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Easy parking to the east of the village of Caylar. From the RD9, 200 m after passing the carved dead tree, turn left onto Rue du Stade then right onto Rue de la Lavogne. Turn right in front of it to park in the stadium car park.
(S/E) The yellow marked trail (PR® Grande Traversée de l'Hérault) starts at the back of the car park and runs alongside the animal park, bordered by electric fences. The path is already lined with box trees and low walls made of white Larzac limestone, patiently stacked up.
(1) When you reach the junction of several paths, you can continue on the yellow marked trail or take the one slightly to the left marked with a cross, which winds parallel to the first (choice of route). The two paths meet at a crossroads where you must continue to the left, following the yellow markings towards Le Cros.
(2) At the entrance to the village, look for the path on the left that you will take after your visit and continue straight on along Chemin de la Tourelle. Cross Grand Rue and stop at the square in front of the castle to read the information boards. All the streets are easily identified by attractive decorative signs.
After visiting the centre, walk around the castle via Rue de La Couvertoirade and Rue du Château, then return to the square. Retrace your steps.
(2) Take the path on the right that goes around the village on the left. The path goes downhill and then uphill again; a side path leads to the left towards the old well in the hill, while the path on the right that you need to follow is indicated by a sign that is difficult to read, saying "la croix de pierre" (the stone cross).
In fact, the path joins the track that leaves the village after the Chemin de la Couvertoirade, which you took earlier to go around the castle.
(3) The cross is just to the right, but take the track on the left to head towards La Couvertoirade.
(4) About 300 metres after the crossroads, notice a magnificent stone arch on the left, standing like the backdrop of an abandoned fortress. Continue along the track, which heads north-west, raised by the surrounding limestone rocks and lined with box trees that turn orange when they grow back. In the landscape, stones sculpted by the climate. The track is aGR® country trail marked in yellow and red.
(5) After about 3.5 km on this track, a hedge seems to cut across the landscape, perhaps along a small stream or seeping water. Take a less marked but equally wide track on the left that heads south through heath. Continue to a crossroads, with a ruined house on the right.
(6) If you go straight ahead, the track also returns to Le Caylar, but it is preferable to take the narrower path that veers slightly to the left towards the south-east. You will come to another junction with several paths.
(7) Continue to the right, following the yellow markings. The path heads due south and, after a wide bend, arrives at a subtle fork.
(8) Leave the marked track and take the path on the left, which heads due south and leads to a T-junction further on.
(9) Take the track on the right.
(10) Keep left and continue straight ahead. The Caylar cross, towering above the rock, guides you from afar if you are unsure.
(11) Continue straight ahead. Walk past the large farm buildings with solar panel roofs, then the water trough that indicates the starting car park on the left (S/E).
Association / Club / Walk leader
Visorando member
Easy 
Difficult 
