The Dadou Valley between Saint-Michel-de-Léon and Massuguiès

At Saint-Michel de Léon, opposite the church, take the narrow tarmac road on the right which leads to a small grassy area with space for three or four vehicles.

Yellow^PR® markings

(S/E) Return to the junction at the foot of the church and, at the corner of the house on the bend, go down the three or four concrete steps which lead onto a path. At the bottom of the descent, stop to admire the superb Saut de la Truite waterfall on your right, cascading down the final drop of the Ruisseau de Boudène just before it flows into the Dadou.

Continue straight on to cross a small bridge and join a wide, compacted track. Turn right, pass two picnic tables and head into the pretty wooded valley of the Dadou until you reach the first junction.

No signposting

(1) Leave the track and take a wide path on the left that climbs through a spruce forest. Further on, ignore a path on the left that does not appear on the IGN map and continue to the next junction.

Yellow^PR® markings

(2) Ignore the path climbing to the left and the one descending to the right, and continue straight ahead, following the contour line. The woodland grows darker and, through the trees, you can make out the few buildings of Le Soulié below on the right.

Stay on the wide main path, ignoring the side paths on either side (some of which are not shown on the map), until you reach a large hairpin bend. On the right, you can see the buildings of the large Lartigue farm. Go straight on, past the farm, to reach a crossroads (sign for Lartigue and^PR® markings pointing in the opposite direction).

(3) Cross over and take the wide grassy path opposite, which quickly leads to the D82 (wooden sign ‘Sentier du Masnau’, also pointing in the opposite direction). Turn right onto the road and walk along it with the utmost caution, keeping to the right-hand side, as visibility is poor due to the successive bends. Pass the Château de Massuguiès, which is difficult to spot through the vegetation, and continue along the road to the junction just before the stone bridge over the Dadou (Muratel farm high up on the left).

No signposting

Turn right onto the D82, cross the bridge in question and reach a junction marked by several small signs and a high-voltage electrical cabinet.

(4) Leave the road and take the wide, compacted track on the right which leads to the various hamlets mentioned on the signs. Pass the large, well-restored mill building and continue, following the meandering river, until you reach a sweeping left-hand bend at the edge of a large meadow situated higher up (elevation 573m).

(5) Turn sharply left onto a path that climbs steeply up the slope alongside the meadow. You will then enter a pretty coniferous wood and emerge onto a wide track at a hairpin bend.

(6) Turn left onto a slight incline, pass another hairpin bend to the left and continue along the track to a large four-way junction.

(7) Ignore the wide path on the left and leave the track, which continues straight ahead, to turn right onto a slight incline. Shortly afterwards, turn left at a 90° angle onto a path that climbs alongside a meadow and then levels out before reaching the crossroads at the hamlet of Goutiorp, just past a beautiful wooden house on the right-hand side.

Yellow^PR® markings

(8) Turn right, walk alongside the sports ground and continue straight on. The route follows a broad ridge offering stunning views straight ahead and to both sides: to the right, the Dadou valley, and to the left, the valley of the Boudène stream. Then begin a long, gentle descent and continue to the first hairpin bend on the right.

(9) Carry straight on, passing a beautiful stone cross on your right. The slope becomes steeper then levels off as the path takes a sharp left-hand bend before joining a wide track. Follow this track to the left for about thirty metres, then turn sharply right. Cross the bridge over the Boudène stream and head towards the church, which is situated higher up on the left (S/E).

Signposting

The route follows yellow^PR® markings for much of the way. These markings are quite sparse, particularly between (1) and (3) as well as between (8) and (9). However, this poses no problem as the path is obvious and leaves no room for confusion. Simply stay on the main track.

Between (3) and (4), at the left-hand bend just before the hairpin bend, the^PR® signpost invites you to leave the road to the right to avoid the hairpin bend. I did not follow this sign and continued along the road. There is therefore a very short section without signposting which I have deliberately omitted from the description.

Condition of the paths

Between (8) and (9), several sections may be very muddy depending on the season (this was the case in December 2017 during the thaw). Fortunately, there are possible detours through the woods on either side of the path.

The paths used are all in very good condition, often very wide and well-maintained. This hike can therefore be undertaken in ordinary trainers. However, after heavy rain or during the thaw, high-top, waterproof boots will be more suitable.

This walk offers some lovely stretches through the forest and magnificent views over the Dadou Valley, running along both its slopes. This is particularly the case at the following points:
- Before reaching (2) and the Lartigue farm: very beautiful views to the right.
- Between the (4) and the (5): the path at the bottom of the valley, along the Dadou, is particularly pleasant and offers a wonderfully bucolic atmosphere. This section will be particularly appreciated in hot weather for the refreshing shade it provides.
- Between (8) and (9): a ridge walk offering beautiful views to both the left and right.