The Courcol sheepfold

Surrounded by Austrian black pines and often offering panoramic views, this route invites you to climb higher with every step. You will be able to see the Caroux and Escandorgue mountains and even the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the route is on forest tracks.

Details

1078449
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 480 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 480 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 698 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 273 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park between Saint-Étienne-de-Gourgas and Aubaugues, opposite the sports grounds.

(S/E) Walk 50 metres and turn right at the cross. Cross a bridge and walk 300 metres.

(1) At the intersection, go up to the left. Follow a few bends and at a crossroads, turn right along a wood.

(2) Leave the road and turn left onto a path. Continue climbing.

(3) Ignore a path on the left that leads to a stream and continue in a south-westerly direction. Join theGR®7.

(4) Go left and then right onto the track leading to the Col de Mélanque.

(5) Continue on theGR® to the left.

(6) At the intersection, turn right and continue on theGR® 7

(7) After 40 minutes of walking, you will reach a track on the left that leads to the Bergerie de Courcol. Return to theGR®7and climb straight ahead for about 600 metres.

(8) At the crossroads, turn left and continue to follow theGR®7until you reach a new cistern.

(9) Leave theGR®7, turn left and begin the descent on the other side. Stay on this forest path, which will take you back to Aubaigues in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

(10) When you reach Mas Caisso, take the track on the left for about 400 metres.

(11) Turn right onto the path that descends steeply.

(12) After 200 metres, turn right along a low wall and you will reach the hamlet of Aubaigues below.

(13) Pass in front of the Saint-Michel Chapel and follow the road to the car park located about 500 metres away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 273 m - Car park opposite the stadium
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 277 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.04 - alt. 311 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.58 - alt. 344 m - Fork to the right
  5. 4 : km 2.49 - alt. 495 m - Junction with the GR7
  6. 5 : km 2.87 - alt. 535 m - Pin on the GR7 - Col de Mélanque (534m)
  7. 6 : km 4.96 - alt. 495 m - GR7 crossroads
  8. 7 : km 7.48 - alt. 677 m - Courcol sheepfold
  9. 8 : km 8.13 - alt. 685 m - Turn left onto the GR
  10. 9 : km 8.79 - alt. 698 m - Turn left at the fire hydrant
  11. 10 : km 12.26 - alt. 439 m - Mas Caisso
  12. 11 : km 12.8 - alt. 433 m - Path on the right leading downhill
  13. 12 : km 13.01 - alt. 396 m - Low wall
  14. 13 : km 13.49 - alt. 321 m - Saint-Michel Chapel
  15. S/E : km 14.17 - alt. 273 m - Car park opposite the stadium

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 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
domichado
domichado

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk. A bit of a steep climb at the start and a bit of a steep descent at the end.
Some lovely views. A few processions of caterpillars – it’s the season for them.
Thank you for this walk

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BoB60'
BoB60'

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pretty sheepfold, lovely views of the Cirque du Bout du Monde, an easy hike but beware of processionary caterpillars depending on the season...

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7oise
7oise

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 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 hike, even with occasional drizzle and fog at the end of our meal at the sheep farm, which created a cosy atmosphere. Magnificent views with beautiful autumn colours. It made us forget the long climbs in the morning. We were pleasantly surprised by the little chapel we visited at the end of the hike.

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odile courtial
odile courtial

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

shady route, enjoyable in September. The area around the sheepfold is magnificent, a beautiful spot for a break.
The descent is in a very beautiful setting, with lovely panoramic views.

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jean-claude septier
jean-claude septier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike with no particular difficulty apart from a few short steep sections
The hardest part is at the beginning.
Most of the hike is on wide forest paths.
The route is well shaded by pine trees but not ideal at this time of year as
we encountered large colonies of caterpillars on the ground...
We had a picnic at the sheepfold (point No. 8) where there are two tables, which is great.
The most beautiful part of the route is the descent, with some very pretty views.
Towards the end, there is a slightly tricky and stony section, but it is not particularly dangerous.
There is a beautiful little chapel in the village which is open and well worth a look.

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JoniB34
JoniB34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very pleasant hike, mostly shaded, which is appreciated in August... The path before joining the GR is rather discreet in the vegetation, so the GPS track is very useful. The vegetation is quite dense, with brambles across the path.
Similarly, I missed point 12 on the descent due to a lack of attention and had to retrace part of the path when I came to a fence... Here too, the GPS track was a great help.
Very beautiful landscapes, and the area around the sheepfold is very welcoming with picnic tables.
(For my part, I made a small variation by "cutting" after the sheepfold (point 7), climbing up to Puech Haut before descending towards the stream and the spring, then picking up point 11 via the track.)
A note, if it helps: there is a fountain behind the tennis court, next to the start/finish point. Very welcome if, like me, you didn't bring enough water! 🚰

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dr34
dr34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

wide paths for a lovely walk through the woods. Stop at the sheep farm for a nice snack. Some beautiful views. No particular difficulties, suitable for families. Towards the end, there was a spot where neither the GPS nor the description were clear and the route was a little unclear. Between 14 and 15, if I'm not mistaken. After that, just go straight ahead and you'll be back on the path.
Enjoy your hike, everyone!

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GMGALD
GMGALD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is not very difficult, there is plenty of shade, and at the end of August it is still warm, which is nice.
There are few people on this hike.

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denis34
denis34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

easy route to follow with descriptions for most of the route, which follows the GR7; GPS is a plus for the first few kilometres (lots of tracks) and the last kilometre. I would add a point about 2 km after point 9 to indicate that you should continue straight ahead on the track (road sign prohibiting all traffic) and not continue on the carriageway to the right. At point 12, clever hikers have built a cairn so you don't miss the fork to the right on the descent. When you see the first roofs, take the path on the left, which quickly leads to the concrete path

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GSSR
GSSR

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike with a beautiful view of the Cirque du Bout du Monde bathed in the morning sun. However, the trail is in the shade for almost the entire route, so be sure to bring warm clothes at this time of year..
There are quite a few tracks on the route, but in November this is less of a problem than in summer! We only met four people on the route. It took us four hours, but we didn't dawdle..
Visit the pretty little Saint Michel chapel in the hamlet of Aubaigues just before the finish, it's really worth a detour.

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Papa krum
Papa krum

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GPS track is spot on. We had a little more trouble with the description, which led to heated discussions between those who prefer paper maps and those who prefer GPS... Be careful at the end of the route, which, with fatigue setting in, can be hard on your ankles. Thank you for your work.

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BrigitteRieul
BrigitteRieul

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in this unspoilt area, off the beaten track... Not a soul in sight!
Superb balcony views, a breath of fresh air!
For your picnic, you can choose the pretty little grassy spot next to the sheepfold
Thanks to the organiser!

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prugnon
prugnon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Be careful on the last descent on the steep path
halfway down, do not continue straight ahead but turn right onto a less obvious path.
No dogs or ladies in sight.
the scenery on the descent is magnificent, from Aigoual to Escandorgues and in front of the Cirque du Bout du Monde.

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raoul.cros
raoul.cros

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A gentle hike along good forest paths. Be sure to follow the route described because, if like us, you take a pretty little stony path above Aubaygues that climbs steeply to a good forest track that joins the GR 7 higher up, you may be greeted by a lady who insists on enforcing her property rights and who is accompanied by a pack of noisy dogs. That said, if you are polite to her, as we were, you can have a calm discussion. Of course, we do not know whether her arguments and criticisms against the Town Hall, the Departmental Council, the police and the judges who, according to her, are persecuting her, are well-founded.
The descent above the valley, at the bottom of which lies the hamlet of Parlatges, offers magnificent views.
On your way back, don't forget to visit the Chapel of St Michel in Aubaygues, a pretty 12th-century Romanesque chapel, which was open when we visited.

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lesvegas
lesvegas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The route is particularly worthwhile for the view of the Cirque du Bout du Monde.
The forest tracks can become monotonous.
As for point 5, it's hard to go wrong, the explanation is clear, the GR7 is very well marked and the GPS track is good.
It's a shame that the route is on the north-facing slope, as it lacks a bit of sunshine, especially on a winter morning when you start out at -2°C.
Otherwise, it's a beautiful walk.

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