The circular Quarry Loop starting from L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac

A short walk of around ten kilometres through the fields and the Larzac. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to watch aerobatic displays, admire a menhir and walk through a pretty deciduous woodland dotted with daffodils in the right season. To round off the walk, enjoy a free visit to the Archaeology Museum in L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac.

Details

1633324
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 653 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 643 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,753 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,457 ft

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Place des Cygnes in L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac.

(S/E) Walk through the village heading due east along the Grand Rue, then continue at the junction along the Route des Liquisses. Pass under the A75 motorway and you’ll soon come to a new road at the T-junction.

(1) Take the left-hand branch, cross the Bois de Lagast and, after a hairpin bend, you’ll reach a new four-way junction.

(2) Turn left heading due west, then turn right as you approach the motorway. Head towards the aerodrome.

(3) Go round the airfield runway on the right, then head right to join a new track.

(4) Turn left onto it and continue in a virtually straight line until you reach another four-way junction.

(5) Take the path on the right. This path, which starts off straight, soon begins to curve.

(6) Head along the path due south, turn left and, a little further on, you’ll come to a Y-junction leading to the quarry.

(7) Leave the quarry track on your right and take the path on the left. Follow a wide circular route to reach the menhir.
Please note that this menhir is located at the entrance to a field.

(8) Continue along the edge of the woodland until you reach a path junction.

(9) Turn right to enter the woods. Walk through them to return to the original crossroads.

(2) Follow the same route as on the way there to return to the car park at Place des Cygnes (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,464 ft - Car park at Place des Cygnes
  2. 1 : mi 0.52 - alt. 2,503 ft - Crossroads after the A75
  3. 2 : mi 1.01 - alt. 2,710 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 2.1 - alt. 2,605 ft - Airfield
  5. 4 : mi 2.8 - alt. 2,579 ft - Crossroads path
  6. 5 : mi 3.34 - alt. 2,657 ft - Four-way junction
  7. 6 : mi 3.8 - alt. 2,680 ft - Right-angled junction
  8. 7 : mi 4.39 - alt. 2,602 ft - Carrefour Carrière
  9. 8 : mi 5.57 - alt. 2,503 ft - Menhir
  10. 9 : mi 5.85 - alt. 2,530 ft - Crossroads: woodland path
  11. S/E : mi 7.4 - alt. 2,461 ft - Car park at Place des Cygnes

Notes

(7) Carrefour de la carrière: a sign for walkers and mountain bikers informs you that access to the quarry is prohibited.
In the square, there is a fountain; the water is not drinkable but you can use it to cool off. A tap with drinking water is located in the public toilets.
For your four-legged friends accompanying you, there are several watering points for wildlife available along the route.
The best time to do this walk is in May or June, when the flowers of the Causse are in bloom.
Otherwise, don’t forget to wear a hat in hot weather.
Note: this route is suitable for mountain bikes.

Worth a visit

Visit the museum.
Mountain bike hire and repairs available if you have a breakdown.
You can grab a bite to eat and have a drink at the L’Hospitalet-du-Larzac campsite.

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
3.3 / 5
occibret
occibret

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello
In my opinion, this is a fairly easy walk along a good path from start to finish. Once you’ve got past the slightly noisy start (A75), there are lovely views of the plateau, which is in full bloom at this time of year.
Perfect for beginner walkers, given the distance, and ideal for family mountain biking or hybrid cycling.
Thanks to the author.

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MANDAGOT
MANDAGOT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

That was a great walk

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pierrelabonde
pierrelabonde

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2030
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A bit monotonous on the Larzac

in my opinion, a distance of 13 km

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JOINER
JOINER

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We’re used to going on much longer and more challenging hikes
but this one breaks all records when it comes to signposting. We got lost
at the motorway bridge at the start and after the airfield track. There are no Y-junctions
and we ended up completing the final 3.6 km on the D809. So it needs a rethink.

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daniellemaurin34
daniellemaurin34

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, no problems with this walk – it’s very well explained. The temperature is 24 degrees.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your feedback.

For your information, ‘Route on map’ refers to assessing whether the route as shown on the map matches the actual terrain.

You don’t need to carry either an altimeter or a GPS device whilst hiking.

Visorando provides a detailed route description (which could be improved) and an IGN route map at a scale of 1:25,000. These two tools, which are complementary and inseparable, are sufficient.

However, if you’re having trouble matching the map to the terrain, Visorando offers a free GPS app

See you soon

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Anassou
Anassou

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route description is very vague at the start (if it weren’t for the map) and at points 8 and 9. You don’t have to go hiking with either an altimeter or a GPS.

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