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Car park: Moulin à Gouziaud picnic area, Lieurac (360 m)
(S/E) Return via the local road at the Gouziaud crossroads and cross the small bridge to discover the old restored wash house.
(1) Shortly before this, a track opens up on the right, which you should follow. It quickly turns into a grassy track and climbs up the right bank of the Sautel stream, leaving two crossings on the right that lead back to Lieurac. Instead, continue along the tree-lined stream, which offers refreshing shade in summer.
(2) When the track moves away from the stream, it begins a steady climb. It is not very long and offers views of Lieurac behind you and, on the hill on the right, the relay antenna pylon, which you will pass later. In the meadows above, sheep basking in the spring sunshine ring their bells, their music punctuating your arrival at the local road leading to the hamlet of Saint-Étienne.
Turn right to find the MTB trail no. 6, which was abandoned at the old wash house in Lieurac. Turn right to discover the Sautel picnic area on the right (a table and a circular bench around a tree). The route continues to the left and climbs to the heart of the village, with its fountain and grocery store
(3). Continue along the lane to find yourself opposite the climb to Fajou. Cross the D1 road and tackle the 17% climb! The signposting to follow is now that of mountain bike trail no. 1, but there's no need to hesitate: climb this small road and wait for the flat section at the Fajou/St Jean Church junction
(4). The site is remarkable for its oak tree, which is over 400 years old! There is a bench where you can recover from your intense effort and a water tap at the corner of the cemetery wall where you can quench your thirst!
Leave Fajou on your right and continue along the road beside the cemetery for about 50 metres until you come to a stony track on the right, marked with a mountain bike sign (No. 1) and a yellow sign, which climbs steeply up to the Croix de Juncas.
(5) A simple wooden cross erected on a stone threshold, it still seems to withstand the passage of time. But in these modern times, the trail sign is preferred by passers-by! So now it is best to follow theGR® de Pays trail markers in yellow and red and the MTB No. 1 trail. After a final downward swing, the well-marked trail climbs up to Gréoulou (719 m).
(6) Do not actually enter the hamlet, as you need to turn right at the first fork (sign), leave the MTB trail no. 1 and follow theGR® markings! A formidable trap can occur here if you let your guard down: the diversion! Distracted, daydreaming, chatting and, oops, you've missed the turn!
So, even though the markings were redone at the beginning of 2023, pay close attention to the markings after Gréoulou when a path on the right leaves the obvious track! The path leads into the forest. Lined with white stone walls, it leads to the magnificent orri (stone hut) of the Col du Pas de Mouillet.
(7) The path then winds its way downhill at a steady pace, at the foot of the white cliffs, giving the illusion of being in Provence near Les Baux. But when you turn around, the Gorges de Péreille and the still snow-capped Monts d'Olmes are there, close by. Finally, you reach Ilhat haut.
(8) At the old wash house, leave theGR® trail to the left towards Tanière and descend to the right along the small road between the houses, brightened up by magnificent creations of flowerpot characters, to find, a little further down, a crossroads in a slight left-hand bend, in the middle of the houses.
(9) Follow the yellow markings and mountain bike trails 1 and 4 to the right. The climb, although short, is a real 20% ascent! But what a view of the valley! Reach a pass.
(10) The trail now descends into the heart of the forest. After a slight flat section, the descent resumes and, after skirting a low wall made of gigantic, astonishing stones, you will reach the hamlet of Mane.
(11) The route is now on a local road until the end, but this does not detract from the tranquillity of the walk. After passing the start of the path to Neylis (and mountain bike trail no. 4) on the left, you will come to a crossroads. Take the Terrassa path on the left and descend to the Lieurac stops.
(12) Turn left and then immediately right towards Dun-Vira. At the small bridge over the Sautel stream, turn left towards Gouziaud and the picnic area at the start in Gouziaud (S/E).
A very pleasant, varied route, shaded and dotted with points of interest along the way.
Visorando member
Easy 
