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From Conques-sur-Orbiel, take the D101 north to the village of Ilhes-Cabardès. Park in the large car park on the left as you enter the village, just opposite the road leading to the bridge over the Orbiel.
(S/E) Return to the D101.
(1) Cross the road with caution and take the bridge over the Orbiel. On the other side, turn right onto a street that passes under two porches. After about 50 metres, look for a narrow passage between the houses on the left (local signposting; opposite is the town hall, then the church).
(2) Turn left onto the paved slanting street that passes the houses. The street quickly narrows and climbs steeply up the mountainside. The slope levels out as it changes sides, and the path becomes almost horizontal until it reaches the Ruisseau du Camp dal Bosc.
(3) Cross the stream via a footbridge and climb up the other side. You will reach a junction of paths.
(4) Then turn left at an acute angle. The trail is initially level, heading west-northwest, then descends northwards. Cross the Ruisseau du Camp dal Bosc again and continue along the mountainside. Note the village of Ilhes below on the left.
(5) Take the first track on the right and climb up to the right until you reach a stone house. Continue along a path that is almost horizontal.
(6) At the T-junction, turn right. Cross the Ruisseau de l'Abessenc (usually dry) and continue along the hillside. You will reach the wide bed of the Ruisseau de la Grave. Cross the alluvial deposits to reach a wide stony track.
(7) Follow the track to the right until you reach a monument dedicated to young resistance fighters who died for France.
(8) With your back to the monument, cross the stream bed (usually dry). Opposite, take a path that climbs through the woods, heading generally north-east. At a junction, continue straight ahead (ignore the path that branches off to the right towards Fournes-Cabardès). You will come to the ruins of Piquotalen.
(9) Then turn right and follow a challenging path that climbs up to the ridge. Further on, you will reach a grassy track.
(10) Then turn left (east; cairn) to take a path opened in 2024 (cairns + yellow round markings). You will arrive at a rocky platform offering a beautiful view. Then descend the side of the Foun Jon mountain. You will rejoin the Ruisseau de la Grave, which flows well in this upstream section. Cross the stream three times before reaching a fork.
(11) Ignore a trail coming from the right, cross a tributary of the Ruisseau de la Grave, and follow it on your left.
(12) After about 200 m, cross the Ruisseau de la Grave one last time, leave the hamlet of Picarot Bas on your right, and turn left. Climb in a south-westerly direction, then west. After a right-hand bend, join a wide stony track.
(13) Follow the track to the left. Continue along the track, which is fairly flat, until you reach the Croix de Viallèle.
(14) Take a sharp right turn and descend to the northeast. About 300 m further on, leave the track and take a path on the left. Pass above the Church of Saint-André and its adjoining cemetery. You will come out onto a small road. Follow it to the right to immediately reach the Fontaine Saint-André (a remarkable construction).
(15) Turn left, taking a hairpin bend, and follow the D9 for about 150 m. At a wayside cross, turn right onto a path that descends into the woods. Cross a track and continue downhill on the path until you reach the Rieutort stream.
(16) Take the wooden footbridge over the stream and follow it for a short distance on your left. Cross the Riuetort again and follow it on your right. Return to the D9 and follow it as it continues into the village of Roquefère.
(17) At the bridge, turn left towards Les Ilhes and Lastours, passing in front of the church. Cross the Rieutort again, ignore a road on the right, and follow the D9 carefully along the Rieutort. Shortly after a car park, you will arrive at La Madeleine.
(18) Turn right onto a path (ignore any prohibition signs, which were put up in 2024 for maintenance work on the path but are no longer in force). Head west and pass the foot of an impressive dry stone wall. Ignore two paths on the right and you will soon reach a junction.
(19) Go straight ahead (north) and ignore the path on the left that descends towards the village of Mas-Cabardès. Then ignore a few paths on the right.
(20) You will come out onto the D101, which you should follow to the right. Follow the Orbiel on your left and cross Rue de la Mairie on your right.
(21) At the corner of the post office, take the bridge over the Orbiel (leave the D101) and turn right. Immediately ignore a street on the left and take the next left, Rue du Fort.
(22) At the end of the street, at the foot of the ruined castle, turn right at an acute angle onto a grassy path lined with a log guardrail. Further on, ignore a path coming from the right and turn left. Climb steadily, with a few hairpin bends, and ignore a few paths on the left.
(23) Turn left, in a hairpin bend, and continue climbing in a south-easterly direction. You will arrive on a tarmac mountain road with no traffic.
(24) Follow the road to the left. At the fork that appears shortly after, take a track to the left. After a short, gentle climb, descend towards the east. Turn left at the foot of the antennas, then right, in a hairpin bend. Descend with a few hairpin bends and you will reach the Borde Neuve farm.
(25) Turn right and go around the building on the left (leaving a paved road on your left). Descend southwest then west-southwest on a path with local markings. Cross the Ruisseau de la Pouzaraque and take a sharp left turn.
(26) At the fork, turn left and continue downhill. The slope becomes steeper as you approach the village. Ignore a private road on the right, join the D101 and follow it to the right.
(1) At the bridge over the Orbiel, turn right and immediately join the car park where you started (S/E).
