Col de Fontfroide walks

Ascent of Espinouse starting from the car park before the hamlet of Bardou to Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal via the GR®7 and GRP® Tours des Monts et Lacs en Haut Languedoc. This hike is the first part of a two-day circular, completed by the ascent of Caroux, from Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal to the car park before the hamlet of Bardou.

This is the first day of the Haut Languedoc trip. It will take at least 5 hours to reach Douch. The climb to the Col de la Maure is unmarked but follows a well-marked, safe path. See § Practical information (¹).The access to the Col du Bardou is beautiful. The descent to the Ruisseau d'Héric and the climb back up to Douch via the hamlet of Héric are very varied.

On the second day, you can return to Colombières sur Orb from the summit of Espinouse via the Héric gorges.

A gentle stroll in the shade of two national forests. From Le Soulié, at an altitude of 900 m in the Somail National Forest in the Hérault, you descend gently to Labastide-Rouairoux through the Haut-Agout National Forest in the Tarn. Here, the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park hides a mystery: what might Le Somail have looked like when the dolmens and menhirs that line this route were erected? This hike may be prohibited depending on the fire risk level. Remember to check the map.

Day one: Climb up the Colombières Gorges towards the Caroux massif. Cross the Caroux massif towards Douch, then follow the Vialais stream before climbing back up to the Espinouse massif and settling down for the night.