The short version of the Méridienne trail

Hike in the Ségala Tarnais, which offers a variety of agricultural and forest landscapes on a schistose subsoil deeply carved by numerous streams and rivers that flow into the Tarn.

This route descends towards the Tarn valley, which you follow for a while before returning to the plateau via the right bank of the Aygou.

This is a yellow-markedPR® trail with signposts at major crossroads.

Details

2837925
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 338 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 338 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 400 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 187 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the church square, take the D70 towards Crespinet.

(1) At the first intersection, turn left onto a small farm road.

(2) After Couveignes, leave the tarmac road and take a dirt track on the right. Continue downhill and join a road leading to La Mélonié.

(3) Turn right onto a dirt track that leads to Les Farguettes: a church and cemetery belonging to the fortified house dating from the late 14th century.

(4) Return to La Mélonié and turn right onto a small path between the houses towards the Tarn.

(5) Turn left onto the D700 for about 200 metres.

(6) Turn left onto the small tarmac road that leads to La Mélonié.

(7) After crossing a stream, turn right onto the path that climbs into the woods.

(8) When you reach the ridge and a crossroads, turn left and then immediately right downhill.

(9) At the hamlet of Pécotte, follow the D700 to the left along the Tarn.

(10) Before the bridge over the Aygou, continue uphill towards Sérénac on the small tarmac road.

(11) At the first bend in the road, turn right onto a narrow path. Please note: this crosses private land. Continue along this path, which climbs into the woods.

(12) When you reach the plateau, you will come to a tarmac road: follow it to the right towards the Théron farm.

(13) As you approach Sérénac, turn left onto a grassy path that leads back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 395 m - Church square
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 391 m - On the left, small tarmac road
  3. 2 : km 1.91 - alt. 384 m - On the right, grassy path
  4. 3 : km 4.05 - alt. 213 m - La Mélonié
  5. 4 : km 4.47 - alt. 218 m - Les Farguettes
  6. 5 : km 5.38 - alt. 192 m - D700: left
  7. 6 : km 5.49 - alt. 193 m - On the left: Route de la Mélonié
  8. 7 : km 5.81 - alt. 205 m - On the right: path to the woods.
  9. 8 : km 6.7 - alt. 319 m - Ridge: left then right
  10. 9 : km 7.57 - alt. 189 m - Pécotte. Walk along the - Tarn (rivère)
  11. 10 : km 8.76 - alt. 194 m - Bridge over the Aygou
  12. 11 : km 9.09 - alt. 225 m - Path on the right
  13. 12 : km 11.05 - alt. 399 m - Small tarmac road
  14. 13 : km 12.33 - alt. 393 m - On the left: grassy path
  15. S/E : km 12.78 - alt. 395 m - Church square

Notes

Public toilets near the church square.

Worth a visit

Church, cemetery and medieval "Maison Forte" (castle), listed as a historic monument.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
jab31
jab31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

Today, I walked along this path again: the short version of the Meridian Path.
I would like to respond to the negative comments made by "User 5269542" on 12/09/2025.

Regarding the route:
- there are no dead ends,
- there are no closed gates,
- the "private property" signs do not apply to the trail,
- most dogs are behind fences,
- there are a few harmless farm dogs (this is the countryside in a farming area).

This is a well-marked PR circular, with a variant towards the Farguette chapel.

I find these disparaging and inaccurate comments to be incorrect, as they may discourage walkers who are keen to explore this part of the Tarn valley!

Jab31

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User 5269542

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

How painful! Wrong directions, dead ends, barriers to cross (it's closed, do we go at the risk of being shot by a hunter or chased by a cow, or do we turn back???), numerous "Private property, no trespassing, danger of death" signs leading to grim graves of hunters who probably died from a colleague's gun, not to mention all the aggressive, unleashed dogs that jump on you as soon as you pass a residence. It all smacks of exuberant protectionism that makes no secret of its zeal, but the landscape is just okay. Families and beginners should STAY AWAY!

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Alanax
Alanax

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along quiet country roads and beautiful forest paths.
The paths are passable even at this time of year, although they can be a little wet at times.
Beautiful views of the Tarn and the countryside, with a few hills but no difficulty.
The route is well signposted (for the PR section) and easy to follow.
I really enjoyed the little detour into the valley, through the hamlet and past the chapel.

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Lemarcheur
Lemarcheur

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route through magnificent scenery, but not to be attempted during the rainy season, with an ascent and descent towards the River Tarn. Take care at the start not to stray from the path, as two markers have disappeared.

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randonneurs du girou
randonneurs du girou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly challenging trail, very hilly but pleasant. Can be enjoyed in both summer and winter,
with variations possible.

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christiantalon
christiantalon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route, with the history of the Tarn crossing at Pecotte.
Climbs that strengthen your calves!

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Sérénac/Pécotte section is very pleasant, but I was disappointed by the return trip. To avoid comparisons, I recommend parking at the bottom in Pécotte—there's plenty of space—and starting with the tarmac and the climb (a 200-metre elevation gain). Looking at the map, it seems possible to limit the route to the most interesting part, on the west side. The addition of the chapel is a nice touch but does not offer a view of the Tarn. At this time of year, the bare trees allow for beautiful views and the paths are very passable. I did this hike in the middle of the day and the Tarn was already in the shade.

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montagnejeanmarc
montagnejeanmarc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, a bit of tarmac at the start, a beautiful descent, a challenging climb – just what you need to keep fit!

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marengom
marengom

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike through wooded countryside. Please note that in the second part of the route there are:
- 2 steep, rocky descents, which should be avoided in rainy weather or when it has rained a few days beforehand,
- a long climb...
Best regards.

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jipekos
jipekos

Thank you for your reply. As this was just a trial run, I will do it properly again soon.
Kind regards

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jab31
jab31

Good evening

The hikes I suggest are often modified from one or more marked routes, either for tourist or heritage reasons, or to avoid tarmac!
So you have to follow the route!

Have a good evening!

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jipekos
jipekos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One issue to note: it would be good to specify that the PR markings do not correspond to the entire proposed route.
Between points 2 and 3, it takes a shortcut that leads directly to point 8, skipping points 3 to 7.
It therefore does not pass through Les Farguettes or La Maison Forte.
I made the mistake of blindly following the PR markings. What a shame.

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