Puig Neulós from Sant Martí de l'Albère

From Le Boulou, follow Le Perthus on the D900. Just after the road sign announcing the entrance to Le Perthus, turn left towards Saint-Jean de l'Albère and the Col de l'Ouillat on the D71.
Please note: the road is in good condition but winding and quite narrow. Drive carefully.
When you reach the first fork in the road, turn right onto the D71a. At the second intersection, turn left and continue on the D71a. You will soon see a parking area on your left, after passing the Sant-Martí junction (private cul-de-sac).

(S/E) Go down the D71a and turn left onto the D71c towards the hamlet of Saint-Martin de l'Albère (Sant Martí) and drive through it. Beware of the dog. Do not try to park in this hamlet, which has declared itself private property where only mountain bikers and hikers are allowed to pass through.
Please note: a brand new 3300 m 3-wire fence has been installed by Albera Pastur. Enhancement of Bovine Resources in the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Cross-Border Massif. Information panel.
Pass two chicanes in this new fence. Pay attention at the ford.

(1) Turn right after crossing the ford. Continue along the track for about 20 metres. Look for a path on the left that goes up into the forest. I have placed a cairn there. Old yellow markings are visible on a rock.

Old yellow + red and white markings clearly visible up to Coll de Forcat.
Note: observed on 2 October 2022: these markings have been covered with fluorescent pink paint. Hunter parking areas have been set up and painted. The old markings are now much higher up.

(2) Leave the track. Climb left up a forest path. Cut across a^{first track}. Continue climbing. Join a^second track and follow it opposite, south-east. Join a^third track, continuing opposite, south-east.

(3) Leave the track and take a path on the left heading due east. Do not continue on the track towards the còrrec (talweg). Pass an old stone picnic table and the non-functional Fontaine d'en Manel fountain. The path turns south, passing a small còrrec with a trickle of water. Look for and carefully follow the old markings still visible on the trees.

Find an old track and follow it to the left, heading due east. Spanish GR® red and white markings. Arrive at a small clearing at Coll Forcat.
Observation on 2 October 2022: signpost destroyed.
Please note: if this area is overgrown with brambles, go back down and go around the area through the woods.

Yellow markings are very sparse.

(4) Do not go through the wooden barrier, but continue to the left, northeast, along a good path cut through the brambles. The path has been cleared (2 October 2022). Reach Coll Forcadell in the forest.

(5) Border ridge. Now head north, climbing up the border line. You will reach a beautiful long stone wall built on the border line. There is a stone table and benches here.

(6) Please note: turn left into the forest, following the yellow markings and cairns. Do not try to walk along the wall. The path to follow runs more or less parallel to the wall on your right. Continue climbing.

Pass Puig Forcadell. Continue north-east with the border fence on your right. Pass Puig de les Calladetes. Continue climbing.

Arrive at Coll del Pal. Open area with small rocks on your right. Beautiful landscape on both sides of France and Spain. Continue the fairly steep climb from this pass. Pass two firing posts built on the ridge line. Beautiful landscapes in these open areas. Arrive in a grazing area where there is an antenna and an old prefabricated building on your left.

(7) Continue along the grassy track north then north-east, going around Roc dels Tres Termes on your right.

Red and white^GR®®10markings.

(8) Turn right and climb up the GR®10. Reach the border fence. Climb up, keeping it on your right.
Please note: the hike can be shortened if necessary by descending to the left via the GR®10 towards Coll de l'Ullat.

(9) Large gate in the border fence. Do not go through it. Continue climbing via the GR®10 towards the large antenna on Puig Neulós (Pic du Néoulous) painted in red and white.

(10) A very beautiful spot, apart from the antennas. The view is 360°. The Tramontane wind often blows in gusts on these ridges, particularly at this spot*.

Descend towards the end of the access road to the facilities. Then turn left for about 40 metres and turn right onto a track that goes around the building on the left. Look out for the red and white markings and follow them carefully. Do not try to descend into the beech forest straight away.

The track ends and a path runs along the top of the fence. Go through a chicane in the electric fence and descend very steeply into the forest towards the south-east.
Caution: the descent is on a path that is rutted and often covered with leaves.
Continue towards a small building where the Tanyareda spring is captured. Follow the GR®10 above the track, still heading south-east.
Note: from this point, you can turn back by retracing your steps or by taking the road to (8).

(11) At Pla de la Tanyareda, continue straight ahead to the entrance of the beech forest and you will find the Refuge de la Tanyareda (forest edge refuge) at the entrance to the forest.

(12) This basic refuge is in good condition, with no litter. Observations: 2 October 2022, 19 January 2023.
A beautiful spot for a lunch break, climbing a little towards the border ridge fence.
Turn back for 300 metres, climbing slightly to Pla de la Tanyereda.

Off the trail

(11) Leave the GR®10 and continue climbing towards the border fence, leaving the fountain on your right below. The slope becomes steeper. Pass a few rock piles and you will come to a Spanish signpost made of wood and enamelled iron.

Coarse yellow markings and cairns on the Spanish side

(13) Note: the trail is accurate and corresponds to the actual path.
Turn left, heading west. At the beginning, there are cairns that were reinforced when I passed by. The path is obvious, staying more or less on the hillside below the border ridge on your right. Leave a cattle track that climbs to the ridge just before the snow well. A rock with an old yellow marker is on the right path that descends to this nearby snow well.

You will come out into an open area. El Pou de Neu (the snow well) is on your left **.
A magnificent structure in perfect condition. It is possible to enter the tunnel that was used to extract ice.
Be careful, however, as at the end there is a gaping hole which is in fact the well. Reach the recently installed passage on the electric fence on the border ridge.

Red and white GR®10 markings

(9) After a few metres, rejoin the^GR®10and turn left, descending via the same path you took on the way up.

(8) Continue straight ahead, looking for the GR®10 which leads into the forest. Leave the access road to the antennas. You will arrive at a clearing at the edge of the beech forest. Continue to the right, following the red and white markings. Descend quickly through the beech forest towards the road and a large clearing at Coll de l'Ullat (Col de l'Ouillat).

(14) Turn left, walking along the right-hand side of the Chalet de l'Albères ***.
Continue on the^GR®®10. Pass the dormitory buildings and further on, a tin sheepfold. The path then descends into the beech forest. Continue downhill on the GR®10 to Coll del Ras.

(15) Turn left as you approach the road and follow it above, parallel to it.
Look out for the red and white markings and continue downhill along a track to the ford.

(1) Leave the ford and the track on your left, continue straight ahead through Sant Martí and join the (S/E).

Water is available at the Tanyareda fountain before the refuge of the same name. Bring a filter or disinfectant tablets if there are sheep or cattle in the area.
Tanyareda refuge (table, bench, chair, fireplace, some food, 2 wooden benches).

This is a mountainous area. So, as you should, you will need: rain and windproof clothing, water, snacks, GPX track, description, map, GPS or Visorando app or GPS, camera, good walking shoes, a walking stick. Possibly a firelighter, food, tinned food, etc. for the Tanyareda refuge's supplies.

Hike completed by the author on 2 December 2019, 19 January 2021, 2 October 2022 and 4 January 2024.
The markings and paths are in good condition.

* In Catalonia and Languedoc, the tramontane or Tramontane is the north-north-westerly wind that blows from the mountains towards the Gulf of Lion. (source: Wikipedia).

** El Pou de Neu (the snow well).
The top of the well, which is ogive-shaped, is closed off with stones.
The well is 10 metres high.
Openings at ground level allowed snow to be loaded into it.
The snow melted and turned into ice at the bottom of the well.
The 10-metre-long horizontal access tunnel provided access to the ice that had formed.

*** The Albère Chalet