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To get to the start. Take the D185, Fabrègues <> Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, near the SPA Montpellier - Métropole-Fourrière Animale Noé animal shelter. Park in the dirt car park between the animal shelter and the entrance to the path leading to the hamlet (opposite the information sign: Gardiole Mont-Bauzille).
Important notes:
- This route passes through a network of numerous paths and tracks; using a GPS or mobile app will make navigation easier.
(S/E) Start from the car park, keep to the left of the road heading west for 40 m, until you reach the junction. At a Fork in the road, leave the road to the left and follow the path heading south-west. Walk alongside the fence on your right. Pass a clump of bushes and paths on your left. Approach the hamlet on your right, go through the gate (close it behind you). Continue along the track, keeping the same direction. Avoid all side paths. (The track, the hamlet and the path are not shown on the map). You will come to a three-way junction.
(1) Turn left heading south-east, then take the first right and join a wide T-junction with two directions. Turn right heading south to reach the concrete and earth mound (former firing range – pole flying a tricolour flag – commemorative plaque on the path side). At the three-way junction (altitude 53), by the earth mound, continue straight ahead along a slight left-hand bend heading south-west (avoid the other paths). Follow the copses on your left whilst maintaining your direction.
Proceed uphill, staying on the widest path. Avoid all side paths. After a wide right-hand bend, reach an open area further up the slope. Take thefirst path on the left, heading uphill in a south-westerly direction. Avoid all side paths. After crossing a small hill, reach the rear of La Chapelle Saint-Bauzille, go round it on the right-hand side to arrive to the left of the Croix St-Bauzille.
(2) At the fork in the road with two directions, turn left of the cross and descend south-west. At a left-hand bend and a fork in the road with two directions, keep right, maintaining the same direction. Then approach a crossroads with two directions; turn right downhill, heading north-east. At a left-hand bend and a fork in the path, turn left downhill heading south-west. At the two-way junction, turn left heading south-east.
(3) At the cairn, turn right heading south-west, then at the two-way junction, keep left continuing in the same direction. Then keep right, ignoring a left-hand fork. Keep right and approach the next junction.
(4) At the cairn, turn right onto the descending path heading north-west. Reach the bottom of the Canabière valley. At the junction of three paths, continue straight ahead uphill, keeping the same direction. Reach a wide track.
(5) Cross the hillock on the left, at the cairn. Join the path at a bend. Turn left, continuing down a gentle slope, heading south-west. (This path is not shown on the map).
(6) At a sharp left-hand bend and a three-way junction, stay on the right-hand path heading south-east. Pass through a series of hairpin bends, climbing gradually and heading south-west. At a 160° right-hand bend heading north-west, keep to the right-hand side (elevation 131). Take three bends uphill, heading south-west, and after two bends reach a fork at elevation 147.
(7) Continue straight ahead and reach a Fork in the road with two directions; turn left onto a gentle descent heading south-west. Cross a stream, take a 90° right-hand bend and follow the road on the left-hand side heading west. Cross a stream, go over a small hill and join a path.
(8) At the T-junction with two directions, turn right diagonally for 20 m heading west. (Avoid all other exits). At a bend marked by a cairn and a tree (the path is not shown on the map), take the track heading west. You will come to a path (cairn on the left at the exit) with two directions.
Turn right and continue downhill, cross a stream, start the gradual climb, and cross the summit area of the Reserve on the right-hand side. Reach a junction further up near the altitude of 197. At a fork in the road with two exits, keep left heading north. Go round a mound of earth. Reach the junction (avoid all other exits).
At the two-way junction, facing the electricity pylon, turn right heading north-east. Pass under the high-voltage power line. Walk gently uphill across the plateau, keeping the power line on your right, and reach a three-way junction. (Avoid all other paths). Continue until you reach a three-way junction. Take thesecond path on the right, heading north-east (avoid all other paths).
At the 168-metre altitude, gradually move away from the power line on your right. Cross the summit area of Pioch Champ, maintaining a north-easterly direction. At the end of this section, reach the metal gates (no motor vehicles allowed). Cross the authorised passage. You’ll soon reach the junction at the 131-metre altitude.
(9) Turn left and then immediately right, pass the cairn on your right, and cross the gently sloping woodland. (Avoid all side paths).
After a hairpin bend (drinking water reservoir on the left), at a fork in the road with two directions, keep right. After a winding path at the junction of two directions, keep left on a gentle descent heading east. You will reach a three-way junction under the power line.
Go straight on heading north, pass between the boulders, go under the high-voltage power line, follow the edge of a property and end up in a left-hand bend (stone-lined path). At a fork, turn right heading east. (Chemin de l’Aire de l’Hermite). Cross the power line and reach another fork.
(10) Take the path on the left to reach a two-way junction. Turn right heading east. Arrive at the three-way junction, take the path straight ahead facing east-northeast (not shown on the map). Cross a area of coppice. At the fork in the paths, keep right, cross a three-way junction, keep right, and at a left-hand bend reach the fork from the outward journey
(1) Turn right and follow the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey. Return to the road and the starting point (S/E).
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