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Park at Les Aygouades at the bridge between Étang de Mateille and Lagune.
(S/E) Join the D332 at the Aygouades roundabout and cross it carefully, then head towards La Clape. You will reach the edge of a wood.
(1) Turn right and follow the edge of the woods. Reach Pech Rouge, cross the INRA facilities to reach a four-way crossroads.
(2) Take the dirt track opposite and climb into the forest. Then enter the area burned during the fire in July 2021. Cross approximately 1 km of desolation. You will reach a new crossroads.
(3) Turn left to quickly reach the vineyards with the ruins of the old Château Rouquette on your left.
(4) Continue until you reach the D168.
(5) Cross the road carefully and follow it to the next bend. Leave the road here and take the path, continuing uphill alongside the vineyards. At the end of the vineyards, you will find the path leading to Château de Vires.
(6) Continue between the trees on the main path uphill until you see Château de Vires.
(7) Turn left and descend to an ancient aqueduct, possibly Gallo-Roman, which was probably used to drain the basin in front of Château de Vires. Avoid this in wet weather.
Return to the crossroads and, 20 metres further on, take the path up to the right to reach the top of the cliff.
There, turn around to take in the landscape (radars and Vires Castle) before turning right, walking along the cliff and reaching a viewpoint offering a pleasant view of the coast.
(8) (Turn left, cross a stream and reach the cairn path). This passage is not a proper path: use variant 2 instead.
(9) Follow it to the right and continue downhill to find a cave.
(10) Take the path on the right below the cave. Again, the path is not obvious at first, but as you continue south-east, it becomes increasingly visible. You will arrive at a T-junction at Heath des Karantes.
(11) Turn right at a 90° angle, then stay on this path. Cross the Heath de Rouquette to reach another T-junction.
(12) Turn right again, walk alongside the vineyards and you will reach a wider track. Turn left and continue until you reach the entrance to Narbonne-Plage. Continue to the junction between Avenue Louis Madaule and Avenue des Foulquines.
(13) (There, cross the footbridge and continue opposite Rue des Aulnes then Rue des Hirondelles. Turn right onto Rue des Étoiles then Rue de la Lune. Cross Promenade Charles Trenet and continue to reach the beach). The street names are for guidance only; the main thing is to reach the beach.
(14) Walk along the right-hand side of this beach until you reach the Étang des Ayguades, then turn right and follow the path with the fences. Please note that this section is often flooded in winter: it is better to use option 3 instead.
(15) Go around the pond to easily find the car park between the Étang de Mateille and the lagoon (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
