Cuxac-Cabardès walks

Three-quarters of the route is sheltered from the wind and sun. A beautiful walk through a chestnut forest. The different markings cross each other. This should not be taken into account as several of the paths taken are marked with a cross, but they are the right paths nonetheless. (in (2), in (6) and in (7))

A mid-season hike as it’s always exposed to the sun and wind. It climbs for 3.5 km before heading back down… obviously!

A walk through woods and fields. The first kilometre is a bit muddy after heavy rain.

A lovely walk, almost entirely through woodland, sheltered from the wind and direct sunlight. La Combe Haute is an old, abandoned property now in ruins.

Hike in the forest, almost always marked in yellow. Short off-trail excursion on paths not marked on the map. In autumn, you may be lucky enough to find some porcini mushrooms.

This route was created by the association "Environnement, Territoires et Paysages" and is very well marked with yellow lines in accordance with FFRP coding. Every slightly complicated crossroads has been clearly marked. Very well protected, it can be done in both winter and summer. Two or three fords have been damaged by the floods of 15 October 2018, but they can be crossed without any problems. You can visit the town hall website to download another description of this hike.

This walk was created by the association "Environnement, territoires et paysages" (Environment, Territories and Landscapes). Another description can be found at the Brousses town hall or at the paper mill. Half of the route is on tarmac roads, but with wide, well-mowed verges that allow you to walk on the grass. This walk is particularly enjoyable after heavy rainfall, as in 2018/2019.

The walk remains entirely in the forest and is completely off-road. Wear suitable footwear as the route is very stony.

Forest hike to the Cuxac-Cabardès wind farm, above the Dure valley, and almost complete tour of Lake Laprade Basse via the recently constructed path that avoids the D101 between the hamlet and the dam dyke (see info).

A pleasant hike with quite a few climbs. The descent after (4) is a little tricky, so make sure you have good footwear. This walk is marked with large orange brushstrokes. But as always, it is best to follow Visorando.

Nestled between Lake Galaube and Lake Laprade Basse, the Loubatière State Forest covers 450 hectares. It is located in the western part of the vast forest that covers the southern slope of the Montagne Noire in the Aude department. A single, completely wooded area, this forest, which ranges in altitude from 660 to 885 metres, forms the headwaters of the Linon stream. In autumn, it offers a dream setting for hikers in search of mushrooms and chestnuts, with the golden colours of oak, beech, birch and chestnut leaves carpeting the ground. This is the ideal playground for an easy walk starting from the hamlet of Cals Haut, part of the commune of Lacombe, between Saissac and Les Martys.

The walk is half sheltered from the sun and wind. There is a little tarmac and a lot of almost carriageable, limestone and very stony paths.

Petite balade autour du village durant laquelle vous allez souvent longer des murettes en pierres sèches. Les sentiers ont été creusés à flanc de colline et ces murettes ont été montées pour retenir la terre du fond dominant. Nous sommes en 2016 et le tracé a été reconnu et identifié par des marques de couleur Rouge. Ces marques ne respectent pas la forme officielle de la FFR mais sont parfaitement visibles car assez larges. Cela n'est pas inutile car certains sentiers sont dans les champs.

In hot weather, here’s a short, shaded walk in the Loubatière State Forest along paths not necessarily marked on the IGN map but very pleasant to walk along with little elevation gain. The route shares a section with the Lacombe PR°°®°° trail

Walk along forest paths towards the Bois de la Serre Haute and the Forêt Domaniale de la Loubatière from Lacombe, stopping at the source of the Canal du Midi, the Prise d'Alzeau, before following the left bank of the Lac de la Galaube. The route is marked locally (yellow line). It is taken in the opposite direction to the description with a few modifications for greater comfort (descent at the end of the route).

360 years ago, Pierre Paul Riquet had the trial trench for the Canal du Midi dug. The official purpose of this small diversion canal was to prove that large quantities of water could be brought from the Montagne Noire to the Naurouze threshold, where the planned navigation canal would have its "dividing point", its highest watercourse. However, for Riquet, the stakes were much higher: he also wanted to prove that he was fully capable of managing a project as large as the gigantic structure he had planned. To convince Colbert and the commission responsible for examining the feasibility of the project, he offered to finance the test canal himself and only be reimbursed if the objectives were achieved... Theoutcome proved this stubborn man right! This walk takes you on a journey of discovery to find traces of this "Rigole d'Essai" in the Alzeau valley, starting from the village of Lacombe. Parking is available opposite the town hall.

A refreshing walk in the Montagne Noire from the small village of Lacombe (11310) to the Ramondens national forest (Tarn) with a picnic stop near the retaining dyke of the St-Denis basin. Return via the right bank of the Alzeau and passage at the Prise d'Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi, before climbing back up to Lacombe. Walk checked on 18/06/23. A few details have been added by the author

From Lac de Laprade Basse in the commune of Cuxac-Cabardès, "Let's go for a walk in the woods to see if the wolf is there!" In fact, let's set off to explore the Loubatière National Forest, from the Dure River, which feeds the lake, to the Linon Stream, which joins it upstream from Montolieu. Beneath centuries-old trees stand the ruins of an old Carthusian monastery abandoned long before the Revolution, due, among other things, to wolves... which have since been replaced by deer.

Here is a variation on the "Lac de Laprade, around the lake" hike. This variation avoids the climb up the paved road to the village of Laprade Basse. It allows you to visit the Laprade peat bogs and enjoy a pleasant walk on pontoons.

A short walk, sheltered from the sun and wind for almost the entire length as it is in the forest. It had been marked in blue for an event and these markings remain visible in 2016 – but for how long? In two places, we follow paths that are not shown on the IGN map. Hence the importance of following the Visorando route.

The walk is always in the shade and sheltered by very large beech and oak trees. There is practically no elevation gain as you follow the water.

A gentle walk in the shade for the first third of the route. No difficulty. Tarmac road for 20% of the route and wide paths for the rest.

The Rigole de la Montagne again. But this time you won’t be walking alongside it. You’ll go round it on a route that’s shaded all the way. The return along the road is a bit long, but you can walk on the verges if you don’t like tarmac.

A walk entirely through the woodland of the Forêt de La Loubatière. Following paths and tracks, without ever walking on tarmac, you will follow the Ruisseau de Fraïssègne, one of the streams feeding into Lac de la Galaube, along whose eastern arm you will walk.

Very pleasant trail between water and forest followed by a themed trail on the peat bog with explanatory panels. Ideal in hot weather, very shady trail (except for the dyke).