Saint-Martin Forest starting from Castillon-du-Gard

A beautiful hike offering views of the Pont du Gard in the distance. A very beautiful trail between the points (4) and (6).
You can visit the village of Castillon on the way back.
No particular difficulties.

Details

31868804
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 143 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 143 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 171 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 56 m

Description of the walk

Park at Place du Château d'Eau in Castillon-du-Gard.

(S/E) Walk around the square and turn right onto Rue du Château d'Eau, then left onto Chemin Neuf until you reach Place du 8 Mai 1945. Turn left and walk to the stairs that lead to the Route de Vers crossroads.

(1) Turn right, continue along Chemin de la Petite Coste until you reach the multi-directional crossroads by a stream.

(2) Turn left onto Route de Remoulins. You will soon reach the Mas de Rafin neighbourhood.

(3) Turn right onto Chemin de la Combe de Vayer. Continue along a path to enter the woods. Follow the small stream and, via a gentle climb, reach a crossroads of paths directly below a power line at a place called Le Méjean.

(4) Take the path on the left opposite, which winds its way to Combe de Vayère.

(5) Continue along this almost horizontal path to reach the DFCI Y56 track.

(6) Take it to the left and you will quickly reach a trail junction directly below the power line at Cros de Rabasse.

(7) Stay on the right-hand track, which is still the DFCI Y51, and you will arrive at a Y-shaped trail junction.

(8) Leave the track and take the shortcut path on the left. Further down, rejoin the track at a place called Valsannière.

(9) Turn left back onto the track and then cross the road to reach the hamlet of Saint-Caprais.

(10) Turn left and cross the Font Barzaude stream. At the road, turn left to reach the initial crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin de l'Articoyse, then right again onto Chemin du Jeu de Boules and you will return to the car park at Place du Château d'Eau (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 96 m - Château d'Eau car park
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 60 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.78 - alt. 56 m - Chemin de la Petite Coste
  4. 3 : km 1.1 - alt. 63 m - Mas de Rafin
  5. 4 : km 3.42 - alt. 101 m - Le Méjan
  6. 5 : km 3.9 - alt. 119 m - Combe de Vayère
  7. 6 : km 5.26 - alt. 171 m - DFCI Y56 track
  8. 7 : km 5.86 - alt. 160 m - Crossroads (Cros de Rabasse)
  9. 8 : km 6.73 - alt. 135 m - Shortcut trail junction
  10. 9 : km 7.31 - alt. 86 m - Valsanniere
  11. 10 : km 8.13 - alt. 63 m - Saint-Caprais
  12. S/E : km 9.06 - alt. 96 m - Château d'Eau car park

Notes

Good walking shoes. Walking sticks are necessary for the descent and ascent to the village. There are no drinking water points on the route outside the village.

Worth a visit

Views of the Pont du Gard from several locations and a chapel.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
Boby47
Boby47

A hike without much interest. Admittedly, the trail through the woods is pleasant, but it takes almost two hours of walking to reach a viewpoint and catch a glimpse of the Pont du Gard in the distance. The trailhead at point 8 is not well marked, so we continued along the track. Visiting the village of Castillon is ultimately the best part of the walk.

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Boulet
Boulet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant, easy and well-maintained hike.

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Zinna
Zinna

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A shaded hike, not technically challenging and not particularly interesting from a cultural point of view, but good for getting back into shape.
Be careful at point 8, as the path is closed on the left, so we continued straight ahead and turned left further on.

View of the Pont du Gard from afar.

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elway22
elway22
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike that is not too difficult but more varied than you might think
Until early May, the trails leading down from the village are currently under repair and therefore closed (there are barriers and explanatory signs). You must leave Castillon via the road and then the staircase to reach sections 2 to 3. Section 4-6 is a veritable tunnel of vegetation, so be careful not to encounter a wild boar.
You can stay on the DFCI track to extend the distance a little and enjoy 2 or 3 scree slopes for a snack. Note that there are tables and benches towards the end of the trail under the trees of the Saint-Caprais chapel.
The village itself is very beautiful, almost too beautiful.

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jEANjULES
jEANjULES
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

9 km without difficulty. Pleasant paths under cover with a gentle climb, then a DFCI track.
PI: Visit the charming village of Castillon, a drystone shelter (on private land), and a chapel (with a slight detour as you approach the village).
A short and pleasant hike to get back into shape. Very few markings on this PR, so use the Visorando app, a 1:25,000 map or similar.
Enjoy your hike, everyone.

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Hiker!
Hiker!

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant route, and a visit to the village of Castillon is recommended.

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Avogadro Yvonne
Avogadro Yvonne

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike

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francisjoellatie
francisjoellatie

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The trail in the first section is pleasant, but overall there are too many roads and forest firebreaks. The village of Castillon du Gard is worth a detour.

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airjluc
airjluc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant route, half of which is in the shade, which is much appreciated in this region. Distant view of the Pont du Gard. Departure from the pretty village of Castillon du Gard.

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speedy7
speedy7

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route is shaded, as described.
Allows you to visit the very pretty village of Castillon-du-Gard.
I recommend it.

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uggy5452
uggy5452

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

pleasant hike.

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avig193984
avig193984

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very accurately described. First part in very pleasant shade. Visit to the village recommended!

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