Through the vineyards beneath the Madeloc tower from Port-Vendres

Park your car in the harbour car park.

(S/E) Leave the harbour behind you and cross the road (the Collioure to Banyuls coastal road). Head towards the large steps (south-west). Climb these steps. When you reach a square, cross it and climb a pedestrian alleyway (south-west) that goes uphill (with a handrail in the middle). When you reach the street, stay on level ground and head slightly downhill (due west) towards the SNCF station. Walk past the station on your left. Continue, passing the boules court on your left.

(1) Take the underpass beneath the railway line. Now head back up (due east) overlooking the railway line. You’ll reach a wider path which you follow to the left.
Caution: you have now reached the roundabout, which has a lot of traffic following the coastal road.
Cross this roundabout (heading north). Use the pedestrian crossings. As you leave the roundabout, take the road on the left (heading east) which climbs up towards the hill and overlooks the main road.

(2) Take a dirt track through the heath (due north). Follow this track as it climbs (with low walls) due north. You will reach Coll Perdiguer with two green cisterns.

(3) Continue straight on through the vineyards heading due north. After 300m, the path turns west and after 200m heads due north again. Continue along this path through the heath. You will reach a crossroads of paths..

(4) Carry on straight ahead, then cross a road; there is an old cistern here. Continue due south, passing the Cosprons water tower. Turn left (east) and pass the church. You will reach the road.

(5) Turn sharply right, heading due west. Follow the road for about 1 km to cross a bridge (over the Cosprons stream).

(6) Turn right (due west). Follow the winding road as it climbs towards La Galline. At the end of the tarmac section, follow the track for 50m, turn right and follow this winding track as it climbs. You will reach the La Galline battery.

(7) Follow a path that climbs steeply (south-west). This path bypasses the track (which you can take as it is less steep). You will reach the road. Follow this road as it climbs south-west; after 800m, you’ll reach a junction; ignore the road closed to traffic, which leads up to La Tour De Madeloc. Continue along the road as it descends gently towards the orientation table and the Casernes Du Centre (ruins).

(8) Leave the road and climb the track leading to the Refuge de Madeloc. After 1.6 km, you will reach the Coll de Tallaferro.

(9) Carry on to quickly reach the Batterie de Taillefer.

(10). Head due north, going round the Taillefer barracks on the right. Take care after the barracks, as the path descends steeply. After about 200m of descent, take the path that turns right (due east). When you can see the Madeloc refuge, turn left (due north) and follow a path that descends steeply to reach Coll de Mollo.

(11) Follow the road for 800m to the Coll de Mala Cara.

(12) From there, head down a path on the left which then runs along the hillside below the road you have just left. After 1.5 km, rejoin the road. Follow this road to the Col de Perdiguer.

(3) Turn right heading due south and follow the path taken earlier until you reach a track. Turn left, heading due north, and follow this track until you meet another track. Turn left (west) and follow this other track until you reach a cistern.

(13) Head down the path to the left, heading due north. You will arrive at Coll Del Mig.

(14) Cross the road. Head down a path due north which passes beneath the group of houses. Note: after 500m, turn left. Join the road taken on the way out.

(2) Follow this road down and retrace your steps along the route taken on the way out to return to the car park at the port of Port-Vendres (S/E).

Along this path there are still a few small winegrowers’ huts, and there are a few water sources (not drinkable).
You should bring two litres of water, some food, a hat, sun cream and a windbreaker. Low-cut walking shoes are sufficient.

The vineyards, Vauban’s monuments under restoration (La Galline). Cosprons Church, the Mediterranean Sea, which is visible almost constantly.