The Chemin des Crêtes in Lautrec

This circular loop will take you through the hills surrounding the village of Lautrec. Along the way, you will enjoy magnificent views of the medieval town and its surroundings or the Montagne Noire.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.61 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 151 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 156 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 356 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 229 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Lautrec (81440)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.707697° / E 2.137888°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2243E
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park near the roundabout. Several parking spaces are available.

(S/E) Facing the roundabout and the entrance to the medieval town, take the Réalmont road on your left. Follow the road, pass in front of the Peugeot car garage and take the Chemin de l'Hôpital, which climbs to the left.

At the top of this road, take the tarmac hairpin bend on your right. At the crossroads shortly afterwards, turn left onto the road that climbs directly and continue straight on until you reach the bottom of the descent.

(1) Turn left, continue to the dirt track on the right, just in front of the bins, and turn right. At the junction with a tarmac road, leave this on your right and continue on the path on the left. When you reach the next junction, take the tree-lined path on the left and continue to a tarmac road.

(2) Follow the tarmac road on your left, which will take you to the main road (D83). Cross the road carefully and continue along the path opposite until you reach a gate. The dirt track is on the left and runs alongside the wall. Join a tarmac road and continue to a junction.

(3) Turn left towards Aquaval. Cross the road carefully and continue straight ahead.
Go past the barrier in front of Aquaval and head back up towards the village to reach Avenue de Castres.

(4) Take the pedestrian crossing to cross the road, then walk up alongside the restaurant along Rue Edmond Michelet towards Les Promenades.

(5) At the Promenades crossroads at the foot of the ramparts, keep right (towards Roquecourbe). Then turn right onto Chemin des Sols and, once at the bottom, turn left onto Chemin des Jardins.

(6) At the wash house, go up to the left. Go through the Porte de la Caussade and climb up to the central square. Turn right onto Rue du Mercadial to arrive at the starting roundabout (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 298 m - Roundabout / Place du Mercadial
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 330 m - Chemin du Causse
  3. 2 : km 2.07 - alt. 334 m - Tarmac path
  4. 3 : km 3.47 - alt. 254 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 263 m - Avenue de Castres
  6. 5 : km 4.65 - alt. 275 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 248 m - Wash house
  8. S/E : km 5.61 - alt. 298 m - Roundabout / Place du Mercadial

Notes

This route is divided between dirt tracks and tarmac roads. You will cross several country roads where you will need to be careful.
Most of the paths are open and therefore exposed to the elements.
The route is well signposted (there are directional signs).
The start and finish are at the Place du Mercadial roundabout, where you can park easily.
There are several water points at Place du Mercadial and Place du Puits.

Worth a visit

The medieval town is close to the roundabout (worth a visit if you have the opportunity).
You will pass by the Aquaval leisure centre, which has water parks (open only from June to early September), a large playground, mini golf, BMX track, lakes, fishing, etc.
Out of season (from September to June), all areas of the complex (except the aquatic areas) are accessible free of charge.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
jamango
jamango

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Fellow hikers, if you have the opportunity to visit Lautrec, then this little walk is for you! Beautiful views of the village, the Pyrenees in good weather and the Montagne Noire! Admittedly, it's not very strenuous, but who cares? It's a feast for the eyes! I do this hike from time to time and you can see a very large house at the highest point, which has been closed for a long time! Do you have any information about this house? Not that I want to buy it, but out of curiosity!

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Franck Auge
Franck Auge

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short, easy hike in the hills above Lautrec.
A bit too much tarmac for my liking, but no cars

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Charline81
Charline81

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is fairly easy to follow as the entire hike is signposted. An ideal outing for families.
Lautrec is also a very pleasant little town to visit.

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The ridge walk is very nice but short. The rest of the walk is not particularly interesting. However, the climb to the orientation table with a break at the mill, followed by a visit to the old streets of Lautrec, was very pleasant.

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Martine19
Martine19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, well marked, with magnificent views. Be careful between points 2 and 3: the descent is made slippery by the presence of a carpet of acorns on very dry ground. We finished with a visit to Lautrec, going as far as the mill and the orientation table, which is not to be missed.

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FlyingJuan
FlyingJuan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Your website is very well designed. Clear, readable, well-documented, and enjoyable to browse. The GPX file makes it much easier to navigate with iPhiGéNie. This means you don't have to rely on signposting in the field, which can sometimes be very approximate and/or poorly maintained.
Well done, and thank you.
Jean

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