The Sentier des Puechs, long route

This walk crosses agricultural plateaus, offering the chance to discover beautiful views over the Castraises plains to the south and the Lautrecaises plains to the west. You’ll pass through meadows, woodland and small hamlets along local footpaths or minor country roads.
At the end of the walk, the path passes by the foot of Montfa Castle, which was once the home of the ancestors of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. His father lived there until the early 20th century. Today, a local association is working to restore this remarkable site steeped in history.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.01 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,066 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,089 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,421 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 804 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the car park behind Montfa Town Hall.

YellowPR® markings

(S/E) At the start, turn right (north-east) onto the Route de Montredon (D59), then continue straight on along the Route des Collines to the hamlet of Graviac.

(1) Continue to the right, heading down towards the Bagas Stream valley. Cross the stream via the road bridge, and continue for 150 m, without crossing the other road bridge.

(2) Head uphill to the right along a forest path and join the D4.

(3) Caution: busy road! Turn right onto this road and follow it for about 200 m.

No signposting

(4) Turn left, heading due east, onto a dirt track that slopes down slightly and leads to the hamlet of La Camboussié.

(5) Walk through the hamlet and, in the centre, you’ll find a country lane on your left heading north-east; follow this for 800 m.

(6) At the top of a short climb, turn right (east) onto the path that follows the ridge, towards a water tower visible in the distance. Continue straight on along the road you come to, pass the Reboulié farm, and arrive at a junction just before the D89.

(7) Turn left onto the small road that runs past the water tower, and you’ll reach another Y-junction.

(8) Carry on to the left, towards the hamlet of Le Verdier, and pass through it. The road becomes a stony track that cuts through a forest, descends into a small valley, and climbs back up to the Domaine du Triol.

(9) At the access path to the house, turn left, pass the hamlet known as ‘Gay’ and join a cross-road (D4). Continue to the right for about 300 m until you reach Les Fournials.

YellowPR® signposts

(10) Take the Route de Rudel on the left and follow it to the hamlet of Rudel. Go past the hamlet until you reach a crossroads.

(11) Turn left onto a narrow path through the woodland and, after crossing a meadow, you’ll reach a cross-country track.

(12) Turn sharply right, due west, onto the path that runs alongside the stream: signposted ‘Sentier des Puechs, long route’. You’ll reach the Plancarié farm, directly beneath a power line.

(13) Follow the small road through the woods until you reach another cross-country track.

(14) Turn left onto this road. Pass under the power line again and continue for about 100 metres.

(15) Turn right onto a path between the fields, passing under the power line once more.

(16) Go round the Quintaine estate and follow a path to the left, which remains at the same level.

(17) Turn left onto the path leading up towards the castle, passing under the power line once more.

(18) At the foot of the castle, head up to the left towards the esplanade opposite it. Stunning view.

(19) Turn back.

(18) Continue to the left, towards Boudet Farm, and follow the road until you reach a junction with another road.

(20) Follow the grassy path straight ahead. Cross a second road, and continue straight ahead along the path until you reach the next road.

(21) Turn right, towards the village.

(22) In the housing estate, continue to the left to reach the centre of Montfa and the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,096 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.65 - alt. 1,135 ft - Road junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.1 - alt. 1,070 ft - Junction; path through the woods
  4. 3 : mi 1.69 - alt. 1,273 ft - D4
  5. 4 : mi 1.79 - alt. 1,280 ft - Junction, stony path
  6. 5 : mi 2.3 - alt. 1,237 ft - La Camboussié
  7. 6 : mi 2.73 - alt. 1,273 ft - Junction, on the ridge
  8. 7 : mi 3.31 - alt. 1,421 ft - Road junction, towards the water tower
  9. 8 : mi 3.62 - alt. 1,407 ft - Road junction, heading towards Le Verdier
  10. 9 : mi 5.24 - alt. 1,194 ft - Le Triol
  11. 10 : mi 5.95 - alt. 1,181 ft - Les Fournials
  12. 11 : mi 7.12 - alt. 909 ft - Crossroads, footpath
  13. 12 : mi 7.4 - alt. 856 ft - Junction, track
  14. 13 : mi 8.08 - alt. 873 ft - La Plancarié, tarmac road
  15. 14 : mi 8.33 - alt. 807 ft - Road junction
  16. 15 : mi 8.54 - alt. 860 ft - Junction, footpath
  17. 16 : mi 8.92 - alt. 820 ft - Junction, footpath
  18. 17 : mi 9.37 - alt. 837 ft - Junction, path leading uphill
  19. 18 : mi 9.59 - alt. 991 ft - Junction for the castle
  20. 19 : mi 9.68 - alt. 1,053 ft - Castle esplanade
  21. 20 : mi 10.13 - alt. 978 ft - Crossroads, footpath
  22. 21 : mi 10.48 - alt. 1,053 ft - Junction
  23. 22 : mi 10.82 - alt. 1,089 ft - Junction
  24. S/E : mi 11.01 - alt. 1,096 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

Signposted path from the start (S/E) to (4) and, after (10), to the finish (S/E).

(10) At Les Fournials, there is a shelter and benches: ideal for a picnic.

Worth a visit

Visit Montfa Castle and its surroundings.

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 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
jab31
jab31

Hello, and thank you for your feedback. I don’t quite understand why some landowners are keen to close off paths that are registered on the land registry – at least before they reach the building! Nevertheless, to avoid any fuss, I’ll alter the route to go via the hamlet known as ‘Gay’.
But I’ll check with the town hall to find out the exact status of this section of the track that’s now blocked off!

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randochristel
randochristel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk after the festive season. Beautiful scenery of rolling plains, despite it being winter. However, we encountered a problem near Fournial. The path led to a business, most likely a granite quarry, as there was a material-handling gantry. The business had put up a locked gate and a fence running the entire length of the property. According to a neighbour, this is very recent. We had to cross onto the neighbouring property – where there was no party wall – and use their gate. The route will need to be adjusted. From Le Triol, turn left towards Les Gay and join the D4, then head back towards Fournial to continue your route. Unless, of course, you know of another possible way through.

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jab31
jab31

Hello,

The long route offers the pleasure of a full day’s walk through the Tarn countryside. I run a walking club where we offer two levels of distance and difficulty to cater for the varying fitness levels of our members!

Have a lovely day, best regards,

Jab31

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Raju
Raju

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The long version of this route offers no added interest. The short route alone is sufficient, and what’s more, there are hardly any tarmac sections left.

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jab31
jab31

Hello,

I’d noticed that too, and I’d also spoken to the lady who lives there. The signposting from the bottom of the valley needs reviewing. I’ll ring the town hall to pass on the message, as this is a PR trail.

Thank you for your comment, which will help improve the visibility of the route!

Kind regards,

Jab31

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jeanmarieeliane
jeanmarieeliane

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The path leading to my ‘plancarié’ farm is poorly maintained, much to the owners’ chagrin; they don’t mind us passing through their property but would prefer the path to run alongside the shed rather than through the middle of the farm, although the old lady is very kind and loves a good chat.

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