The Pégairolles-de-Buèges spring and the Séranne Massif

The Source de la Buèges and the hamlet of Le Méjanel. Crossing the Cirque de la Séranne with views of part of the Buèges valley and the picturesque village of Pégairolles-de-Buèges. Reach the ridges and theGR® 74. Visit the Susterragne Cave. Walk in the footsteps of the former inhabitants of Mas Vieux and Larret. Cross the Séranne and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert National Forest. Then reach the Source de la Buèges via the stream path.

Details

1920413
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.77 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 645 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 640 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 737 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 169 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To get to the starting point, from the village of Saint-Jean-de-Buèges, take the D122 road towards the village of Pégairolles-de-Buèges. After 3 km, at the sign for "Source de la Buèges, Parking", turn right, cross the bridge and park in the car park indicated.

(S/E) Leave the car park and join the road. Turn right at the telephone pole, walk along the low wall and, at the end, turn right towards the cross. Continue along the stony path, following the yellow markings.

(1) Turn right, walk along the houses and cross the hamlet of Le Méjanel. Turn right between the low wall and the house and walk past the cross. Do not take the path on the right, but continue straight ahead.

(2) Keep right on the stony path and leave the markings. After 50 metres, at the path on the left, continue right to elevation 277.

(3) Return to the yellow markings. Leave the path, turn left and then 20 m later turn right. Avoid the two paths on the right and follow a winding path to reach the Cirque de la Séranne.

(4) Take the path on the leftGR® 74, marked in white and red. Continue in a south-westerly direction and pass close to the Grotte La Susterragne. Arrive at Mas Vieu.

(5) Continue straight ahead on theGR® 74, marked in white and red. The path becomes a track and goes around the hamlet.

(6) At the bend, turn left at the Larret signpost. Go through a series of bends and keep left, continuing uphill. Cross through the undergrowth of a pine forest and continue to follow the white and red markings.

(7) At elevation 703, continue straight ahead. At the next crossroads, stay on the path on the right and at the fork in the road, continue left, still following the same markings.

(8) At the three-way junction, keep left (south-west). At the next intersection, turn left (south), still on theGR®74. Continue to Pas de Combe Belle.

(9) The path becomes a trail. Continue downhill, passing a series of hairpin bends, and arrive at Mas Aubert (stopover lodge).

(10) Continue straight ahead. You will soon reach the D122 road. Turn left and follow it, leaving theGR® for aPR® marked in yellow$. Ignore the path on the right and pass the Col des Lavagnes.

(11) A few metres after a hairpin bend, leave the road and cross the hill to continue on the wooded path, still marked in yellow. Follow the Combe des Tières and pass by a well. Arrive at Font Basse.

(12) Keep left and follow the path (stream during rainy periods), marked in yellow.

(13) At the fork, turn right, leaving the yellow markings, and cross the stream. N.B. There is no other way to cross (risk of getting your feet wet during the rainy season). Join the path, pass Mas de la Fenasse where the path becomes a road and follow it to the D122 crossroads.

(14) First turn left then right to cross this road (signposted Source de la Buèges - Parking). Cross the bridge and head for the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 173 m - Parking at the Source de la - Buèges (
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 206 m - Le Méjanel
  3. 2 : km 0.5 - alt. 226 m - Stony path on the right
  4. 3 : km 0.89 - alt. 276 m - Fork in the road to the left
  5. 4 : km 2.99 - alt. 663 m - GR°°®°°74 trail
  6. 5 : km 4.75 - alt. 649 m - Intersection on the GR°°®°°74
  7. 6 : km 5.5 - alt. 660 m - Larret
  8. 7 : km 6.72 - alt. 703 m - Intersection
  9. 8 : km 7.62 - alt. 737 m - Three-way junction
  10. 9 : km 8.61 - alt. 679 m - No Combe Belle
  11. 10 : km 9.86 - alt. 544 m - Mas Aubert
  12. 11 : km 10.76 - alt. 521 m - Trailhead
  13. 12 : km 12.61 - alt. 327 m - Font Basse
  14. 13 : km 14.63 - alt. 209 m - Fork - Crossing a stream
  15. 14 : km 16.58 - alt. 173 m - Crossing the D122
  16. S/E : km 16.77 - alt. 173 m - Parking at the Source de la - Buèges (

Notes

There are no water sources along the entire route.
Bring food and water.
Bring a windbreaker, gloves and a hat. The wind can sometimes be strong.
Wear clothing appropriate for the season and sturdy, well-worn shoes. Bring a camera and binoculars. Do not overload your rucksack. Wear sunglasses in summer.
However, avoid periods of extreme heat. The rocks accumulate heat.
Be careful, there are natural holes.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
papadid
papadid

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike without any particular difficulty: 17 km/629 m elevation gain/5 hours 45 minutes, including a 45-minute lunch break/alternating sun and clouds/10°C and 50 km/h wind.

Positive points:

  • Cirque de la Seranne.
  • Peyre Martine.
  • View of Grau du Roi at Cap d'Agde, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pic Saint Loup, Hortus and Gardiole mountain ranges.
  • Seranne and Saint Guilhem le Désert national forests.
  • A particular favourite is the descent through the woods of the Combe des Tieres.

Noteworthy point:

  • Be sure to cross the Pontel stream between 13 and 14: this means leaving the PR unless you want to visit Pegairolles-de-Bueges, which is well worth a visit.

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Juliusk9
Juliusk9

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike in the Seranne massif.
The climb is challenging at the start of the hike, but it's manageable if you're not used to hiking.
After walking along the top of the massif with superb panoramic views, you descend and walk through the forest. Not too crowded, but lots of hunters with dogs at this time of year.
A fantastic hike with beautiful weather for the season.

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Patoudanirando
Patoudanirando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb but challenging hike

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athmos.oner
athmos.oner

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very few walkers on this route, whereas I saw "herds" setting off on other circular loops!
The climb is steep right from the start, but after that it's a breeze, with lots of shaded sections, beautiful views and a lovely cave (headlamps are mandatory, and please watch your step, as too many stalagmites have already been knocked down).
Walking shoes are obviously essential.

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Tonio44
Tonio44

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, starting with a steep climb in the sun (not recommended for beginners). Plan to leave early to avoid the heat. Once at the top, it's a very easy and beautiful hike.
The final descent is magnificent and shaded. No need to get your feet wet in summer to cross the stream, as the water flow is very low (even after a morning of rain)
Top notch, I recommend it!

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Martine3412
Martine3412
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very nice hike!

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Ma Mie
Ma Mie

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

After a steep climb, you are richly rewarded, and for us that was the only interesting part of this hike.
Too many kilometres in the woods, nothing interesting.
Be sure to check out the spring, though!

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guillaume.lescuyer
guillaume.lescuyer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that starts with a steep climb, but you'll be rewarded at the top. Remember to bring plenty of water, as most of the climb is in direct sunlight.
The return trip along the dry stream is pleasant, in the shade of the pine trees.
The final detour to discover the village of Pégairolles is worth the last climb.

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monange
monange

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

varied hike, different landscapes. Apart from the first 3 kilometres to reach the top of the cirque, the hike is easy.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the magnificent setting of the Séranne. Stunning views with Pic Saint Loup and Hortus in the foreground. Very beautiful trails. The "difficult" rating is misleading, as this hike is accessible to all hikers.
We can only encourage you to give it a go.
PP, 74, and MM, 73.
We met a friendly couple who had the Visorando description on paper and had got lost several times. We put them back on the right track and advised them to download the VISORANDO app, which has become indispensable to us because it is so effective.

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bernbla
bernbla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this hike. A good climb at the start, then it was smooth sailing. The second part of the route is well wooded, which is very pleasant when it's hot.
However, there were lots of caterpillars (box tree moths) falling from the trees and almost all the box trees are dead. We need to reintroduce titmice to clean them up.

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, excellent guidebook and (occasionally) perfect signposting.
Thank you for highlighting this route

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Claude340
Claude340

thank you for your comments

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glazilla
glazilla

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike without any major difficulties and stunning scenery...

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