From Saint-Jean du Bruel to Sauclières

Hike along the old railway line with its engineering structures and the picturesque village of Sauclières.

Details

182635
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.88 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 365 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 360 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 840 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 526 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the Esplanade roundabout, at the exit of Saint-Jean-du-Bruel towards Sauclières.

(S/E) Looking south, take the street on the right, at the corner of the car garage. Walk uphill for about 350 metres.

(1) When the street turns right, the Sentier de Sauclières opens up in front of you (arrow): follow it straight ahead, heading south. At a triple fork, take the middle path, still heading south. Pass close to the hairpin bend on the D999.

(2) Continue south under the road's retaining wall (do not follow the signs inviting you to turn right). Descend towards the ford that crosses the Roubieu.

(3) Then continue to the right (south-southwest) up a fairly steep climb. You will arrive at a road.

(4) Turn left towards Sauclières.

(5) Cross the old railway bridge and turn right (south-east).

(6) At the Y-junction, turn right and arrive at the village of Sauclières.

(7) Retrace your steps.

(6) At the fork, continue straight ahead (north-east). This will take you to the D999.

(8) Follow it carefully to the left for 500 metres.

(9) At the fork, take the path on the right (signposted "La Combe"). Follow the marked trail passing by the Croix des Prisonniers and the Col de Lavaur.

(10) Then a ridge path takes us to Saint-Jean-du-Bruel, crossing large chestnut groves and passing by the "Canals".

(11) Turn left onto the road to return to the roundabout (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 530 m - Esplanade roundabout
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 556 m - Start of the Sauclières Trail
  3. 2 : km 2.17 - alt. 692 m - Passage near the bend in the D999
  4. 3 : km 2.94 - alt. 669 m - Roubieu Ford
  5. 4 : km 4.47 - alt. 782 m - On the left, at the road
  6. 5 : km 4.89 - alt. 762 m - Bridge of the old railway line
  7. 6 : km 5.38 - alt. 758 m - Y-junction
  8. 7 : km 5.6 - alt. 750 m - Village of Sauclières
  9. 8 : km 6.36 - alt. 776 m - Take the D999 on the left.
  10. 9 : km 6.93 - alt. 795 m - Take the path on the right. Near the source of - Virenque (rivière)
  11. 10 : km 8.71 - alt. 804 m - Col de Lavaur
  12. 11 : km 11.67 - alt. 528 m - Turn left onto the road. Near the - Dourbie (rivière)
  13. S/E : km 11.88 - alt. 530 m - Esplanade roundabout

Notes

Alternative route: Turn left after the bridge (5) onto the old railway line to see the viaduct and visit the tunnel (100 m to the exit), then retrace your steps. Continue along the railway line to Sauclières. This section can be muddy in wet weather, but provides direct access to the village (7).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
nono61
nono61

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful hike

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Pierrot1704
Pierrot1704

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hike completed today, 29/09/2025. Foggy in the morning, then sunny but still cold.
I found this hike disappointing because almost the entire route is through woodland with no view of the surrounding landscape.
The paths are passable and I used a GPS to track the route.

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Gege5644
Gege5644

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

For me, this hike was disappointing because there was too much forest (no views), too much wind (cold) and too much road.
What's more, the entire climb out of Sauclière was on the road, against the wind and with the smell of manure in my nose (because the field alongside the road had been covered).
On the other hand, all the trails were passable.

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babric
babric

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike through woods and along ridges, with a visit to Sauclieres:

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Randomike34
Randomike34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice little route. Please note: the garage that should serve as a landmark at the start of the hike no longer exists. Simply take the first road on the right after the esplanade towards Saclières.

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escapadestjean
escapadestjean

We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the foresters, who have indeed left the hiking trail in poor condition. We took photos and sent them to the town hall, hoping that the foresters will repair the path as soon as possible. This kind of behaviour is scandalous and greatly harms hiking associations, which spare no effort in maintaining the paths on a voluntary basis.
Kind regards,
L'Escapade St-Jeantaise

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graminon
graminon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very hot day and a first part of the hike to Sauclière in the shade. We went down to see the tunnel. Then a long sunny stretch with a section on the road before returning to the forest. Beautiful panoramic views. This is where the problems begin, as trees have been felled and the trunks have not been removed. The passage through this "clearing" is quite long and challenging. It is currently not recommended for elderly people as it is too dangerous. We turned this passage into a little "adventure" by walking on the tree trunks, but it is long and you need to have a good sense of balance. Then we began the descent to Saint Jean.

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POUBLANC liliane
POUBLANC liliane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very beautiful hike and magnificent views

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michel g34
michel g34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Easy hike, interesting. Reliable signposting.

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