The Pech Cardou circular tour from Rennes-les-Bains

The route starts from the car park opposite the reception at the Rennes-les-Bains thermal baths. Other car parks are available along the D14.
Access: from Bugarach via the D14 or from Couiza via the D613, then the D14.

(S/E) Set off along the pavement of the D14 under the arches of the houses, with the thermal baths on your left, for about a hundred metres.

Yellow markings

Cross the bridge over La Sals and head left onto Route de Montferrand. After 60 m, turn left down a street that turns into a path. Cross a concrete ford over the Ruisseau de la Dous. Then cross the Ruisseau du Coudal and another small stream next to a large cave, which was inhabited when I passed by! You’ll reach a fork.

(1) Climb steeply to the right. Join a track and follow it to the right for 100 m until you reach a right-hand bend. Take care. There is an old wooden signpost on the left, somewhat hidden.

(2) Leave the track and turn left, towards Montferrand, onto a path along the stream. Take care. You will need to leave the stream bank.

(3) Leave this path and turn right, climbing steeply through the forest. Much higher up, you’ll emerge into the charming hamlet of Montferrand. Some friendly dogs were waiting for me when I passed through! A sandstone cross on the right.

(4) Cross this hamlet via the access road and reach a right-hand bend. A very beautiful view to the right after the last house. Take care. You will need to turn left.

(5) Leave the road, pass the wash house and turn left until you reach a nearby fork. Ignore the signposts. Turn left again onto a small track that runs high above the Ruisseau du Coudal. You’ll reach another fork (500m).

(6) Ignore the signposts. Leave the sign for Lac de Barrenc on your right. Head left and cross the Ruisseau du Coudal. Continue the climb along the rutted track heading north. Carry on straight at the next two junctions and arrive at a crossroads in a large clearing with picnic tables. A lovely spot for a break. Take care. Signposts.

(7) Ignore the two tracks on the right. Walk past the two picnic tables on the left and, after 50 m, you will find a signpost: Pech Cardou on the left-hand side of the path. Take care. The various paths shown on the IGN map do not exist in this area! The OSM map is accurate!

Unmarked

(8) Immediately after the signpost, head left across the grass for a few metres and look for a path marked on the ground that heads right. Caution: steep gradient (26%) up to the junction with the marked path at the top. Climb this path to the fork.
Alternative route => follow the existing markings for a return trip to the summit.

Yellow markings

(9) Turn left onto the marked path and head towards a large open area at the summit of Pech Cardou.
A beautiful spot: 360° views. A refreshing break is recommended here.

(10) Turn back to the fork you passed earlier.

(9) Continue straight on along the marked path. 50 m further on, the path to the right shown on the IGN map does not exist. Continue down the marked path. Further on, turn completely right. The two paths to the left shown on the IGN map do not exist. Continue along the path, which widens and leads to the crossroads with the two picnic tables you passed on the way out. Look out for a signpost on the left: Serres, hanging from a tree.

(7) Turn left at a 90° angle in this direction and find a small grassy track leading downwards. You will reach a junction of three tracks.

(11) Note: on the left, the path shown on the IGN map does not exist. From this point onwards, the IGN map is accurate.
Continue down the stony track, which narrows to become a path. Take care: do not go as far as the junction of the three tracks. Look out for a signpost: Serres to the left.

(12) Head completely left in this direction along a narrow path with a 14% gradient until you reach the edge of the forest. You’ll come to a crossroads in a large, well-maintained and tidy area with a view of the hamlet of Serres. A sandstone cross on the left. Signposts.

(13) Turn right onto a wide grassy path and head towards the listed bridge over the Rialsesse.

(14) Cross the bridge, and on the other side, note a stone picnic table on the right and the concrete marker for La Méridienne Verte (Dunkirk–Barcelona). Before crossing the quiet D613, there is a drinking water tap on the left. Continue straight ahead into the hamlet.

No signposting

(15) From the church square, you can wander around the hamlet. Serres Castle is private property. Return to the D613 and follow it to the right until you reach the cultural café ‘Le Cerf-Volant’.

(16) Turn left. Note the playground and the car park, which can also serve as the starting point for this walk. Cross the ford (if the water is high, walk along the river and cross the bridge). At the picnic area, head up to the left to reach the crossroads and the sandstone cross.

Yellow markings

(13) Turn right and follow the small grassy track which curves left as it heads due south. Join a bend in the track suitable for vehicles. From this point onwards, this is the least interesting part of the walk.

(17) Head up to the left along this track and stay on it all the way. Pass an entrance to the climbing site. Interesting information board. The track curves slightly to the left, south-east. Take care. Signpost not relevant to the circular route.

No signposting

(18) Leave the track and head down to the right along a lovely forest path. Much further down, you’ll reach the original fork.

Yellow markings

(1) Turn right and follow the route back the way you came to reach the car park (S/E).

Hike completed 19/04/2026
(8) to (10) 26% uphill gradient (+129 m over 500 m)
(10) to (15) 14% downhill gradient, (-504 m over 3660 m)

Water points in Rennes-les-Bains (hotel, bars, grocery shop) and in Serres outside the cemetery and at the bar.
Shelters: Montferrand (barns and wash house), in Serres (bus stop, bridge arches).

Day hike equipment. Provided the cultural café in Serres is open, it is possible to eat there.
It is probably best to avoid days of extreme heat: the track between (17) and (18) has no shade when the sun is high in the sky.

Rennes-les-Bains
After crossing the bridge over the La Sals, before reaching the car park, you can head down to the left along the riverbank and make your way to the Place des Deux Rennes for a drink.

Serres: the cultural café ‘Le Cerf-Volant’; the fully restored^17th-century bridge spans the Rialsesse. The village lies on the path of the Paris meridian and the Green Meridian.