The Col de la Caumette

When it's very hot in the plains, there's nothing like coming to cool off on a short route in the Aigoual forest on its northern slope.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 264 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 264 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,457 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,293 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Col de la Serreyrède.

(S/E) Pass behind the Maison de l'Aigoual and take the forest path heading north, leaving the GR®. A yellow sign indicates: Col de la Caumette 3.3km.

(1) At a fork, take the right-hand path which winds along the contour line and continue to Col de la Caumette, marked by a small drystone shelter.

(2) Turn left, leaving theGR® opposite. The path ends at a firebreak.

(3) Although it is marked on the map, it disappears into the beech forest. Enter the forest opposite, leaving the firebreak that climbs to the right, and keep to the contour line until you come to a wire fence that runs along the ridge. Walk along the fence on your right for a few metres.

(4) At the end of the fence, take a path between two wooden posts that branches off to the right and leads to a large crossroads.

(5) Take theGR® trail on the left

(6) At the Y-junction (altitude 1376), turn right. Go around a hairpin bend to the right and you will come to a meadow.

(7) Turn right onto the path that runs parallel to it. Continue through the Rousses Forest.

(8) Cross a small bridge over the Béthuzon springs.

(9) At a Y-junction, take the hairpin bend to the right and continue to the crossroads (altitude 1422).

(5) Take a hairpin turn to the left and continue to the Col de la Caumette (GR® 6).

(2) Continue straight ahead (GR® 6 and 6A), leaving the drystone shelter and the path you took on the way up (shortcut option) on your right. Continue along the ridge path, which crosses two ski lifts and arrives at the Prat Peyrot ski area.

(10). Turn right and follow theGR® 7, 60 and 66 trails.

(11) Pass close to the Source de l'Hérault and return to the Col de la Serreyrède (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,300 m - Car park - Col de la Serreyrède (1299m)
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 1,298 m - On the right, at the fork. Towards the - Bonheur (rivière) - Affluent du Trévezel
  3. 2 : km 3.27 - alt. 1,454 m - Col de la Caumette (1455m)
  4. 3 : km 4.24 - alt. 1,450 m - Clearing
  5. 4 : km 4.54 - alt. 1,435 m - End of fence
  6. 5 : km 4.77 - alt. 1,425 m - Large crossroads
  7. 6 : km 5.33 - alt. 1,376 m - Altitude 1376m
  8. 7 : km 5.97 - alt. 1,331 m - Meadow
  9. 8 : km 7.59 - alt. 1,360 m - Pontet. After the - Béthuzon (rivière) - Affluent de la Jonte
  10. 9 : km 7.96 - alt. 1,373 m - Y-junction
  11. 10 : km 12.2 - alt. 1,411 m - Prat Peyrot station - Col de Prat Peyrot (1411)
  12. 11 : km 12.69 - alt. 1,401 m - Spring on the right - Hérault (fleuve)
  13. S/E : km 14.02 - alt. 1,300 m - Col de la Serreyrède

Notes

(S/E) Fountain at Col de la Serreyrède
(2) Small shelter
(10) Road access, picnic area.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
mlkwsk
mlkwsk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A well-shaded hike, pleasant in summer.
Beautiful trees, few viewpoints. I think it's necessary to have a GPS for the section between 3 and 4, which is very overgrown with tall broom near point 4.
From point 4, I recommend leaving the trail and following the GR, which is very beautiful. You can easily rejoin the trail at the hairpin bend before point 7.
At the end of the hike, the PR option allows you to finish on a beautiful shaded path to reach La Serreyrede.

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bernbla
bernbla

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for the hike. It was a lovely walk, even though we took a slight detour. We enjoyed this route entirely in the forest, which was very pleasant in the hot weather. And to combine business with pleasure, there were lots of mushrooms.

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Fernandez Benjamin
Fernandez Benjamin

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant summer hike. The initial route is not easy to follow. But never mind! We found some paths for the return journey. In the end, we covered almost the planned distance.

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Sisco72
Sisco72

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Entirely in the forest, a refreshing hike, very pleasant in this heatwave.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, short and easy hike, fairly shaded, offering a variety of options.
The lunch break at the top of the slopes, under the pine trees, with a cool breeze, was very pleasant.
PP and MM

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Cathdetara
Cathdetara

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I completely agree that there is shade along almost the entire route, which is certainly a beautiful hike for walkers and presents no difficulty. Personally, I was disappointed by the monotony of the landscape and the virtual absence of views and natural attractions along the route. A suggestion for experienced walkers, as it adds an extra 12 km: I would recommend combining it with the Vallée du Bonheur circular, which leads to the Col de la Serreyredes and is very beautiful and varied, with magnificent landscapes, but be warned, it's a bit steep going up! There's something for everyone, and I admit that I don't hike just for the pleasure of walking and pushing myself, but to discover the wonders of Mother Nature!😊

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pauletmax
pauletmax
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, especially during this period of intense heat, as most of the hike takes place in the shade of trees.
(Due to upcoming construction work, the Caumette Pass landmark is hidden by a tarpaulin).

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kris.teyran
kris.teyran

Thank you for your clarification.

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CevenolGardois30
CevenolGardois30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I didn't visit on the day of my practice, but it's a classic in the region. A beautiful hike through the woods. Easy to access and park.
Follow the route and it will take you to your destination if you pay a little attention after point 2.

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GOUT Francis
GOUT Francis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

When walking through the forest without a clear path, you need to be careful to find the two wooden posts along the fence.
If you go too far along this fence and reach the point where the fence forms a right angle, turn around and follow the fence back down to the point where you will find the two wooden posts, two to three metres apart, marking the path that will take you on with your hike.

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kris.teyran
kris.teyran

Thank you, Joelle, for your comments.
I have amended the description accordingly.
Happy hiking!

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jibet
jibet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, this is a lovely little walk, shaded and welcome during heatwaves.
However, I think it would be useful to add a few things to the description:

-point 4 "take a path", specify: "between two wooden posts".
-Point 5 is confusing and too brief: the "forest path on the left" at the large crossroads is clearly marked GR; it is only about thirty metres further down that it descends to the right and you "avoid" it by continuing straight ahead along the lane; further on, the GR crosses the path and goes up to the left; here again, ignore it and continue along the same lane for a good quarter of an hour before arriving at the hairpin bend on the right.

-However, to break up the monotony of the forest lane, you can also turn right onto the GR, which descends into the woods, and follow it to the junction with the forest path, which you then take to the right until you reach the hairpin bend.
-The rest of the route is straightforward.
Best regards

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Florette53
Florette53

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Pleasant hike with views of Mont Aigoual

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kris.teyran
kris.teyran

Hello alainnanie
It's a shame not to go for a "little walk in the woods..." and leave the forest roads behind to break up the monotony. Of course, you need to know how to find your way around, as there are no signposts!
Happy hiking
Kris.teyran

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

By "route on map", we do not mean evaluating the signposting, but rather the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

Visorando does not recommend signposting as it can be modified or removed, whereas information about the terrain is stable.

Visorando provides a detailed description and a 1:25,000 IGN map. And if you have any difficulty finding your way, Visorando offers a free virtual signposting service: a GPS application.

See you soon!

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