Country:
City:
From Perpignan, on arriving in Olette, opposite the old petrol station (building under renovation), turn right towards Sansa via the D4. Patience and extreme caution are required. The narrow road is in perfect condition but there isn’t a single straight stretch during the half-hour it takes to reach the centre of the beautiful village of Sansa.
Park at the top of the village, on Place de l’Église, following signs for Col de Sansa.
Yellow markings. Numerous signs and directional posts. Checked: November 2022.
(S/E) From the car park, with the rear wall of the church-town hall on your left, head west. You’ll soon come across signposts.
Follow the signs for ‘Col de Sansa’ for about a hundred metres until you come to an ascending track on the right.
(1) Turn sharply right onto this track, making sure to follow the yellow markings. Shortly afterwards, at the end of the tarmac section, turn left, taking care to pass to the left of a small building. You’ll come to a well-maintained grassy track; follow it as it climbs gently, heading generally north.
Enter the forest via a narrower, less comfortable path for about 500 metres.
Look out for a yellow sign indicating a left turn.
(2) Then head steeply down to the left, due west, along a small path clearly marked on the ground. You’ll reach an open area and cross a brand-new wooden footbridge. Signpost.
Head back up the opposite slope, then turn due north along a good, well-marked and signposted path which eventually levels out.
Look out for a yellow ‘turn left’ sign. Then head down slightly to go round a house. Join a track suitable for vehicles.
(3) Turn right onto this track and follow it for about sixty metres.
Look out for a yellow left-turn sign. Climb steeply to the left along a stony path.
You’ll soon reach a fork in the path. There’s a signpost here.
Turn right for a round trip to Corral Blasi, a large and magnificent corral.
Once back at the fork, continue to the right towards the lime kiln and the Megalithic Bridge.
Be sure to follow the clear yellow markings, which are very prominent and in good condition.
This will take you to the Megalithic Bridge on the Ribera de Cabrils. There is an information board.
(4) Cross the bridge, turn left and climb steeply to the right, following the well-marked path.
You’ll reach another corral at Clos del Casso.
Take care: opposite this corral, turn left and you’ll soon join a wide path through the woodland.
Follow it as it descends gently, passing an old lime kiln on the way. Information board.
Further down, you’ll reach a major fork in the path in a clearing. Directional posts.
(5) You can turn left and head directly to Pla de l’Orri via the yellow-marked path.
Turn right, heading for Col de Sansa, climbing steeply up a wide, very stony path.
You’ll arrive at another flat clearing; veer slightly to the right and head towards the edge of one of the Étangs d’els Estanyols. The other pond is on your right. Turn due north towards the Refuge des Estagnols.
(6) A very beautiful spot. Designated and equipped campfire area. See practical information.
Turn due west onto a grassy track and, at a junction, join another authorised track that is passable by vehicle as far as this area.
Head straight ahead downhill along this track. Continue along this track, which is suitable for vehicles and slopes gently downwards. Much further on, you’ll reach the large Coll de Sansa with its huge multi-directional junction.
Authorised and equipped campfire area, picnic table.
Off the marked route
(7) Turn sharply left onto a track in poorer condition, marked by a road sign: maximum weight limit 3.5 t. Descend for just over 200 m until you come to a badly damaged track on the right.
(8) Head down to the right along this track until you reach a four-way X-shaped junction at an elevation of 1,674.
Continue downhill straight ahead until you reach another large junction of several tracks at Pla de l’Orri.
Please note: there is a signpost for those arriving from Sansa; ‘Orri de Mr Hullo’ can be confusing at this point. ‘However, it is this Orri that you must head for’.
Yellow markings and wooden posts painted yellow. Numerous signposts and directional posts.
(9) Turn left, heading north-east, into the pasture for a return trip to the large orri, reinforced by a concrete arch.
(10) Return to this large crossroads and head south, climbing slightly along a track completely overgrown with grass.
You’ll soon spot the second signpost: Orri de Mr Hullo. Continue along this open track, which offers some beautiful scenery, until you reach the Orri de Monsieur Hullo (Hulot on the IGN map) on the right-hand side of the track.
From this spot, looking south-east, the roof of the bell tower of Sansa church is visible at the bottom of the valley.
The area is perfectly clear (observed on 1 November 2022). Information board.
(11) Look out for a yellow ‘turn left’ sign. Then descend steeply to the left, heading due east, then due north, along a small path very clearly marked on the ground. Wooden posts marked in yellow and in excellent condition.
The path eventually widens, becoming comfortable and flat.
(12) Look out for a yellow right-turn sign. Then head steeply down to the right, due east, along a small path very clearly marked on the ground. Wooden posts marked in yellow and in excellent condition.
Much further down, wade across a stream, then head back up through the pasture slightly to the right to join another marked path at a fork. Directional post.
(13) Turn right onto this very beautiful and well-maintained path. Cross a wide concrete footbridge (over a road) and head slightly uphill. Follow this very good path. ‘Stunning views over the valley floor and the surrounding countryside.’
This will take you to the Croix de Rogations at the junction with the track suitable for vehicles coming from Sansa.
(14) Continue straight ahead along this track, part of which is tarmac-surfaced, and head for the village (S/E).
You can take a stroll through the village and visit the stopover lodge.
Visorando Member
Easy 
