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(S/E) When you leave the station, walk past the children's playground, following the railway line on your left. Go down a few steps and pass under the railway line.
(1) Follow the signs for Château de Valmy, pass the cemetery with a ford heading south. Go under the ring road.
(2) Turn left and continue towards the castle.
Yellow signposts
(3) At the T-junction before the castle, opposite the main entrance to the campsite, turn left for less than 100 m and turn right just after the ford.
This is the starting point for the hike from the Château de Valmy car park.
Pass below the castle on a track that quickly becomes a very steep marked path starting with steps. Follow this marked path in the direction of "Dolmen de Cova". Cross the track again. Follow this well-marked path to reach the "Cova de l'Alarb" dolmen.
(4) Walk back a few metres to the dolmen on your left. There is an information board here.
Turn left onto the rough path that climbs uphill. Cross a track; there is a dolmen without a cap on the left-hand side of the path. The view opens up and the Madeloc and La Massane towers are visible to the south. You will arrive at a crossroads of tracks and paths. Turn left onto thesecond track towards an open-air water cistern (on your right) and follow this track for less than 100 m.
(5) Turn right onto a steep path that is still marked, after passing through a metal gate. Cut across a track. Pass through the Coll del Camp d'en Selva.
(6) Continue left, now on the track, passing between two stone pillars.
(7) Fork in the road. The hike described here continues on the track that ends; continue straight ahead (not the left path). The path turns sharply to the right and leads to Coll de la Plaça d'Armes.
Alternative route: a sign has been installed at this point, suggesting you climb up to La Maçana via the Andreu fountain. To do this, simply follow another yellow signpost along a steep, rutted path. The three fountains and a picnic table are located below on the left, about 580 m away, when the path turns right into the open pasture area. Please respect this area.
After the fountain, climb up the forest path and turn left onto a good path. When you reach a fork with a signpost, turn right into the forest onto a wide, rutted path that leads to the tower.
(8) Take the steep path on the right and head towards the Torre de la Massane (Torre de la Maçana).
A very beautiful spot. Orientation table. 360° view. A break is possible.
(9) Now it's time to think about the return journey. With your back to the opening of the tower, go down the few steps and turn left, heading north, and pass the point at an altitude of 662 metres, where you will find a signpost. Leave the path on your right.
Continue towards Coll del Pomer (apple tree pass).
(10) Head slightly to the right. Pass near Roc del Grill. Directional sign and huge pile of rocks.
(1) Continue to the right, heading towards Chapelle Saint-Laurent in the direction of the high-voltage power line.
(12) Directly below the power line, turn right onto a small, steeply descending path. Directional signpost. Join a track and follow it to the left towards the Saint-Laurent Chapel.
Note: the route shown on the IGN online and paper maps is no longer the route recommended on the ground.
Easier alternative: continue opposite, following the yellow markings under the power line, along the ridge, to reach a clearing at Mas d'en Pardès. Take thesecond path on the right towards Mas de la Mojà, which is now private and closed to the public.
(13) From the chapel, retrace your steps for about 100 m and turn right onto thesecond wide path (cairn) which leads downhill. The high-voltage power line is on your left. Reach an open area at Mas Pardès.
(14) Turn east onto the path towards Mas de la Monja. Directional signpost. Look for and follow the yellow markings. You will come to another open area.
leave Mas de la Monja on your right, which is now private property.
(15) At the signpost, the directions are confusing as they have not been updated. Go straight ahead down a steep path through the forest. You will reach a track. Continue down this track to the right. Pass a fire hydrant with graffiti on your left.
At the next intersection, turn left. At the next intersection, turn left again.
Join a macadam road (Salt d'en Cabasse Sud). Arrive at a crossroads at a large campsite with a bar and entrance on the right of this road.
(3) Turn left onto the small road that brought us to the castle a few hours earlier. Soon you will arrive at the SNCF train station (S/E).
Alternative: continue straight ahead to reach the car park at Valmy Castle.
Visorando Member
Easy 
Tourist office
Difficult 
