Pride de Crespin fords

An excursion in the coolness of the Andouquette. You will be charmed by this stream that will accompany you all along its gorge. You will be surrounded by unspoilt nature.

Details

287364
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 229 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 231 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 541 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 300 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at the town hall in the village of Crespin. The trail is aPR® (regional footpath) and is very well marked in yellow.

(S/E) With your back to the town hall, go between the two farm buildings on the left. After 300 metres, turn left through the fir trees to reach the dolmen.

(1) Retrace your steps and continue along the road on the left (south-west). The road gives way to a wide dirt track that descends to La Bourdarié. At this hamlet, follow the road to the left and then to the right at the next crossroads.

(2) Turn left onto the wide track that gradually descends to the Cérou stream. At the T-junction, turn right, then take the two hairpin bends to the left and right, ignoring the tracks that branch off. At the third hairpin bend, follow the Cérou until it meets the Andouquette (elevation 306).

(3) Cross the first of the 13 fords of the Andouquette. The Andouquette flows northwards and you will walk on rocks that sometimes come very close to its banks.

(4) After crossing the wooden footbridge, take the path on the right that climbs up to the ruins of Andouque Castle.

(5) Descend back to the footbridge.

(4) Take the path on the right.

(6) After a few hundred metres, turn left towards Isabelle Waterfall.

(7) Retrace your steps and take the path on the left (north) towards Les Igards.

(8) On the road, continue straight ahead (north-west) to return to the car park in Crespin (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 522 m - Car park at the town hall in the village of Crespin
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 541 m - Pierra Levada Dolmen
  3. 2 : km 1.21 - alt. 475 m - Crossroads on the left, wide track
  4. 3 : km 4.71 - alt. 312 m - Cérou/Andouquette crossroads
  5. 4 : km 5.42 - alt. 348 m - Footbridge/Crossing towards the Ruins
  6. 5 : km 5.49 - alt. 351 m - Ruins of Andouque Castle
  7. 6 : km 5.9 - alt. 367 m - Crossroads towards the waterfall
  8. 7 : km 5.94 - alt. 373 m - Isabelle Waterfall
  9. 8 : km 6.93 - alt. 482 m - Les Igards
  10. S/E : km 7.81 - alt. 522 m - Car park at the town hall in the village of Crespin

Notes

Wear waterproof shoes or beach sandals to cross the 13 fords of the Andouquette.
Walking sticks may be useful.
Avoid doing this hike after rain, as the rocks are slippery.

Worth a visit

- Peyre-Levada dolmen
- Ruins of Andouque Castle
- Remains of mills

 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

4.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 26650727

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike where you will enjoy crossing numerous fords in the gorges of a branch of the Cerou River. We had a picnic at the foot of the waterfall. Very pleasant.

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lascazes
lascazes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with Kali. The description is not very clear at point 4. If you follow the signs to the right after the footbridge, bear in mind that this is a round trip to the castle. The rest of the trail is a little more rugged, quite physically demanding and with some nice little climbs. Best done in the morning if it's hot, as the last section is in full sun.

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EliCha
EliCha

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful family hike, but unfortunately we didn't have Kali the guide with us 🐶. The water was very refreshing and the level was good. And I had forgotten how beautiful the views were at the end of the hike 🥵

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madydou
madydou ★

Thank you, AngieChris, for this lovely review.
I'd like to take this opportunity to post a short video, dated 18 July, showing an example of a ford to be crossed.
Kali is a regular here )
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMd...

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AngieChris
AngieChris

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 1984
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike. The best of the best. Throughout the hike, we are in the woods and walk alongside a beautiful stream. There is a magnificent waterfall three-quarters of the way through the hike... We had a guide throughout the hike, "Kali", a super friendly and adorable dog who walked the 9 km with us. No need to look at the markings, "Kali" knows the route by heart. A dog who adds something extra to the hike. We have very fond memories of it.
I highly recommend this hike.

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papou81640
papou81640

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike, with a few slightly difficult stream crossings, but nothing too challenging.
A good rest at the end

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surpilix
surpilix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk in the shade and cool air, even though it was very, very hot! The gorges and waterfall are magnificent...

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Michèle F.
Michèle F.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route along a stream, mostly shaded, which was great as it was hot!
There are some beautiful spots.
Nice climb at the end.
Worth doing again...

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michelpoulhalec
michelpoulhalec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike described as moderate; BUT: we climbed up the Andouque riverbed with high water levels, which made fording the river very challenging and extremely difficult for some members of the group.

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Cecilia12A
Cecilia12A

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike
The signposting is very well done... it's very nice not to have to search for the path

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Esbérafi
Esbérafi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

If I were to do the hike again, I would start from the low point at Alt 306, a place called "La Palamandié" near the D 69 road, and I would follow the castle, Les Igars, Crespin, La Bourdarié and Le Cérou. The road to Crespin is long, narrow and uninteresting.

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PatGilles34
PatGilles34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and enjoyable walk with the crossing of these fords. Quite a lot of water at this time of year. Be careful, it's slippery! Hiking poles are a good idea. It took us 2½ hours, not counting breaks. We'll do it again

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Sa et So
Sa et So

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pretty walk, well marked in yellow as the "Circuit de l'Andouquette".
A very pleasant bucolic section with unobstructed views before descending gently towards the stream and fords, which may be tricky for elderly people and young children.
There are a few steep climbs on the way back.
A passage near private property on the way back: be sure to stay on the path, as there is a very intimidating but harmless fence to deter trespassers.

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Nataly54024
Nataly54024

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike as a family, four adults and a 16-year-old teenager. Doing it with younger children would be more complicated.
The climb up to the castle is very steep. It's a must-see for history buffs, but for me, it was nothing special.
The rest of the route is superb, in the cool air.
The end of the route is very physically demanding. Next time, we'll do it in reverse...

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jean-luc/01
jean-luc/01

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

i did this hike a few days ago. I had already done it a few years ago. It is very pleasant to do in summer because it is very shady. There are numerous fords, which are currently passable without any problems. Walking shoes are essential. Also, be careful of the rocks, which are slippery when it rains. The last climb is a bit tough but also perfectly doable.

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