Two typical villages of the Causses du Quercy: Orniac and Cabrerets

This route will allow you to discover two typical villages of the Causses du Quercy: Cabrerets, a village flanked by the vertiginous cliffs of the Célé, and Orniac, a little gem of the Causses. All this while crossing some very beautiful landscapes: the peatland valley, the beautiful Combe Gelée and the descent to Cabrerets via Bout du Lieu, where you will overlook the Célé river while following theGR® 651, used by pilgrims on their way to Compostela.

Details

2645497
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.29 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 278 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 274 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 301 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 137 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in front of the forest house on the village square

(S/E). Pass in front of the town hall and turn right, opposite the restaurant, onto the road leading up to the church. Continue right along the road leading to the cemetery, which goes around it. Pass in front of the fire station and the mill, then join the main road D13.

(1) Turn left, pass in front of the Auberge de la Peatland and continue on the D13 to stay at the bottom of the valley, still on tarmac.

(2) Take the track that branches off to the right and crosses the stream further on before climbing towards the causse.

(3) Turn left onto the path that continues to climb until you reach the top of the valley. Continue along this path for 2 km before reaching the road again.

(4) Climb this road to the right. Ignore the first track on your right and climb the road heading north.

(5) Take the second track on the right. Follow it in a large loop to the right, then another to the left, heading north and then turning north-east. Stay on the Combe Gelée track

(6) As you approach Orniac, turn left. Follow the departmental road for 20 metres on the left.

(7) Follow the path to the left. Turn right to reach Le Puits, then turn left/right onto the road towards the lake.

(8) Continue right and then right again to return to the main road.

(7) Leave the road by taking thesecond streeton the right and, at Mas de Simon, continue left to rejoin the departmental road. Continue for 300 m towards Cabrerets.

(9) Turn onto the first track on the left of the road and descend to the D40, keeping south-east. Follow it for about 100 metres.

(10) Turn right onto theGR®651towards Espinières. Continue until you reach a road.

(11) Continue left towards Cavirande. Continue on the same path heading south.

(12) Enter Bout du Lieu. Walk along the left bank of the Célé and, at the entrance to Cabrerets, take the first street on the right and then right again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets, village square (forest house)
  2. 1 : km 0.65 - alt. 156 m - Departmental road on the left - peatland (river) - Tributary of the Célé
  3. 2 : km 1.12 - alt. 159 m - Track on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.48 - alt. 187 m - Track on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.68 - alt. 161 m - Road on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.48 - alt. 180 m - Track on the right
  7. 6 : km 6.53 - alt. 276 m - Path on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.92 - alt. 296 m - Crossroads of the loop
  9. 8 : km 7.33 - alt. 292 m - Lake Orniac
  10. 9 : km 8.33 - alt. 296 m - Track on the left
  11. 10 : km 9.7 - alt. 209 m - Turn right onto the GR
  12. 11 : km 11.37 - alt. 275 m - Turn left towards Carivande
  13. 12 : km 13.53 - alt. 156 m - Place called Bout du Lieu. Towards the bank of the Célé (river) - Tributary of the Lot
  14. S/E : km 14.29 - alt. 145 m - Cabrerets, village square (forest house)

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
JMB46
JMB46

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, best done in spring for the trails through a multitude of varieties of wild flowers. Beautiful Quercy houses in the village of Orniac and a lovely descent to the village of Cabrerets (avoid in wet weather). And when the weather is hot, stop off at the shady terrace of the Cabrerets bar-restaurant, not forgetting the village itself. The only minor criticism is that the start on the road is not very good...

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Soie Douce C.
Soie Douce C.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Completed under beautiful April sunshine, this is an interesting route because it is varied, with a few hills and beautiful views.
Follow the trail.

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matflaujac
matflaujac

Hello,
what we call lakes here, on our arid limestone plateaus where water constantly seeps into cracks in the rock, are actually small pools of water found here and there. They are the source of life in this dry environment, like oases in the desert. They are key points in the history of our rural Causse region. Our lakes are lakes, however small they may be, that is the name we give them, and not stagnant pools!

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Hachail
Hachail

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thanks to the hiker who added this route.
Hike completed on 10 August, a very hot day. A few impressions: a bit of tarmac; the "little lakes" are actually pools of somewhat stagnant water; I don't see the point of the village of Orniac with its houses restored or built by neo-rural dwellers. The hike was rounded off with a climb to the Pech Merle cave, which was really fascinating to visit (book in advance online).

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fdargassies
fdargassies

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

25 July 24 hike: From point 1 to point 4, our enjoyment was spoiled by the presence of oak caterpillars hanging from the trees and clinging to our clothes and rucksacks as we passed by!!! We had to wave branches around to clear a path...
After point 6 and before arriving in Orniac: a charming little spot for a picnic on a bench, in the shade, near a small lake and an old well.
Orniac is a pretty little village with a small lake covered with flowering water lilies at point 8!
Be careful after point 11, as the GR and PR trails take you through a field that you have to cross to the top to find the exit... the trail in the grass is not obvious at the end... perhaps it is easier to continue on the stone path that you find at the exit of the field?
The descent to Cabreret is the prettiest part: views of the castle, the cliff and the troglodyte houses, the Devil's Castle...
a fairly shaded hike, which is welcome in hot weather!
the Visorando guide is essential!

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Jean-Michel Joissains
Jean-Michel Joissains

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very happy discovery. In fact, the hike is much more interesting than expected. The descent to Cabrerets and the arrival in the village are simply magical (especially when one of the locals tells you the story of the goat)

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LXC
LXC
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the reliability of the route you created. A relatively easy hike (with fairly gentle slopes) and very pleasant to follow thanks to the variety of landscapes encountered: rocky trails, cool valley bottoms, open limestone plateaus (it feels like being in the great Larzac plateaus), the typical limestone village of Orniac, and a beautiful descent to Cabrerets.

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martine.bourgeois@hotmail.fr
martine.bourgeois@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Pretty villages

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trantole
trantole
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike is a bit monotonous until you reach the village of Oniac, which is worth visiting
The rest of the hike is much more enjoyable until Cabrerets, which is a very pretty village
A leisurely return to the starting point
A lovely hike

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FRJEPAuriac
FRJEPAuriac

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very attractive, varied route with a magnificent descent to Cabrerets!
Be careful not to miss the path on the left at point no. 3.
Thanks to the municipality of Orniac for the picnic tables and the booklet explaining the history and architecture of the village. You will find it available in front of the town hall.

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pommade
pommade

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very pleasant hike
to improve it, perhaps
point 3, either by clearing the vegetation (unfortunately, we weren't equipped for that) or by putting up a sign, as we almost missed the path
giving some indications of "distances" in time helps a little

the water refill points were well placed, which is great
thanks to Matflaujac for the original idea
'

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Philou.47
Philou.47

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Thank you, matflaujac, for this hike. The narrow single-track paths of the Lot are lovely; it's always a pleasure to walk along them, and when there's shade, it's even better, especially with the blazing sun we had today...
A great initiative by two local residents who share a water source, which is very useful on hot days.

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elie
elie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very beautiful hike completed with the app, beautiful views of the Causse plateau and the village of Cabrerets, varied landscapes and paths in unspoilt natural surroundings. No difficulty.

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la strada
la strada

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Trails, paths, tracks, walking through woodland and the Causse countryside. No difficulty. Some places remind us of Tolkien's settings, with mossy tree trunks and branches. No difficulty. Calm atmosphere. Route not marked except for the return to the GR from point 10. Follow the circuit in the direction indicated. View of the Célé, arrival at Cabreret remarkable. Practical information: "small lake", bench at Mas Simon before Orniac. Picnic area in Orniac. Tables on your right when you arrive at point 7, or when you leave Orniac after passing through the narrow streets at point 7. Water can be obtained on the GR between points 10 and 11 Espinière. Two water points are provided by local residents, with outdoor taps. Thank you to them and thank you to our scout.

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matflaujac
matflaujac

Yes, I understand. It's a spring or autumn route when the heat is just right and the air is fragrant. All the magic happens during those seasons

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