El Borboner, Cortal Grau, Sant Féliu and La Cogulera from Rodès

Coming from Perpignan, after the dual carriageway (D66), turn right at the Rodès roundabout to enter the village. Head north and turn right at the school, then left onto Ruta Nova de la Conquilla until you reach the shaded car park.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along the street towards the north-east and turn left onto Carrer d'En Moline, which you follow until you come to a long flight of steps. Continue straight on along Carrer Del Serrat and quickly turn left onto Carrer de la Blanquerra until you reach the bridge over the Têt.

(1) Continue along the track on the left, which runs along the left bank of the river. Ignore the first yellow-marked path that climbs up to the right. Continue along the track for about 150 metres.

(2) Take the path that climbs to the right towards Sant Feliu de les Cases (sign).

(3) Turn right and continue climbing on the well-marked path that leads to a track.

(4) Turn right towards "El Borboner" (sign) and, 150 m further on, turn left onto the path that leads to another track. Cross this track and take the barely visible path opposite, heading north towards Les Balmettes. It passes through scrubland where long trousers are necessary. Follow the GPS track carefully to avoid taking any wrong turns. You can see the village of Montalba-le-Château to the north-northeast.

(5) At a ruined house, take the track heading south-west. The path ends at a high fence, which you must go around by following it to the left. It protects private property where sheep are raised. The path leads to a stony track.

(6) Turn right, pass in front of the property gate and head generally west.

(7) At the next track intersection (telephone poles), turn left and, after a few metres, left again onto a secondary track towards Cortal Grau. On the left side of the track, there is a large table and benches (welcome). After Cortal Grau, continue south on the track until you reach a pretty little grove.

Yellow markings

(8) Now follow the yellow marked trail south-west to the chapel (in ruins) of Sant Feliu de les Cases.

No markings

(9) Just after the chapel, leave the marked trail and take the path that runs flat towards the west and then north-west, joining a wide stone track.

(10) Turn left onto the track that descends gently towards the south-east.

(11) Look for and take a path that climbs steeply (elevation 385). It leads to a secondary track and then a stony track after going around La Cogulera, which rises to 530 m.

(12) Turn left (elevation 475) to follow the path that leads to Lac de Vinça (signposted). The blue-marked path descends to the left bank of the lake, passing through old terraces, sometimes separated by steps (remarkable). Arrive above Lac de Vinça.

(13) It is worth taking the path heading west marked "Belvédère" to take a look at the bed of the stream (Tarerach River, which was dry on that day) that flows into the lake. Then continue along the path that runs alongside the lake, climbing gently away from the shore and descending via a slightly steep passage onto a stony track.

(14) Take the track on the right at the dam. Continue along the track and complete the circular route.

(2) Retrace your steps from the start of the hike in the opposite direction to return to the village of Rodès and the car park (S/E).