From Prades to Fillols

Start from Place de la République, at the foot of Prades Church.

(S) Head south-west along Rue du Palais de Justice. Pass in front of Prades Town Hall. Join the Route de Ria (D916) and follow it as it continues. Then carry on straight ahead until you reach the D66.

(1) Turn left towards Ria until you reach the outskirts of Prades.

(2) Turn left towards Codalet. In the Llitera neighbourhood, cross the railway line. Then head straight on along the path signposted for the Sant-Joan Chapel. Climb through a residential area via the path made up of steps (it’s quite a climb). Cut across a road, then keep left and continue straight ahead. Follow the yellow markings to reach the Sant-Joan Chapel.

(3) Continue straight ahead through peach orchards until you come to a branch of the Bohère Canal (Rec de Boera).

(4) Cross it and continue up the ridge beneath holm oaks. Pass a viewpoint (bench) overlooking Saint-Michel de Cuxa Abbey. When you reach a multi-way junction, head straight on towards Sirach-Ria.

(5) About ten metres further on, take the path on the left which stays on the ridge between Saint-Michel de Cuxa and Sirach. Stay on this path, which is sometimes quite narrow, along the ridge. The slope becomes steeper until you reach the D27.

(6) Continue along this departmental road to the right, rounding two bends, until you reach the Col du Roc del Ram.

(7) Carry on along the D27 and, about ten metres further on, take a fairly wide path on the right. This is in fact the old path from Taurinya to Fillols. It runs below the D27 and is also known as the Chemin des Vignes (though there are no longer any vineyards there). The Dent du Canigo can be seen opposite, flanked by Pic Joffre on the left and Pic Quazemi on the right. The path continues along a tarmac road to the ruins of the Chapel of Saint Peter (Capella de Sant Pere), the end point of the walk (E).

You can have a picnic at a table nearby, hidden behind a cypress hedge. You can also head down to the village of Fillols for lunch at a restaurant, but it’s advisable to book in advance.

For the return journey, you can either hitch a lift towards Corneilla and Villefranche (this usually works quite well), or take an alternative route via the Tour de Corts and the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa, finishing by following the Bohère Canal from the siphon.