can visit the reconstructed ‘loge’ sheltered by the cliff. You then pass under a half-timbered dovecote, the remains – along with a few walls – of a former farm. This tarmac path leads onto a road, the D673. Turn left for about 300 metres, then turn right at the next junction. Follow the Ouysse valley along its right bank to reach the .
Walk past the mill and you’ll soon come to a crossroads of footpaths.
(3) Leave theGR®®6, which heads towards the Moulin de la Treille, and follow the small tarmac road that climbs to the right.
At the end of a wide bend, take the path on the right which climbs up onto the plateau. Follow this path until you reach a wider track, level with a restored house (well worth a look).
Turn left. When you reach a road, continue left again towards the Vitalie farm.
(4) Leave it on your right. A little further on, in a large, open grassy clearing, look for the path on the right that descends into a wooded valley; continue to the bottom of the descent.
(5) Turn 180° to the right and follow the valley floor. At the road further on, turn right onto a path that climbs back up to the plateau (the slope is steep). Turn left and you’ll reach the hamlet of La Gardelle.
(6) At the tarmac road, turn right, then left at the next junction, and then left again to find a path lined with dry stone walls that winds its way down. Pass through a farm, with a house on the right and a barn and stable on the left.
Halfway up the slope of a barren valley, a small spring converted into a wash house blocks the path: Font Capel.
Head back up the opposite side, but turn right to discover the beautiful, well-restored fountain at Font Basse. Join the path again by heading up to the left of the fountain. You’ll reach a junction marked by a carved boundary stone. A few steps to the left is the Font Haute spring, which is less well-maintained than the other two.
(7) Turn right and walk uphill to a cross-path which, on the right, leads to the hamlet of La Fage. Turn left, walk past a stopover lodge and arrive at a crossroads; continue to the left. Cross over and take the wide path on the right. You’ll come out onto the D673.
(8) Cross the road and follow a well-marked path between two walls (look out for the snail).
When you reach Marcayou, turn right. You’ll arrive above Rocamadour, with the castle and the Rocher des Aigles on your right.
(9) Turn left onto the Route du Château (also the D20) and head towards the junction with Rue de la Barthe Flouquet. Turn right onto this street; you’ll soon come to Rue de la Balme just before the post office.
(10) Turn left onto this street, then turn right onto Rue de l’Hospitalet to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

