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(S/E) Leave the car park heading north-east along Rue du Huit Mai. After passing Rue du Stade on the left, the road gives way to a farm track that winds its way between vineyard plots and fields. Further on, cross Route de Boyentran with care and continue straight ahead until you reach Route de Barbehère.
(1) Turn right and follow this quiet little road. Just at the edge of a small wood on the left-hand side, you can visit the megalithic monument known as the Barbehère dolmen, about 150 metres from the road. Alternatively, carry on along the road, passing Barbehère, then continue towards Boyentran. At the junction with the Route de Boyentran, you’ll see the wayside cross on your right. Carry on to the left and pass through the hamlet.
(2) Turn right onto a path that starts opposite the small road coming from the north-east. The path heads south and soon curves in a wide ‘S’ shape before entering a more wooded area. Further on, it branches off to the left, and again to the left less than a hundred metres further on, heading north for a short while. The track finally turns right after about a hundred metres, emerging from the woods on a gentle incline and running alongside vineyards until it reaches a small road leading from Boyentran to the hamlet of Brion. Turn right and follow the small road for about five hundred metres.
(3) As you approach a left-hand bend in the road, take the farm track on the right, heading downhill towards a stream: at the junction, a signpost indicates the Brion archaeological site. Cross the stream and continue straight ahead along the track, which leaves the wooded area bordering the stream and opens out onto a large clearing.
As you reach the top of the small hill, you will see a sign on the right indicating the central settlement of the Brion site. At this point, leave the forest track to go and see the remains of this central settlement right in the middle of the plot. Then head off to the right to rejoin the forest track just before the trees, and a few metres further on, you’ll find three information signs about the quarry and silos, the medieval settlement and the Roman theatre. Head towards the amphitheatre and go down the steps to reach the stony forest track.
(4) Turn left to follow this track heading south-east. Continue straight on until you reach the Chenal de la Calupeyre, which you’ll come to after passing through a wooded area.
(5) Cross the channel and immediately turn right onto the grassy path running alongside it. As you go, take in the various water management structures in the Palus de Reysson (marsh). After passing the hamlet of La Motte Blanque, turn right and take the track heading north-west, which goes round a property. Follow it until you reach a good, motorable farm track.
(6) Head to the right and follow this track, which passes a wine-growing farm on your left, the Château Peylaby estate (producing organic wine). Shortly afterwards, cross the Route de Gouat and continue straight ahead along a track. As you emerge from a wooded area, you can see Château Hauterive in the distance to the left. The track then climbs slightly towards the hamlet of Brie.
(7) Just before reaching it, turn right onto a path between two vineyard plots. At the next T-junction, turn left onto the path heading west towards the north of Miqueu, until you reach the D4.
(8) At this point, you’ll see a small chapel on your left. Cross the D4 with care and take the path opposite, which veers diagonally to the right towards the north-west. When you reach a modern house, turn left onto the path heading south-west, which passes the semi-buried water tower at Miqueu. Shortly afterwards, turn right onto a path running alongside a hedge on your left and a plot of land without vines on your right. You’ll come to a lovely tree-lined avenue.
(9) Turn right to follow this avenue leading to Château de Livran. This avenue is lined with American black walnut trees as far as the small road leading to the château.
When you reach the road, turn right and follow it to the small road leading to the Château Livran wine storehouse (delivery access).
(10) When you reach the courtyard of the winery, turn right onto the path which runs alongside a vineyard plot on your left and a farm track on your right. Continue to the path on the left between two vineyard plots. Turn left and, at the bottom of these plots, turn left again to join the path known as La Mouline, which you follow to the right towards the hamlet of Garramey.
At the crossroads just before the hamlet, turn right onto the path which soon joins the farm track leading from Garramey towards Château Castéra. Follow this track between the vineyard plots until you reach the Route des Marceaux in front of the entrance to Château Castéra.
(11) Turn right and walk carefully along the Route des Marceaux. When you reach the junction with the D4, turn left and, shortly afterwards, take the Passage de l’Église. Next to the church, admire the mission cross dating from 1860 with a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Turn right to rejoin the D4, then turn right again and immediately turn left onto Rue du Stade.
At the end of the street, turn right onto Rue du 8 Mai 1945 to return to the car park (S/E).
On a lovely sunny day in April, a great walk across varied terrain, with a well-detailed route that was easy to follow. A slight disappointment at the Brion site. Some really lovely stretches along wide forest paths.
Visorando Member
Easy 
