The Orb and Bitoulet valleys

A pleasant walk that climbs slightly at the start of this circuit through oak trees, leading to the small Notre-Dame de Capimont Sanctuary, a true haven of peace and coolness. Overlooking the Orb and Bitoulet valleys, you will be in the shade during hot weather and a panoramic view awaits you there.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.00 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 722 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 722 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,194 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 571 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available at the Gaston Lafon Stadium car park via Chemin de Verdale.

(S/E) From the car park, head north-east via Chemin de Verdale, ending up at Résidence des Patios d'Or, then turn right and follow the housing estate to the roundabout.

(1) Turn right onto Boulevard Saint-Michel until you reach a path on the left.

(2) Climb the hill following this path, marked with yellow signs, which runs through the holm oak forest and leads to a dirt track.

(3) Follow it to the left for 100 metres, then turn right onto the path that runs alongside the fence of a small house and go straight up a steep slope that leads to Bardejean. Follow the cement path to the right until you reach a crossroads.

(4) Turn right onto Rue de l'Olivette, ignore the dirt track on the left and continue straight ahead.

(5) After the big right-hand bend, turn left onto Chemin de Ressardes, ignore the paths branching off to the right and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads. The path turns into a trail; continue to the crossroads. Climb up the trail on the left and you will arrive at the start of the path leading to the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Capimont.

(6) Climb left to the sanctuary and retrace your steps. Descend left towards the bottom of the valley to reach the hamlet of Mazelet Bas.

(7) Continue downhill opposite, along the cement road of Le Mazelet. At the fork, climb to the right along the concrete road for 400 metres.

(8) Turn left and continue for 200 m. At the crossroads, climb the path on the right at a right angle, pass the pass and arrive at Lescandoune.

(9) Turn left onto Chemin de l'Escandoune and follow it to a fork. Take the right fork, passing in front of the Lamalou-les-Bains municipal motorhome park.

(10) Turn right onto Rue de Capimont, walking alongside the Les Terrasses de Capimont housing estate. At the fork, continue straight ahead to Font Blanche and turn left onto Chemin de Roucarasse, which leads to a roundabout.

(11) Turn right, cross the Bitoulet river via Pont Carel, then turn right again onto Avenue d'Alsace. At the next roundabout, turn left onto Square René Cassin and continue to another roundabout. Continue left onto Avenue du Maréchal Joffre. Before the town hall, turn right onto Avenue Charcot and pass in front of the casino.

(12) Turn left onto Rue du Cardinal, then right onto Rue du Docteur Rival and left onto Rue Paul Cère. Turn right onto Avenue du Docteur Jean Ster, pass the clinic and the Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul. Pass the Red Cross la Petite Paix, then continue straight ahead, keeping to the right until you reach the crossroads.

(13) Cross Avenue de Capus, then go straight ahead following the Ruisseau de la Mine. Turn left onto Avenue du Moulin and, at the Lamalou-les-Bains fire and rescue centre, turn right, cross the Bitoulet river and go straight ahead. At the Val Fleuri nursing home, turn left onto Chemin de Verdale to reach the car park at Stade Gaston Lafon (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 607 ft - Gaston Lafon Stadium car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 614 ft - Roundabout
  3. 2 : mi 0.26 - alt. 617 ft - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : mi 0.57 - alt. 814 ft - Dirt track
  5. 4 : mi 0.9 - alt. 988 ft - Rue de l'Olivette
  6. 5 : mi 1.02 - alt. 965 ft - Dirt track
  7. 6 : mi 1.76 - alt. 1,122 ft - Return trip to the - Église Notre-Dame de Capimont (Lamalou-les-Bains)
  8. 7 : mi 2.21 - alt. 827 ft - Mazelet Bas
  9. 8 : mi 2.45 - alt. 768 ft - Crossroads
  10. 9 : mi 2.91 - alt. 823 ft - Chemin de l'Escandoune
  11. 10 : mi 3.17 - alt. 696 ft - Municipal motorhome area
  12. 11 : mi 3.83 - alt. 574 ft - Roundabout - Orb (fleuve)
  13. 12 : mi 4.33 - alt. 597 ft - Rue de Cardinal
  14. 13 : mi 4.67 - alt. 630 ft - Mine stream - Bitoulet (rivière) - Affluent de de l'Orb
  15. S/E : mi 5 - alt. 607 ft - Gaston Lafon Stadium car park

Notes

Water point (10) motorhome area.

Refreshments in Lamalou-les-Bains (S/E).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 4617731

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful spot, a pleasant walk, but:

  • The hike was much harder than advertised, requiring you to be fit and well-shod; trainers are not recommended, even though the difficulty was supposed to be ‘moderate’.
  • Takes much longer than advertised.
  • Vague directions and a map that does not match the actual route between waypoints 5 and 6; furthermore, it refers to Rue de l’Olivette, Chemin de Ressardes, Lescandoune… which are impossible to find if you are not from the area.
  • No mention of the possibility of taking a shortcut for a shorter return route between points 10 and 11.

On the other hand, although this is not the subject of this comment, it is worth noting the quality of the yellow markings, which reassured us when we thought we had got lost between points 5 and 6, given the vague descriptions and the times that did not add up.

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