Goutarende and the Camp de las Brugos

It’s not easy to find the starting point without a map. Setting off from Cuxac-Cabardès, take the D62 westwards. Take the hairpin bend to the right onto the D562, then, at the next bend to the right, leave this road to the left and take the road to Goutarende. You can park at the entrance to the hamlet; there’s always space.

(S/E) Take the road heading north-west and leave it straight away to follow a path that climbs into the forest. Follow this path, which initially runs above the Pousset stream before drawing closer to it. The path climbs due north and is quite overgrown with low brambles, but remains clearly marked enough that you won’t lose your way. You’ll reach the point where the path crosses the stream.

(1) Cross this bridge and head back south along a much wider track. Pass behind the long buildings at Les Augers and continue to the right along the tarmac road. Cross another road and carry on straight ahead towards Sié. At the first wide, unpaved track, turn left.

(2) A hundred metres further on, turn right onto a narrower track. As you follow this track, you’ll pass a large fenced-off field on your right.

(3) At the end of the field, turn left onto another track that branches off at a right angle. Cross the tarmac road and continue along a narrower track that descends south-east and then south.

(4) At this junction, head down the path opposite, which isn’t shown on the map but is marked by an arrow on a large tree. This path descends quite steeply to the Pousset stream.

(5) Cross the stream via a series of culverts that serve as a ford. In September 2017, a tree fell across this ford and you’ll need to do a bit of scrambling to get across. After the ford, turn left along the stream and very soon take a sharp right-hand bend. At the next junction, turn left again and carry on straight ahead.

Drive through Goutarende to reach the car park (S/E).

Wear sturdy footwear as the path is sometimes muddy and slippery.