La Peira Escrita and the Étang du Diable

Park in the car park at Pont dels Plans de l’Orriet. Please follow the recommendations (see practical information).

(S/E) From the car park, take the correct forest track heading west towards the Barraque de la Jaceta: red and yellow GR® de Pays Tour du Capcir markings.

(1) Carry on until you reach the huts at Jaça de la Llosa.

(2) Follow the path on to the Jaça de les Barreres.

(3) Cross the footbridge and continue along the path, following the red and yellow markings. The path runs, at varying distances, alongside the Rec de la Peira Escrita, and leads to a plateau crossed by several streams.

(4) Leave the red and yellow marked path and take an ascending track heading south-west (cairns). Gain altitude towards the Peira Escrita valley and reach the information board about the engraved stones site.

(5) Pass successively through the waypoints (6), (7) and (8), which mark the main engraved stones. There are others, and you’ll need to look for them amongst the scree. Then rejoin the cairn-marked path which climbs south-west, then north-west, to reach the perfectly circular Étang du Diable.

(9) Turn back, leaving the detour you took on the way up to see the engraved stones on your right, and rejoin the GR® de Pays Tour du Capcir.

(4) Turn left back onto the path you took on the way up, heading in the opposite direction, to return to the car park (S/E).

To reach the Pont dels Plans de l’Orriet car park, the start of the walk, you must walk through the village of Espousouille and pass the cemetery (on your left). Continue along the forest track to the right for 4.5 km: passability uncertain. In September 2026, the track was in poor condition. The track is impassable for low-clearance vehicles and is not recommended after heavy rain: there are numerous puddles on the track...

A high-mountain route, wild and little-used, requiring good physical fitness and suitable kit: walking poles, mountain boots, appropriate clothing and food, maps and a compass, and the Visorando app.

In the mountains, grassy slopes are just as dangerous as snow-covered ones, so stay alert!

In summer, herds are present in the Peira Escrita valley.

Only set out on the route in very good weather with clear visibility: no wind, no rain, and no cold!

It can suddenly get very cold at high altitude, and thunderstorms can build up very quickly!

(6), (7) and (8) The engraved stones in the Piera Escrita valley: you’ll need to look for them amongst the schist boulders in the valley. Most are covered in inscriptions dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries, but you’ll need to examine them carefully to discover the Neolithic glyphs.

(9) The Devil’s Pond (Estany del Diable).