Le Caroux - west side

Park in the car park at the top of the village of Mons, at the foot of the church.

(S/E) Head towards the top of the village by turning right as you leave the car park, then turning left onto Rue du Caladou.

(1) Take Chemin des Luttes, the last road in the village, which climbs to the right. Do not turn off following the signs, but continue straight ahead along the left side of a property fence. Continue straight ahead through the terraces and chestnut grove, along the Sentier supérieur du Cabalet. You will soon reach an intersection.

(2) Turn left. The path climbs towards the heights and rocks and joins a shaded plateau in the forest, where several paths meet.

(3) Take the path furthest to the right, heading north. Pass successively through the Peyris, Auge and Coulaigo passes, with magnificent views over the Gorges d'Héric and the river below, and the Aiguilles du Caroux opposite. Pass under the Col de la Maure before arriving at a vast scree slope and an overhang at the Rocher du Renard.

(4) Do not climb back up the scree slope towards the Col de la Maure, but instead descend the slope through the scree, following the GPX track carefully, as the path and cairns are difficult to see. This is the Sentier de la Réserve, which descends towards the river and the bottom of the gorges. Once at the bottom, follow and descend the river on the right bank until you reach the paved road.

(5) Turn left, cross the bridge and go up the road before turning right about 50 metres further on and climbing up the mountainside via the Piste des Hirondelles: blue markings. Make your way through a jumble of very large boulders until you reach a clear platform at the Col de la Narquoise.

(6) Enjoy the view, especially of the hamlet of Héric below, then turn right onto the Piste des Aiguilles: red markings. Walk almost horizontally on a very uneven path of large rocks and slopes. Pass several ledges on your left that climb towards the Aiguilles du Caroux, before climbing up to the Col du Curé. Cross it and you will soon reach the Aiguille de Viallat, a popular climbing spot in the area.

(7) Continue straight ahead and descend to the right down the slope and contour lines via a steep path through a scree slope. This is the Piste des Garoffes: yellow markings.

(8) Don't miss the intersection with the Piste des Triangles (marked in blue), which leads horizontally to the Sentier des Gardes, which you will reach at a marked bend.

(9) Descend this Sentier des Gardes on the right, admiring the remarkable dry stone construction work. Reach the bottom of the gorges, the river and the Passerelle des Soupirs footbridge.

(10) Cross the Héric, join the tarmac road and turn left towards the car park at the entrance to the gorges. Pass it, continue along the road and arrive at a kind of turning area for cars.

(11) On the right, at the corner of a staircase, follow the yellow PR® and white and red GR® markings, which take you back to the centre of Mons via a pleasant path through stone walls and chestnut groves. Turn left and then right to return to the church car park (S/E).

There are no water sources along the route, except at the start at the public toilets in Mons, at the foot of the church.

This route is in the countryside and not very busy, so be careful and plan ahead, and make sure you tell your friends and family about your route.

Poor mobile phone reception once inside the gorges.

Picturesque village built of old stone in Mons-la-Trivalle.

Héric Gorges.