In the red earth below Gissac

A lovely climb through holm oaks, kermes oaks and broom.

Details

1800247
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 169 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 168 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 591 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 422 m

Description of the walk

To return to the start: from Camarès, take the D10 towards Sylvanès and, after the Andabre lodge, take the first track on the left and park after the houses.

(S/E) From the car park, take the farm track on the left. At the fork, continue left to cross a ford over the Frinque stream.

(1) Once you have crossed the ford, leave the well-marked track heading left and take the less well-marked track on the right. Further on, ignore the track on the right.

(2) Take the path on the right for about 300m.

(3) Leave the track, enter the field and follow its edge to reach the stone building visible at the top of the field. Once at the top of the field on the left, go through the gate and close it properly. Take the path leading from this gate, which climbs steadily to the highest point of this walk. From here, continue along the path to the next fork

(4) Several paths open up; take the one furthest to the right.

(5) At the end of the path, either continue along the edge of the field in the same direction, or take the small path leading downhill to the right. You will arrive at the same spot, just before the next fork.

(6) Leave the stony farm track and take the path leading down to the right. After the S-shaped descent, pass by Mas Brigou (a large fortified stone house) and continue straight on towards the finish (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 422 m - Parking near the Andabre lodge. Near the - Andabre (ruisseau) - Affluent du ruisseau de Prugnes
  2. 1 : km 0.78 - alt. 431 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.35 - alt. 457 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.55 - alt. 473 m - Entrance to the path leading to the hut at the bottom
  5. 4 : km 2.47 - alt. 586 m - Turn right at the multi-way junction
  6. 5 : km 3.1 - alt. 570 m - Choice of route
  7. 6 : km 3.54 - alt. 540 m - Path on the right
  8. S/E : km 5.37 - alt. 423 m - Parking near the Andabre lodge

Notes

The section between (4) and (5) is quite steep and requires everyone to climb at their own pace.

Worth a visit

The upper town of Camarès.
Gissac Castle.
Montaigut Castle.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 28115724

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, varied walk that isn’t too difficult. Do bring a hat or cap for the sections without shade.

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Vador61
Vador61

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike that we would like to modify.
At point 3, do not go back up into the field, as there is no barrier at the top. There is a fence that has been trampled down to reach the path on the left, making your way through the brambles. You will see that the barrier mentioned is actually an opening onto the path.
It is therefore preferable to take the path to the left of the field when starting from point 3. At the beginning of the path, two posts marked with a yellow dot frame a cattle grid (made of tubes).

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Bouconne VTT
Bouconne VTT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It was just a short warm-up run to kick off the season.
You should do it in the direction indicated. Don’t hesitate to go as far as Gissac via the St Jacques chapel (lovely view) and return via Bascau
These red soils are quite unique.

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Cjl
Cjl

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

From (2) onwards, you walk through tall grass, which isn’t very pleasant.
At (3), should we have gone along the field on the right or the left? We went along the right. We couldn’t find the gate. So we headed to Sénégas and followed the route suggested here https://rando.parc-grands-causses.fr/tre... but in reverse, back to the starting point at Andabre.
Your route misses out on the most beautiful part of the Rougier – what a shame! Whereas the one we caught up with crosses right through it. We rejoined your route on the climb between (3) and (4)
At (6), you turn right to head back down towards Andabre, whereas by continuing towards Gissac as we did, we pass a pretty chapel before then heading back down towards Andabre, joining your route at Mas de Brigou.
Your route is 5.4 km long; the one we took is 9.2 km.
We didn’t understand why you chose to avoid Le Rougier and the chapel.
Is it to avoid the crowds in summer by straying from the marked paths?
I’m really sorry for giving such a negative review.

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