Hills and valleys in Villeneuve-sur-Tarn

Once in Villeneuve-sur-Tarn, park in the small car park next to the church, which can accommodate three to four vehicles.

Signposting:^GR®36(white and red) +^PR® (yellow)

(S/E) Leave the car park and head right, following the road. Pass a lamppost with directional signs, turn right at the junction to cross the bridge over the Ruisseau de Malagousse. At the end of the bridge, turn left onto the Route de Gos, following the double signposting. Continue to the third bend.

(1) Turn left onto a narrow, sunken path marked by a small wooden sign bearing the inscription^GR®36painted in red. After a fairly steep climb, you’ll come out onto another path which you should follow to the right. About twenty metres further on, keep right at the bend and start a steady climb to emerge into the open onto another dual-track path.

Yellow^PR® markings

(2) Continue to the left, leaving the^GR® to the right. Keep heading in the same direction and walk along the hillside through a beautiful wooded area dominated by chestnut, oak and beech trees. Go round the beautifully restored Coustil house: the IGN map is incorrect here as the route goes round to the right of the building. Continue the descent to end on level ground and join the D53.

(3) Turn left, follow the road on the left to cross the bridge, then turn right at the Rivière Basse. Follow the country road which winds up the beautiful valley of the Ruisseau de Malagousse. Do not hesitate to look back to enjoy the view of the castle perched on its wooded spur.

Signposting:^GR®36White and Red +^PR® Yellow

(4) Turn left at the “Le Canabel” sign and follow a wide path that climbs steeply via a series of hairpin bends. Before reaching La Claverie, temporarily leave the dual markings by taking a shortcut to the right, which joins a wide, flat grassy path further up.

^PR® Yellow markings

Turn right and follow this lovely path to a tricky junction, as it is very poorly marked on the ground. You’ll need to keep a close eye out for the sign a few metres before it.

(5) Turn left onto a path that immediately begins a very steep climb up the hillside and leads to a narrow tarmac road. Turn right to follow it and reach a Fork in the road marked by a recycling bin on the right-hand side.

(6) Keep left on the gently ascending road, then do the same again about a hundred metres further on. Stay on this road, ignoring the accesses to farm properties, until you reach a junction.

(7) Keep left towards Nozierettes, leaving the access to Nozières on your right. Before reaching the buildings in the hamlet, take care not to miss the fork to the right onto a path lined with ferns, indicated by a poorly positioned sign a few metres before. Cross the tiny Ruisseau de Badaillac and head up to Espinassolles, where you’ll rejoin the tarmac road.

(8) Follow the road to the left for a few dozen metres, then turn right at the junction. After the inhabited house, the road gives way to a dirt track that climbs steeply, running alongside a field on the left, to reach the highest point of the walk.

(9) Enjoy the view to the east and begin the descent to the left until you reach the first junction.

No signposting

Ignore the signposting to the left and head straight on to the right to take a shortcut leading to Le Truel. At the edge of the woods, keep left again to enter them and continue the descent. You’ll reach Le Truel at the church and cemetery, from where a very steep tarmac road leads to the village centre.

Yellow^PR® signposting

(10) Cross the road and take the lane opposite that descends to the left, then turn immediately right. At an old stone cross next to a hideous concrete block building, continue to the right, following the signpost. When you reach the very new sewage treatment plant, continue to the left and follow the lovely sunken path which leads to a junction with a cross-path where you should turn left. Make sure you keep to the right-hand side of the fence as you head towards the woods and enter them. A few bends lead to the D77 at a place called Cougoussac.

(11) Follow the road to the left, keeping to the left-hand side of the carriageway. Just before a fountain on the left, cross over to take a path on the right; the first few metres of this may be very wet as it serves as a drainage channel for a small stream. A three-way junction in the path appears at a culvert: head slightly to the right, ignoring the wider path going uphill to the left. You will rejoin the D77 further on.

(12) Follow it to the right, keeping to the right-hand side, to avoid having to cross it further on. Pass the Pradels des Cuns buildings and leave the road, heading right towards the house. A few metres further on, leave the access to this house on your right and take a path lined with boxwood opposite: the signposting is poor at this point. You’ll come out onto the tarmac road running alongside the Tarn downstream from the Saint-Pierre power station.

(13) Continue along the road in the same direction. It’s a very pleasant walk, with the campsite and Trébas river beach on the opposite bank, which is very lively in summer. Join the D77.

(13) Continue straight on along this road, where there are numerous access points to the river for a welcome break if you wish. At the entrance to the village, leave the bridge on your right and continue straight ahead. Pass the school and you will soon reach the church and the car park where you started (S/E).

Classified as Medium, this route would merit a Medium+ rating due to the very steep climb over 200 m after (5).

Numerous sections through the undergrowth of chestnut, beech and oak trees provide welcome shade in hot weather. However, the return journey between (13) and the D77 is on tarmac in full sun, so you’ll need to take care to protect yourself.

This walk follows almost the entire^PR® route known as "Lou camin dels Castanhals". The signposting is good, with the exception of (1), where you might hesitate if you don’t spot the small, weathered wooden sign, and at Pradels des Cuns after (12). To help you find your way, directional signs are placed at major junctions.

Before setting out, bear in mind that around a third of the route is on tarmac, but these are lovely, quiet country roads: we encountered just two vehicles in July 2022. This in no way detracts from the peace and quiet and the rural atmosphere that prevails throughout.

Water tap approximately 200 m after the (11). Water quality not verified. Bring sufficient water with you.

Hiking boots are recommended, as are walking poles to aid progress on the steep sections.

Villeneuve-sur-Tarn: on the way back, take the time to stroll through the village and read the various information boards illustrating life in days gone by, with photos and very interesting commentary. Many buildings are featured under the heading “Once Upon a Time Here”: café, presbytery, blacksmith’s, grocery shop, etc.

The village of Trébas-les-Bains.

Ambialet.

Lincou.