The Cirque de Bône via the Côte de Ouf

This is a lovely, varied and undulating hike, partly along the banks of the Aveyron, offering superb views of the Cirque de Bône. To reach this viewpoint, you will have to climb the aptly named Côte de Ouf. From the plateau, you will overlook the river and the cirque before starting your return to the pretty village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 197 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 198 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 289 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 115 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on Avenue de la Gare in the shade of the plane trees between the D115 on the left and the Aveyron on the right.

(S/E) At the end of the car park, when you reach a house, turn right onto the Chemin de Fontales, which follows theGRP® Midi-Quercytrail marked in red and yellow. It is located below the D115. This road is passable by car and runs alongside the Aveyron river, joining a Y-junction.

(1) Leave theGRP® here and continue along the path beside the Aveyron, which becomes a dirt track and ends in a field. Walk along the left-hand side of the field before joining the D 115 and crossing the bridge over the Aveyron.

(2) At the end of the bridge and before the tunnel entrance, turn right at the sign for the Parc Aventures. Be careful not to miss the entrance to the small path on the left, which takes you up the Côte de Ouf. The hill starts with a few steps before becoming steeper as it winds through the undergrowth. The most difficult part is under the cliff, so don't hesitate to use the cables to help you climb. Once you reach the top of this hill... Phew!

(3) Turn right and descend to the Cirque de Bône viewpoint, following the well-marked red trail.

(4) Continue straight ahead down the zigzag path and turn right to reach the right bank of the Aveyron.

(5) Turn left under the tree-lined path towards the village, following the Aveyron river. Join a road and pass the Moulin des Ondes to arrive at the Maladrerie crossroads.

(6) Follow the Des Fours À Chaux road on the right bank of the Aveyron, enter Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and reach the bridge over the Bonnette.

(7) Turn right just after crossing the Bonnette and continue straight ahead on Boulevard des Thermes. Cross the bridge over the Aveyron and turn right after the bridge to return to the car park on Avenue de la Gare (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 129 m - Parking: Avenue de la Gare
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 124 m - GRP-chemin crossroads
  3. 2 : km 3.1 - alt. 125 m - Adventure Park sign at the end of the bridge - Aveyron (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 3.48 - alt. 289 m - End of the "Ouf" climb
  5. 4 : km 4.04 - alt. 286 m - Cirque de Bône viewpoint
  6. 5 : km 5.54 - alt. 118 m - Banks of the Aveyron
  7. 6 : km 6.96 - alt. 146 m - Route des fours à chaux
  8. 7 : km 8.44 - alt. 123 m - Small bridge at La Bonnette
  9. S/E : km 9.02 - alt. 129 m - Parking: Avenue de la Gare

Notes

The Côte de Ouf is the only real difficulty as it is quite steep and equipped with cables to help you on the most difficult parts of the climb.
Good hiking boots are recommended.
The plateau is very sunny and can get very hot, so bring appropriate clothing and water depending on the season.
We also recommend that you take a 1:25,000 IGN paper map of this hike with you.

Worth a visit

(Between 7 and 8) There are a few places on the banks of the Aveyron where you can swim when the weather is hot.
(6) La Maladrerie: this is where the leprosarium that cared for leprosy patients was located.
The medieval village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val
The banks of the Aveyron with its leisure and picnic areas.
Canoe and kayak hire for trips down the Aveyron.
Numerous hiking trails starting from the village.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
escapadesmolieres
escapadesmolieres

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a magnificent viewpoint
a physically demanding hike
a hike that will remain in your memory
check the weather forecast before setting off

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Jififi82
Jififi82
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk taken after rain, so a little slippery. Saint Antonin lies at the bottom of a steep-sided valley on the banks of the Aveyron river. When it's cool, fog obscures the view.

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maryv
maryv

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great hike, but unless you want to rack up the kilometres, I would start at point 2 and turn left at point 5 to return to the starting point. The first part is long and dusty, and the return trip is on a boring road. Otherwise, the scenery is magnificent. Don't miss it!

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cecileverten
cecileverten

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent view after a nice climb!

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Axelle40
Axelle40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike that leads to an amazing view after climbing the steep hill.
The steep slope is a rocky path that you have to climb.
Not recommended for children under 9 years old.

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Zoukelius
Zoukelius

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a great hike that I did with my wife. The explanations were perfect and we were able to find all the landmarks. I plan to do this hike again with my children, who are 11 and 14.
I was very surprised when I realised that this hike was similar to the one at the Cirque de Bone, a short hike I often did with my children when they were younger.
The OUF coast is technical but accessible to most people.

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GAZEU
GAZEU

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

!!!!

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Jukam
Jukam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and pleasant hike with magnificent views of the hills. The route alternates between shade and sun.
Don't miss the amazing cliff on the left just after the entrance to the Accrobranche car park.

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lisoudepo
lisoudepo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice view! The coastline is indeed spectacular! Good experience

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BenoitS31
BenoitS31

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

There are some beautiful passages on the descent. But you can hear the cars throughout the entire route. That's a shame.

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Cacahuète46
Cacahuète46

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike at the end of September in beautiful weather.
The views are well worth the climb up the Ouf hill. The cave is magnificent, as is the view from it

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Cacahuète46
Cacahuète46

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike at the end of September in beautiful weather.
The views are well worth the climb up the Ouf hill. The cave is magnificent, as is the view from it

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gatocha
gatocha

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The landscape is magnificent, but the drought is very noticeable. The oak trees are already red in mid-September, which makes for some stunning photos, but nature is suffering.
A short walk, and with the heat, the shaded areas are very welcome.
The steep section doesn't last long and isn't difficult in dry weather.

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pguesdon
pguesdon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike that lives up to previous reviews. The OUF coastline lives up to its name, not for the unfit but not too long either, about 30 minutes. On arrival, a magnificent panorama rewards your efforts.
You can extend the hike to explore caves with the hike https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-cote...

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MMA
MMA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that allows you to overlook a loop of the Aveyron river halfway through the hike.
We set off in the middle of the morning when it was almost 30°C, but luckily the OUF hill is shaded. It certainly lives up to its name, as the start is steep and you have to use cables stretched across the cliff face to get down (but it's not dangerous)
We didn't visit the caves, which weren't clearly marked on the route, or perhaps we were just eager to get back into the shade on the descent.
It's a shame that there's a stretch of road at the end of the route, but it seems that it would be difficult to do better.
In any case, it was a beautiful ride, quite challenging on the climb (around 45 minutes).

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