Moussoulens to La Plaine via Caunettes Hautes

Access: take the road leading from Moussoulens to Caunettes Hautes. Park along a short line of large boulders on the left-hand side of the road, about 300m after crossing the bridge over the Ruisseau de Régord.

(S/E) The walk begins by passing between these rocks and taking the first path on the right. Follow this path to an unpaved but passable track. Cross this track and head straight ahead, along the edge of the hedge and field. Follow the hedge on the right at the bottom of the field to reach the stream.

(1) Cross the small stream via a wooden plank, which may no longer be there in a few years’ time. You will immediately come to a second stream, which you leave via a steep slope of a few metres. From there, follow this main path, heading east-northeast, through heathland and copses until you reach a tarmac road.

(2) Cross this road, walk a few metres to the right and, behind two large boulders, take the path on the left – which isn’t always very well marked – keeping a general easterly direction (do not take the path heading due north). Pass a path on your left.

(3) Walk past an abandoned wooden hut and greenhouse and continue until you come to a large embankment built by the winegrowers to prevent motor vehicles from ploughing up their land. Go round this mound on the left, then turn right to go round the vineyards full of white stones on your right. After a few bends, you’ll reach a tarmac road; turn left onto it. Pass the first house and continue on to Caunettes Hautes.

(4) When you reach the cluster of houses, take the wide lane on the left and continue straight on, heading north-west and ignoring all the side paths on both the left and right. In 2014, a major fire burnt this entire section of the heath and the scars will remain visible for several years to come. The path leads onto a tarmac road (D48).

(5) Cross over (take care) and take the wide lane opposite. Turn onto the first track and follow this main track, ignoring the numerous side paths to the right or left, which all lead back to the main track. Follow this track, passing the Moussoulens quarry on your right, until you reach a junction with a wire fence on the left.

(6) Turn left along this fence and walk alongside a plantation of truffle oaks. After the plantation, there are two or three large fields which you continue to walk alongside.

(7) When this path turns right, do not follow it but take a less marked, well-covered path opposite, through the trees. Continue straight ahead to reach the cars (S/E).

Avoid this hike if there has been heavy rain in the preceding days (muddy conditions, streams difficult to cross). Much of the route is on the Causse plateau and can be very hot in summer.
There is little elevation gain, just a long, seemingly flat stretch between Les Caunettes Hautes and the road.

Between points (5) and (6), just before the fence, you walk alongside the Moussoulens quarry. You can see it from above by climbing the embankment to the right of the main track. From this quarry, limestone is extracted as “crushed stone” for roads or foundations, and large blocks of rock are sold for use in retaining walls or rockeries.