The Douch - Héric loop

This very pleasant loop allows you to discover the work of our ancestors who, in order to communicate, cultivate and live, had created paths that hikers are now delighted to walk along. For our ancestors, sustainable development had not yet been imagined, they had simply created it. They were all a bit like Monsieur Jourdain.

Details

272045
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 791 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 786 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 968 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 435 m

Description of the walk

(S/E) Departure from the communal lodge in Douch. Take the track in the field to the left of the marked trail; both lead to the Col de l'Airole. In wet weather, the marked trail serves as a small stream, while the track is dry. Reach the Col de l'Airolle.

(1) Turn right onto thePR®® (Promenade et Randonnée trail) marked in yellow. Cross the small Salis stream and continue after the hairpin bend on the left bank of the stream. A quick descent takes you to the Col du Salis, a crossroads of trails.

(2) Continue downhill, taking the path on the left, which is still marked in yellow. Cross the chestnut forest with its numerous terraces. After a final descent, you will reach the hamlet of Héric and theGR®®7.

(3) Continue downhill, taking theGR®®7on the right, to reach the lowest point of the day, the bridge over the Ruisseau d'Héric.

(4) Enter the woods and begin the short but steep climb to the Col de Bardou.

(5) At the pass, a veritable hub of trails, take the blue-marked trail, which is the first on the right. You will quickly reach the Belvédère de Bau Filliti viewpoint.

(6) Follow the same route back to the village of Héric.

(4) Cross the stream again to reach the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(3) Continue on theGR®®7 trailheading northeast, tackle the steep climb and follow the numerous hairpin bends to reach the Col d'Airole.

take thesame track as on the way out to return to the lodge (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 897 m - Douch communal lodge
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 933 m - Col de l'Airole ou de Douch (946m)
  3. 2 : km 2.43 - alt. 755 m - Col du Salis (754m)
  4. 3 : km 4.9 - alt. 516 m - Héric
  5. 4 : km 5.4 - alt. 435 m - Héric (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Orb
  6. 5 : km 6.4 - alt. 641 m - Take the blue marked trail on the right - Col de Bardou (641m)
  7. 6 : km 6.56 - alt. 643 m - Bau Filliti viewpoint
  8. S/E : km 10.43 - alt. 897 m - Douch communal lodge

Notes

No water except from streams (must be purified if used).
Héric: the outdoor refreshment bar is a welcome addition.
Picnics or breaks are possible along the stream between Héric and the bridge.

Worth a visit

(6) Splendid view from this eagle's nest (protected by a railing) over the Héric gorges and the peaks famous for their climbing.
See also Bardou-Héric

 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

4.9 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Brett
Brett

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hike found on Visorando but not following the recommended route, which suggests starting from Douch... downhill, and modifying it by starting from the Heric Gorges car park in Mons (note: there is a charge during the season).

A small, easily accessible asphalt road climbs gently alongside the Heric stream for nearly 5 km to the ruins of the medieval village. The sparkling sound of the water accompanies us throughout this warm-up for our muscles. A multitude of pools and waterfalls irresistibly invite us to take a bucolic break, which I would have been tempted to do in the intense heat.

The walk ends at the hamlet of Heric, and then the serious work begins... a 2 km climb up a steep and rugged path that puts your calves to the test. The effort almost makes us forget the magnificent chestnut grove that makes up the undergrowth.
The arrival in the village of Douch is preceded by the Col de l'Airole, a grassy plateau overlooking the valley at 973 metres. The village exudes calm and serenity and has a stopover lodge and the Maison du Mouflon, an unmissable culinary stop (when it opens at the end of March 😂).
A large stone table at the entrance to the village is the perfect spot for a well-deserved picnic break at the foot of the mouflon statue.
The return journey is via the Salis Pass, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding ridges and a delicate, stony path that winds its way for 5 km to Heric.
The descent reveals stone ruins that bear witness to past human activity, with terraced crops and paths lined with patiently constructed stone walls.
The return journey follows the same route along the Héric and its melodious waterfalls..
A must-do... if you're feeling fit
18 km in 5 hours 15 minutes - 800 metres of elevation gain and loss
Magnificent 🤩

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mediphot
mediphot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As advised, we started from the gorge car park, which makes for a more logical end to the hike after descending the gorge rather than climbing back up to Mons. The journey from the car park to Mons at the start also provides a little warm-up before tackling the climb through the chestnut grove. The route is magnificent. At the beginning of March, the trees are still bare, offering magnificent views of the Jaur valley and then the Espinouse mountains. Despite the slope, the climb to the Col de La Maure is not difficult, and the path is beautifully paved. After a stop at the Baou Filliti viewpoint, the descent to Héric is easy. Afterwards, you can say what you like about the concrete road at the bottom of the gorges, but we came across young parents with pushchairs, elderly people with slightly unsteady legs and even a group of disabled people, some of whom were in wheelchairs. The Héric gorges are magnificent, and it is thanks to this path surface that all these people can enjoy the scenery. Later on, we will certainly be happy to be able to admire them again.

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janaser
janaser

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful loop that is well worth the effort. The hamlet of Héric is worth a detour. From Héric to the Col d'Ourtigas, the trail immerses us in a living past of human activity: ruins and terraced crops. You may even encounter some mouflons.

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lrozanes
lrozanes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice route. We did it backwards and it was great.
A beautiful, fairly challenging descent through the chestnut grove to reach Héric. We didn't go to Bardou (we'd already been there), but don't miss the little bridge over the Héric, which offers a lovely view.
Return via the Salis Pass, which is very pretty and not too steep. Pleasant climb with ruined houses.
The hike is fairly sheltered from the sun in the undergrowth, but be careful in very hot weather as it can still get quite intense! Remember to bring a hat and water.

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girondin48
girondin48

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

gggggggg

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello and thank you for your comments on this very pleasant outing between Douch and Héric.
It's true that it's almost entirely shaded, and the cherry on top is the dip in the Héric stream, which is a big plus.
Have a nice day.

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Ludo L.
Ludo L.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike in very hot weather, but since 90% of the route is in the shade, we didn't feel the 40°C heat. This hike is really enjoyable even when it's very hot. We took a short break to cool off at the bottom of Héric and the water was really nice.

Many thanks to the author of this route.

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alain-38
alain-38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Beautiful loop
The return journey from Héric to Douch is steep

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