From Mons to Douch via Héric

Leave the D908 (Olargues Colombières-sur-Orb) and head towards La Trivalle, then climb up to Mons.
Park at the church in Mons or just next to it in the car park on the left below, opposite the cemetery.

Red and yellow markings

(S/E) From the car park, walk 50 m towards the centre of the hamlet. Turn right onto the GRP® and follow the red and yellow markings. After 50 m, you will come to Rue du Caladou. Turn left and follow the markings. After 30 m, turn right and walk for 30 m.
Caution: see practical information (¹).
Rejoin the Chemin de Luttes and follow it to the right, following the yellow markings for a few metres. Leave the GRP® markings.

End of red and yellow + yellow markings

(1) At the end of Chemin de Luttes, climb left into the forest, parallel to the yellow signposted path.

Caution: from the start, take note of the cairns and different coloured markings that will help you follow this unique, steep and well-marked path. Also note that old CAF Carroux signposts confirm that you are on the right track. The route followed on the ground is the one shown on the IGN, OSM and OSM Trails maps.

Pass the Tête de Braque. You will arrive at an old tunnel, probably a former mine, in a clear area.
Caution: this is the only place where you need to be careful for 10 metres. The area has been eroded but the path has been cleared and does not present any real danger.

Continue the steep climb, always following the cairns and multi-coloured markings. At around 580 m, you will reach an open area at the edge of the forest. Continue almost flat to the north-west, then north.

(2) Large, open area with a beautiful view. Head off to the far left, climbing slightly, heading south. The well-defined path then levels out in a kind of scree. You will come out at the Col de l'Auge (a very nice place to stop for lunch after this steep climb).

(3) An old CAF Carroux signpost should be visible (July 2019). Turn right at 90° due west onto the Piste de la Gleyzo, which is actually a good footpath. Ignore the path opposite (the Piste Roujas) and continue south.

Red and yellow markings

(4) Join the GRP®. Continue right towards the Col de la Maure. An old signpost for the Carroux CAF should be visible. Turn left, staying in the forest.
On the right, there is the option of going to a viewpoint. I did not go there (16 July 2019).

(5) At the Col du Renard, continue to follow the red and yellow markings above the track on the left.
Note: It is possible to descend to Bardou, a private hamlet with authorised right of way for the GRP®^®. See § During the hike or nearby (²).

Red and white markings.

(6) At the Col de Bardou, turn right at a 90° angle, heading east, onto the GR®7 and GRP®, towards Héric. The path descends steeply.
Caution: confusing area. There are five or even six possible directions. In July 2019, new signposts were installed to make orientation easier.

Reach the bridge over the Ruisseau d'Héric (a beautiful spot to take a break with your feet in the water).

(7) Climb steeply up the opposite side, heading east, and reach the hamlet of Héric. See § During the hike or nearby for accommodation (⁴). This is also a very beautiful place to stop for a drink at the stopover lodge.
It is very difficult to imagine the life of these isolated people who lived in the middle of these mountains. Today, there is a regulated track that provides access to these few restored houses.

(8) Cross the hamlet and continue on the GR®7 North-East, still climbing, leaving the track on your right, which allows the many tourists to easily climb up to the hamlet. Cross the Ruisseau du Soumal on a footbridge. Continue the steep climb through the forest. You will come out into an open area with a beautiful view (Col de l'Airole or Col de Douch).

(9) Now continue down a beautiful track for 120 m. Leave the PR® on your left.
Please note: you will need to leave the track after 130 m, turning left onto a wide stony path running parallel to it, simply following the red and white markings of the GR®7.
Shortly before the hamlet, leave the GR®7 on your right and continue on the GRP® following the red and yellow markings. You will reach the hamlet of Douch (E).

Stopover lodge. Bread oven and statue of a mouflon on the right (installed on 16 July 2019).
See § During the hike or nearby for accommodation (³).

(¹) In case of doubt, bad weather or lack of time, this climb to the Col de la Maure can be done simply via the GRP® Haut Languedoc et Vignobles from the hamlet of Mons.

This is a mid-mountain area. So, as you would expect, you will need: rain gear, water, snacks, GPX route, description, map, GPS or Visorando app, camera, good walking shoes, walking stick.

(³) Hamlet of Douch, commune of Rosis, Hérault
Stopover lodge in Douch

(⁴) Hamlet of Héric
Lodge in Héric

(²) The hamlet of Bardou owes its fame to Klaus Erhardt, who discovered the village in 1967 and decided to rebuild it. The access road is very narrow. The first private car park is pay-and-display. The road then becomes rough and a second municipal car park (Le Vialais) is available free of charge a little further up. The final access via the private road is on foot from this car park.

Hike completed by the author on 15 July 2019.