From Pla des Peyres to Rocher de Batail

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An easy walk along the ridge between the Toulouse plain and the Pyrenees mountain range from Mont Valier to Saint-Barthélémy.

Details

n°32457926
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.55 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 369 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 369 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,712 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,389 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Pyrénées
  • ⚐ District: Ganac (09000)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.91191° / E 1.565902°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2047ET, 2147ET
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Photos

View from the top of Les Rochers
Views of the statues...

Description of the walk

Access to Pla des Peyres (Plan de las Peiras) is by car from Foix via the D421. The road is very narrow, making it difficult to pass oncoming traffic:caution is advised. Continue past Prat d'Albis: there is plenty of space to park on the Pla.

(S/E) Start uphill (towards the south), following the road first and then the dirt track. Continue to the Col de Touron.

(1) Turn right towards the Sommet de Bazillac and follow the ridge to the Pas de Bazillac.

(2) Continue west to pass slightly south of the Sommet de Bazillac. You will come to a fork at an elevation of 1636 metres.

(3) Continue west on the ridge to Roc Mouché, then reach the nearby Rocher du Batail.

(4) Turn back to the previous fork.

(3) Turn left to reach Picou, where the view of Foix is well worth the detour.

(5) Return to the previous fork.

(3) Retrace your steps to Pla des Peyres (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,389 m - Pla des Peyres
  2. 1 : km 1.21 - alt. 1,450 m - Col du Bout de Touron (1450m)
  3. 2 : km 2.94 - alt. 1,457 m - Pas de Bazillac (1458m)
  4. 3 : km 4.86 - alt. 1,633 m - Picou junction
  5. 4 : km 5.79 - alt. 1,712 m - Batail Rock
  6. 5 : km 7.21 - alt. 1,588 m - Le Picou
  7. S/E : km 12.55 - alt. 1,389 m - Pla des Peyres

Notes

The length of the route may be daunting, but the gradient is gentle, so it is easy going.
The trail is easy to follow, at least in good weather.
There are no springs or rivers along the route. Remember to bring plenty of water with you.

Worth a visit

From Pla des Peyres, view of Montségur.
From the Col du Touron to the summit of Bazillac, pranksters have placed stones on rocks that, from a distance, resemble animal statues.
From Picou, there is a beautiful view of Foix Castle and Roquefixade Castle at the top of its cliff.
At Rocher de Batail, next to the inscription "Rocher de Batail 1716 m", you will find engravings carved into the rock. Two Latin crosses are recognisable, as is the oval with a vertical line in the middle, the meaning of which is left to walkers to interpret!

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 28093275

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the hike in mid-November 2025. Beautiful weather, fairly easy route. Parking at the top (park in the grass, lots of people do it). The road to get there is a small road where it is difficult to pass other vehicles for about 30 minutes.
Pretty scenery but quite windy.
We recommend it.

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Gobscricri
Gobscricri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful 360-degree view. Encountered a viper on the path in October...
Horses and cows roaming free. Very peaceful.
Very pleasant day.
Thank you.

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CH/MY
CH/MY

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike in beautiful weather, with magnificent scenery at this time of year, which can be done again and again without any difficulty.

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gbnos
gbnos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect hike for mid-season, marked trail that is easy to follow, beautiful views of Foix, Pamiers and the Garonne plain on one side, and the Massif des 3 Seigneurs and the Pyrenean peaks on the other. It's a bit of a climb, but the elevation gain is reasonable. Suitable for families, we encountered cows and horses along the way, and there are plenty of places to stop for a picnic.
If you go in summer, remember to take sun cream and water as there is no shade.

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catherinelanglais
catherinelanglais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike along the ridge, very well marked and with magnificent views!
However, it is a very windy spot, so check the weather forecast before you go!

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Dante31190
Dante31190

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Route done with a four-and-a-half-year-old child. A superb panorama with herds of animals, horses, cows and sheep. My son and I even continued along the ridge to Roc Mouché. A 10.5 km hike with a 310-metre elevation gain in 4.5 hours, including a lunch break. Highly recommended 🥰

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Hazunta
Hazunta
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, easy walk for experienced hikers, with superb views: turn your head to the right to admire the plain, turn your head to the left to admire the Pyrenees mountain range! Try coming here on snowshoes in winter, but will the road leading there be passable?

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Mitche
Mitche
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Moderately difficult hike.
We set off at 9 a.m. in foggy conditions, but once we climbed above the clouds we were greeted by glorious sunshine, a sea of clouds and the surrounding peaks. Magnificent!
Hike in the company of herds of cows, horses, sheep and goats.

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jess rando
jess rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy, beautiful views, quite long. Best avoided at this time of year, especially at weekends (very crowded at Pla de Las Peyres).

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Enfalits
Enfalits

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy, beautiful views, and very peaceful at this time of year.

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