15/05/2024: Starting car park changed.
Country:
District:
Starting car park in a large area, opposite the cemetery of Saint-Alban sous Sampzon (municipality of Saint-Alban Auriolles).
(S/E) Leaving the car park, turn right onto Rue Marius Perbost then right onto Rue des Ayres. Continue straight on to the church, walk past it on the left then turn right into Rue René Cassin. Turn left into Rue du Grand Champ then right into Rue du Château.
(1) Turn right and head up an unpaved track. Pass a track on your right leading towards the castle and, at the fork just ahead, keep right and continue up the main track until it turns right. Then take the path that continues to climb along the same route and reaches a metal fence; follow it to the right, still climbing, until you reach a junction.
(2) Go straight on and head back down, continuing to follow the fence. At the next junction (L'Espeluche), turn left, still following the fence, to reach a three-way junction (Bourbouillet), which will be the return point of the circular route.
(3) Continue straight ahead along the fence: there is the option of a short detour along an unmarked path to the right to see the Bourbouillet resurgence chasm, which is magical after heavy rain (detour not shown on the map). On your left, you will see the Bourbouillet estate building (hunting club). At the junction (elevation 168), turn right and follow the track leading up to the estate.
(4) Leave this track on the right to take a path leading into a pasture, so be sure to close the gate behind you. The prehistoric remains are located in this pasture. Around twenty dolmens are visible, in varying states of repair. The Romans plundered the site. If you wish to visit it, look out for a cairn at a right-hand bend, where there is a double telephone pole, which marks a path to the left; head down towards a scree slope. Then retrace your steps to continue along the path to the next junction.
(5) Take care to follow the small path on the right leading to the Aven du Reméjadou, marked by a black arrow on a rock: danger, depth 26 m. Dangerous, unprotected area; keep your distance from the opening. The atmosphere in this section is very strange. It is a chaotic jumble of rocks overgrown with damp vegetation, moss, ferns, etc. Head back down towards the Bourbouillet three-way junction, which you passed on the way up.
(3) Turn left, following the route in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach the fork you passed on the way out.
(2) Turn left and head towards a new crossroads.
(6) Turn right and head downhill.
(7) Turn right again. Be very careful at the next fork on your left.
(8) This is a narrow path between two dry stone walls that continues to descend, passes a small drystone shelter and then widens.
(9) At the dolmen junction, continue straight downhill to the village.
(10) Cross Rue des Pères and continue straight ahead onto Rue des Herbousses. Go round the church on the left and rejoin Rue du Chazal. Continue straight ahead, come out onto Avenue Pasteur and turn left to return to the car park at the mini-market (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
