La Montagne Noire via Cubserviès

Description

The (mandatory) starting point is at the hikers’ car park 300m from the village of Roquefère at a narrowing of the rocks.

(D)A:: From the car park turn left between the rocks and seek for a “calvaire” on the right indicating the start of the trail. Follow the path to the right marked in yellow, do not take a path to the left going down to the Coumo Rousal stream but carry on the same path. Further on, go through a walk-through gate and take the path that goes immediately up to the left. Continue on the path that will continue at first gently and then more pronouncedly sloping taking you to the ridge and to a fork.

(1) Head up to left, following the yellow and orange markings, continue along the side of the mountain and arrive on the ridge.

(2) The path turns right, passing the Ventajou dolmens then hedge of the forest. Continue to the right on the track to reach a wide track about 200m further on.

(3) Turn left and follow the route for 800 m to find a junction with La Vierge de Saint-Martin.

(4) Turn right, ignore the next path to left to head out of the forest. The road will make a sharp right turn and lead onto the road.

(5) Make a small detour to the right by Cubserviès for the view of the waterfall and then head back here.
Retrace your steps back to the road that heads down to the right. Cross the "La Ferriere" stream, pass by the Fontpeyrisse mill and continue on the road up to a junction.

(6) Continue on the road to make a detour to the Saint-Sernin church and back. Come back to the intersection and off the road to go down the path on the left. After a turn, find a fork.

(7) “Here you have the option to make a detour to the waterfall by striking out to the right before returning and continuing the descent, but the paths are hard to spot and access is not the easiest. But it’s worth a shot...''
Continue downhill starting on the left, the path narrows. Pass by the ruins of Pellairol and continue on a wide path downhill. Pass by the ruins of Sabartès to reach a bridge a kilometre away.

(8) Cross the Prat Viel stream, continue onwards to a road.

(9) Head up on this road to the right to reach the top of the village of La Bastide-Esparbairenque. After a small square, find the D9 and turn right to the washhouse.

(10) Turn left following the yellow and blue marking then climb a path to the left. On your right is the Saint-André church. Continue onwards to reach a track.

(11). Take that track to the right as far as the bend in the road, then leave it and head down to the right under the rock of En Galière between old terraces. Cross a gap and reach a fork.

(12) Take the trail to the right which first rises and then descends steeply as far as Roquefère. After visiting the village, turn left on the D9 to reach the car park. (D/A)