Col de the Heath - Pas de la Serre - Chemin Cathare

Coming from Perpignan, one kilometre after Estagel, turn right towards Tuchan/Paziols on the D611. Stay on this road until you reach Paziols. At the crossroads in the centre of the village, turn right, then immediately right again below the D611, following the signs for the car park after passing the school.

Off the beaten track

(S/E) From the car park, return to the D611 (Avenue des Corbières). Cross it, turn left and walk past the mini-market.

(1) Turn slightly right and walk up Rue de La Placette to the end. Turn left onto Rue du Presbytère and walk for 40 metres, then turn right up a stone staircase.
Reach the end of the street and turn right, climbing up a wide pebble path. This will take you to the beautifully restored church.

(2) Immediately after the church, turn right onto a wide track that heads straight south-west. Pass a semi-buried water reservoir on your left, then turn left to climb up to the orientation table. "Very beautiful landscape over this vast plain". Now continue along the ridge on this stony track, still heading south-west. After the 252 m mark, head due west, still on the ridge, on the same track, ignoring all the paths, tracks and cairns on either side.

When you reach a less steep area, continue due west. At around 370 m, turn due north and climb more steeply. Leave a track on your right and turn due south-west again, with a depression on your left. Pay attention, as you will need to leave the track at the end of the bend.

Cairn Blue and/or white paint marks

(3) Turn sharply right to climb steeply up a path through typical low vegetation. Follow this beautiful ridge path. "Very beautiful landscape over Grau de Padern and the entire plain."
Then descend to join a cross-country track at Col de the Heath at an altitude of 445 metres.

(4) Continue straight ahead along the track. Stay on level ground for a short while, then descend to the right at a 90° angle to reach an intersection with another recalibrated track (observed on 12 December 2022) at an elevation of 407 metres.

(5) Turn left onto the track, which has also been recalibrated, going uphill, and join a grazing area where the track turns left at a 90° angle towards 435 m.

Fluorescent yellow markings.

(6) Continue straight ahead along a small path, clearly marked on the ground, which climbs northeast. Pass a wooden sign indicating Pas de la Serre on your right and join this pretty passage. Beautiful scenery on both sides.

(7) However, be careful on this stony path, which descends steeply on the other side of the mountain. Pass a cleared area (observed on 12 December 2022), a flat area and a wooden sign indicating Château de Padern*. Leave this direction and descend to the right to join a track at around 345 m.

Very old yellow markings are very sparse.

(8) Turn completely right onto this track and follow it downhill continuously (variant in practical information). You will come to an intersection with a cross track at around 270 m.

(9) Turn left and continue down this new track, which is concreted a little further down. Reach the end of the village and continue along Rue Sainte-Cécile to reach the village square.

(10) On your left is the Café des Sport, on your right is the town hall (information on floods) and the restaurant. Continue straight ahead, descending towards the large car park. Cross the wooden Passelys (ford) over the Verdouble. Reach the intersection of^{the GR®367},^GR®36Aand^GRP® Tour des Fenouillèdes, indicated by directional signs.

White and red markings for^{the GR®367}

(11) Continue to the right along the wide track, towards Chemin Cathare -^GR®367. This will take you to the D14 at the road bridge. Leave it and continue opposite, on the right-hand side of the road, for about 150 m.

(12) Cross the road, which is not very busy, but take care nonetheless. Directional signpost. Climb the few steps to continue on the^GR®367. Observe the instructions not to park under these huge, very unstable rocks, which sometimes end up on the road in this beautiful gorge. Very quickly, the path reveals beautiful landscapes. Continue along the^GR®367for a few kilometres and rejoin the D14. Turn left onto this road and continue for about 100 metres. Look for a small track/road on the right.

(13) Follow it to the right (no traffic). Enjoy the beautiful landscape as you continue south-east-south until you reach a narrow, tarmac road.

(14) Turn left onto this road and head east towards the village. Continue straight ahead and, as you approach the D611, look for a small path on the right along the fence. Then climb up a wooden structure onto the pavement along the D611. Turn right and, before the crossroads, cross the D611 at the pedestrian crossing and go down the few steps to reach the car park (S/E).

This is a low mountain area. You will need: rain and windproof clothing, water, snacks, GPX track, description, map, camera, walking shoes and a walking stick.
Shelter and drinking water available in Paziols and Padern

* Alternative route (8) Continue left along the track towards Padern Castle. One kilometre further on, at an altitude of 314 metres, leave the track and descend to the right along a path through the forest, then climb back up to the sign: Pas de Mossac. Then descend towards the castle crossroads. Turn right onto the^GR®367and join the (10).

Le Café des Sports.
La P’tite Ardoise: restaurant, grocery store and booking for the communal lodge.
Padern Town Hall.
Permanent mini-market in Paziols.