Dourbie Corniche via the Ravin du Monna

Park at La Pouncho d’Agast, in the large designated car park beneath the pine trees.

No signposting

(S/E) Return to the access road to the site, turn right and follow it to the area reserved for coach parking. Turn left to cross it and, once at the end, take the path opposite, passing between the wooden posts. Reach the junction with another path coming from the left.

PR® Yellow signposting

(1) Take this path on the right, which winds through a beautiful, light-filled forest dominated by maritime and Laricio pines. You will emerge onto the D110; follow it to the right, using the wide hard shoulder. Pass a car park on your left with two information boards and continue for about 300 m.

(2) Be careful not to miss the start of the yellow-marked trail on the right: there are no signs at this point. When you reach a fork, take a short detour to the right to read the information panel marked “1900”, which describes how the natural environment has changed as the forest has gradually been replaced by pastureland. Resume the route to the right and head towards the old Causse farm, La Cade, set in beautiful countryside.

(3) Walk around the various buildings, passing under the stone porch, then return to the site entrance.

(3) Then turn right onto a narrow path that runs alongside the D110.

No signposting

(4) Turn left to cross the road carefully and follow the track opposite which crosses the forest, almost entirely on level ground. After passing a forest gate, you’ll come out onto the wide cross-country track of the fitness trail and follow it to the right for about 200 m, until you reach a standing stone.

(5) Leave the track by heading right, go past the forest gate and follow the path. You will reach a junction with a cross-country track.

(6) Turn left, then keep to the right about 20 metres further on to stay on the main track. Continue left at the next junction, reach a crossroads and turn right to head back towards the D110. Follow the track on the right leading to the road. Turn left to walk along the left-hand side of the road, pass a yellow underground tank marked on the left and continue to a large crossroads on the other side of the road.

GR®62 White and Red Markings

(7) Cross with care and follow the wide, almost straight path which begins a long, steady climb. Ignore two turn-offs on the right, then tackle one final steep slope before joining the track coming from the D110.

No markings

Follow this track to the right until you reach the grassy car park at the wooden barrier blocking access to motor vehicles.

(8) Turn sharply right, passing the sign for the Grands Causses National Forest. Reach a three-way junction, take the left-hand branch and continue to a tricky junction, helpfully marked by a small cairn.

(9) Leave the wide path you have been following and turn left onto a narrow track. You will reach another junction: a fallen pine tree on the right (as of March 2026). Turn right to go under it, join a path coming from the right and continue left to make the long, very pleasant descent of the Ravin du Monna. Take care to keep heading south, following the bed of the old stream – which has been dry for a long time – from above, and arrive at a junction where a sign on the left indicates that you are entering private property but with permission to pass.

(10) Ignore the path ahead leading to the hamlet of Monna, turn right uphill and you will soon reach a right-hand bend where a stone retaining wall begins. At this point, leave the wide path that continues to the right and take the very narrow uphill path opposite. Walk for about 300 m to reach the trickiest change of direction on the hike, as it is almost invisible on the ground: a GPX track is essential.

(11) Head left and you’ll find a clearer path about twenty metres further on. This is the start of the cliff-top path, which requires great care: the track is very narrow (less than 20 cm wide), generally sloping and running along the edge of sheer drops where a fall is not an option. Follow this path, which generally follows the contour lines despite a few short, awkward ascents and descents due to the terrain. The magnificent views over the Dourbie valley help to take your mind off the real difficulty of this section. Pass the Ravin de Pépissou and emerge onto a much wider path directly above the hamlet of Massebiau.

(12) Turn right and walk for about 250 m to reach a small, inconspicuous cairn marking the resumption of the cliff-top path.

(13) Turn left and continue to follow this path carefully; it becomes less distinct in places and requires the same caution.

(14) Leave the cliff path by turning right onto a much gentler path that climbs up a small wooded valley. Emerge at the top into a more open area and continue to follow the path, which slopes to the left before joining a cross-country route: wooden signpost for the mountain bike route.

(15) Turn left and follow this path, which leads gently back to the starting point, offering stunning views of the Millau Viaduct. The car park will be on the right (S/E).

The ‘Difficult’ rating is fully justified by the use of the cliff-edge path between (11) and (12), then between (13) and (14). This path is very narrow and mostly on a slope, which makes it difficult to progress right at the edge of dangerous cliffs where a fall is not an option. It is not suitable for children and requires the utmost caution. You should also be prepared for significant strain on your ankles, as the ground is never level.

There are numerous paths and tracks in the area, most of which are unmarked. The GPX track will be very useful.

Good hiking boots are recommended due to the second part of the route. Trekking poles will be useful at the start but will become cumbersome on the cliff-edge path, as it is better to have your hands free to make your way along, using any small trees available for support.

No water along the route. Toilets at the start.

Dourbie Gorges.

Tarn Gorges.

Millau.