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The route starts from the well-equipped car park at Les Bains d’Avène, on the left of the D8 when approaching from the south, after the bridge over the Orb.
(S/E) Cross the road and head right towards the avenue of plane trees below the spa to reach the Source Saint-Odile.
(1) Just next to the spring, on the right, cross the Orb via the footbridge. You will then enter the beautiful Thermal Park. Follow a gravel path to the right which takes you back to the D8 at the exit of a car park. Cross the road here and take the footpath directly opposite which climbs towards Beau Désert and leads onto a track.
(2) Here, you have two options:
- follow this track to a junction further down at elevation 424.
- follow the route description and look for the start of an ascending path on the right. Follow it along the ridge of the hill, through beautiful vegetation.
At the junction, take the track on the right, which winds pleasantly along a balcony-like path amidst the pine trees.
You can see the Moulin de la Salesse on the banks of the Orb below, which you will visit at the end of the route. At the next junction, take the track to the right until the first bend, where a path climbing to the left leads to a small pass where theGR®71and aGRP® meet.
(3) From this pass, a short detour to the right to the Vierge viewpoint is possible (breathtaking view of the village of Avène).
(4) Return to the crossroads.
(3) Begin the climb up Peyreguille, following theGR® markings. Don’t hesitate to stop every now and then to turn round and admire the unfolding landscape. At the 593m mark, take the track to the left for 50m to continue the ascent along a path, leading to a track at a fork. At the far left of the bend, there is a rather unique view looking down over the Avène thermal baths and the village.
(5) Take a return trip along the track to the left to reach the summit of Peyreguille and its orientation table, which is partially obscured by vegetation.
(6) Return to the fork.
(5) Then continue left, still on theGR®, along the descending track to the Col de Peyreguille at an elevation of 626 metres. Continue straight ahead on the GR®. The path descends through an oak forest, crossing the Route du Coural à Serviès (D163E2) for the first time.
(7) At this point, there are two options:
- follow this road to the right as a shortcut to reach the Col de la Mousquièyre directly and avoid Le Coural.
- follow the route description and continue along theGR® down to the pleasant hamlet of Le Coural.
TheGR® joins the D163E2 for a second time at the entrance to Le Coural.
(8) After a possible visit to the hamlet, return to this spot, follow theGR® for a few metres, leave theGR® and look for a discreet path that branches off straight ahead, heading uphill.
This old Chemin du Coural to La Chapelle Saint-André is poorly maintained and overgrown in places (a pair of secateurs might come in handy); it also joins the D163E2 near the cross at the Col de la Mousquièyre.
(9) Follow the road for 100 m after the pass and continue along a path on the right, descending towards the Rieussec valley. You’ll arrive at the charming Chapelle Saint-André de Rieussec and its adjoining cemetery.
(10) Cross the D163 (Route de Serviès) and head towards the dry stream bed. Follow it to the right, downstream, for about 100 m until you reach the edge of a field with beehives. Enter the field and immediately spot a path on the left leading above the beehives. Follow this well-built old track, which leads to Saint-André and climbs gently up to a small pass flanked by a ruin.
(11) Continue along the path on the shaded slope through the beech trees. You will come out onto the Route de Serviès.
(12) Cross the road and immediately turn right onto the bed of the Rieu Sec, which forms a proper gravel path here. Follow the bed of La Grave (another name for the Rieu Sec) downstream until you come to a path rising to the right (blue markings). Pass a small pass and reach a minor road (D8E13) running alongside the Avenette. Follow this charming stream to the right until you cross the Avène bridge over the Orb.
(13) Turn right and cross the Orb again via the causeway. Cross the car park and follow the path alongside a water channel leading to the renovated Moulin de la Salesse (information boards).
(14) Turn sharply left to head back towards the village, following the Orb. Take the metal footbridge and follow the pavement on the right. On leaving the village, cross the road and follow the lovely footpath that links the spa resort and the Bains d'Avène car park (S/E).
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Easy 
