From the Touch to the Saint-Martory Canal via the Bidot Lakes

The route starts from the car park behind the Phare hall, 32 bis Route de Tarbes.

(S/E) Leave the car park via the south exit, turn right and follow the course of the Touch upstream to Lac François Soula.

(1) Cross the footbridge and continue upstream on the other side of the Touch. Go under the bridge and follow the sunken path to the roundabout.

(2) Take the cycle path on the right and continue to a roundabout.

(3) Turn left and carry on straight ahead until you reach another roundabout at the Espace Monestié.

(4) Take the third exit, cross the Merdagnou and carry on straight ahead until you reach the Béguère farm (marked ‘Château de la Béguère’ on the map).

(5) Turn left and carry on straight ahead, cross the D50 and continue to the end of the road.

(6) Turn right and carry on straight ahead.

(7) At the corner by Lac de Bidot, take the path on the left and follow it alongside the lake. Carry straight on to the end of the path.

(8) Turn left until you reach the road, then turn right onto it.

(9) Carry on straight ahead. Once you reach the built-up area, take the pavement (cycle path) and carry on, ignoring the turnings on either side, until you reach the Canal de Saint-Martory.

(10) Cross the canal and turn left straight away. Follow the canal on your right, then alternate between the left and right-hand sides as you follow the path. Carry on like this until you reach Plaisance du Touch. Cross the first road, keeping to the left of the canal. Join the next street.

(11) Turn right and carry on straight ahead at the first roundabout until you reach the second one.

(12) Carry on to the left and then straight ahead at the next roundabout. Take the cycle path on the left until you reach the Canal Saint-Martory.

(13) Turn right and follow the canal until you reach a park.

(14) Enter the park and stay on the paths on the left until you reach the park exit.

(15) Take the road on the left and follow it to the traffic lights.

(16) Carry on to the left along the cycle path, then take the road on the right after the canal to enter the Ramée leisure centre.

(17) Carry on straight ahead to the end of the lake and follow the path opposite.

(18) Between the allotments and the archery range, turn left. At the crossroads, turn left again, then take the^first road on the right. Pass between the blocks of flats and, at the end of the road, continue left until you reach the roundabout.

(19) Turn right and head for the next junction.

(20) Just before this, cross the road and head towards the Touch by crossing a grassy area. Follow the stream upstream to a road junction. Turn right towards the Touch and look for a footbridge.

(21) Cross the footbridge and turn left immediately. Continue following the Touch upstream to the Phare car park (S/E).

A bike in good condition with fairly wide tyres: anything less than 35 wide may prove tricky.
It’s easy to park at the Phare car park.