Between gariottes and fountains

This hike on the Limogne plateau allows you to discover the rich rural heritage of this region, including the beautiful traditional Quercy houses with their distinctive gabled roofs.
Most of the route is not officially marked, but it always follows well-marked rural stone paths.

Details

1178630
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 180 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 179 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 376 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 294 m

Description of the walk

Park on the church square in Promilhanes.

Please note: there are no signposts.

(S/E) Turn left towards the large calvary and continue until you reach it.

(1) Turn right and follow the signs for "Maison Rucher" (sign). At the next crossroads, turn left and continue along the path towards the woods and pastures. Cross the Cabalou woods and reach the intersection of paths at the edge of a small clearing.

(2) Turn left and then right here, continue and you will soon reach a four-way crossroads.

(3) Take the path on the left and at the next fork, turn right towards Mas de Pachot and then on to Mas de Rolland.

(4) At a small grassy area, take the narrow path between two low walls. You will arrive at the D24; follow it to Limogne-en-Quercy. At the entrance to the village, you will see a beautiful butterfly wash house. Continue on to reach the centre of Limogne on the D911.

(5) Turn right onto the road to Villefranche de Rouergue and a section ofthe GR®65. You will come to the junction with the D19. Follow this road for a few metres, then turn right onto the Sentier Botanique (Botanical Trail).

(6) Take this botanical discovery trail which, after a sharp bend, joins theGR®65.

(7) Continue to the left onto the Way of St James, marked in red and white. Continue to the Fontaine Malecargue crossroads.

(8) Turn right towards the fountain mentioned on a sign and marked in yellow.

(9) From the fountain, turn left towards Mas de Game. At the calvary (GR®65), turn right and then immediately left. At the end of the hamlet, follow the path on the right until you reach the exit of Mas de Dalat, marked in red and white.

(10) Continue along a small road on the right to Mas de Caumet, then along a path to the D143. Stay on this road for about 100m.

(11) Turn right onto the path heading south, leaving the road here. Reach Lac de Lacabru by taking the first path on the left.

(12) At Lac de Lacabru, take the gravel path on the right. You will reach the road leading to the houses in Lacabru.

(13) Turn left onto it to reach the hamlet. Continue straight ahead, then cross the D53 and D911 roads.

(14) At the next intersection, turn right and then quickly left towards Moulin à Vent and cross Mas de la Bosse.

(15) At the exit of the hamlet, take the road on the left.

(16) At the second road, turn right south towards the woods.

(17) Turn right at the intersection of the roads. Continue to Mas de Ricard.

(18) Take the road on the left towards the village of Promilhanes to return to the starting car park, turning left onto the D53 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 370 m - Church Square
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 371 m - Direction Maison Rucher
  3. 2 : km 1.99 - alt. 340 m - Turn left then right.
  4. 3 : km 2.46 - alt. 346 m - On the left
  5. 4 : km 3.57 - alt. 319 m - Place Mas Rolland
  6. 5 : km 4.76 - alt. 301 m - On the right, take the road to Villefranche.
  7. 6 : km 5.14 - alt. 300 m - Botanical discovery trail
  8. 7 : km 6.29 - alt. 320 m - Junction with GR 65
  9. 8 : km 7.02 - alt. 322 m - Turn right at the fork.
  10. 9 : km 7.65 - alt. 325 m - Malecargue fountain
  11. 10 : km 9.32 - alt. 316 m - Turn right towards the east.
  12. 11 : km 10.83 - alt. 373 m - Right to the south
  13. 12 : km 11.98 - alt. 343 m - Lacabru Lake
  14. 13 : km 12.73 - alt. 360 m - On the left
  15. 14 : km 13.77 - alt. 344 m - On the right
  16. 15 : km 14.79 - alt. 352 m - To the left towards the east
  17. 16 : km 15.47 - alt. 342 m - Turn right towards the woods.
  18. 17 : km 15.86 - alt. 356 m - To the right towards the west
  19. 18 : km 17.81 - alt. 358 m - Turn left towards the village.
  20. S/E : km 18.82 - alt. 370 m - Church Square

Notes

There is a water point on the church square.
Bring water and a hat in summer.
It is useful to have a compass or GPS as there are many paths that cross this route.

Worth a visit

Along the route: numerous gariottes and cazelles, dovecotes, a butterfly wash house, stone fountains with their bucket or plug drainage system.

You can visit the Maison Rucher in the village.

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 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Josynou
Josynou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and relaxing walk. Wash house, gariottes (stone huts) and apiary house.

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Marie-pierre
Marie-pierre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike without any difficulties.

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Marie-pierre
Marie-pierre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, GPS necessary, many crossroads and trails.

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randovolant
randovolant

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nothing to report

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Nocxjo_Lagrafo
Nocxjo_Lagrafo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk without any major difficulties.

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jab31
jab31

As far as I know, there are no breeds of cows native to the Lot region! Aubrac cows don't come from far away and are hardy enough to thrive in this area!

And I think they're very beautiful cows!!!

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mcvinel
mcvinel
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Due to time constraints, I was only able to do the long circular hike from Promilhanes to Limogne, and I cut short before Lacabru due to a mistake I made reading the map. I will complete the rest of the hike from its starting point to Lacabru and the rest of it shortly. It's a typical Causse route with interesting sights such as gariottes (stone huts) and fountains, as the name suggests. Unfortunately, the Causse is as polluted as the Ségala with plastic (black plastic and blue string) and inappropriate agricultural practices, such as herds of Aubrac cattle.
It's a beautiful route for more intense physical activity: Nordic walking, jogging and even mountain biking.
I finished the route this morning, starting again from where I made my mistake, i.e. the western part of the route. This is definitely the most beautiful season for this route. The leaves were still on the trees and all the colours were on display.
Completing the entire route can be done with friends, whom I will recommend it to a little later.
The best thing about the route is that there is very little tarmac and it takes in all the highlights of the Causse: gariottes (stone huts), fountains, mills, buildings... Highly recommended.

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