The hilly Tarn, Malagousse valley

In Villeneuve-sur-Tarn, park in a small car park (recycling containers) by the bridge over the Tarn.

No signposts

(S/E) With your back to the river, take the small road that climbs opposite. At the intersection of roads, note the red and white^GR®® markings coming from a path on the right.

Red and white^GR®® markings and yellow markings (from the Lou Cami dels Castanhals route, lines and signs in the opposite direction)

Ignore the Route de la Crouzette on the right, follow the bend in the road and then immediately turn onto a path on the right. Join a road.

(1) Follow it to the right. With little traffic, it climbs gradually and offers beautiful views of the Malagousse stream valley. Ignore the farm access roads on the left.

(2) At the fork in the road, follow the road to the right towards La Claverie. In a bend in the road to the right, ignore the path (also marked in yellow) leading off to the left. Cross the hamlet of La Claverie (sculptures).

(3) The tarmac disappears after the last house, giving way to a grassy path. Further on, pass through two electric fences (first an insulated handle, then a very narrow passage). Continue down the winding path, ignoring a path on the left. At the intersection with a path (not shown on the IGN map), follow it to the right and then, shortly afterwards, in front of the house entrance, turn left and you will come to a small road.

Yellow markings (Lou Cami dels Castanhals, signs in the opposite direction)

(4) Leave the^GR®® markings and follow the road to the right, keeping to the yellow markings. Stay on this road until you reach a wider road. Follow it to the left with caution for about a hundred metres.

(5) Turn right onto Route du Coustil. In front of the property gate, turn onto the path on the left. Shortly afterwards, at the hiking sign, turn right towards the house, then continue on the path that passes just to the left of it. Further on, ignore a hairpin bend to the left (not shown on the IGN map). You will come to a small access road to a house and follow it. Shortly afterwards, at a fork, where the small road descends to the right, continue on the path to the left.

Red and white^GR®® markings and yellow markings (from the Lou Cami dels Castanhals route, signs in the opposite direction)

(6) At the intersection of paths, rejoin the^GR®® and follow it straight ahead. When you reach a road, turn left and then, at the fork in the road, keep left towards the church (the road on the right is not shown on the IGN map). You will arrive at the village of Saint-André, on the Place de l'Horloge.

(7) Head towards the church (sculpture on the right and zodiac clock at the foot of the church) and go around it on the right. When you reach a street, walk a few metres to the right to see the castle, then retrace your steps and continue straight ahead to return to Place de l'Horloge.

(7) Take the street leading off to the left (cemetery on your right).

No markings

At the fork in the road, ignore the markings and continue straight ahead, passing to the right of the town hall (sculpture on the right) and ignoring the road that branches off to the right.

(8) At the intersection with the paths, follow the path that climbs opposite, towards the antennas, indicated by a sign saying "Point de vue 400 m" (viewpoint 400 m). Climb to the top of this unnamed hill, which rises to 481 m and offers a viewpoint.

(9) Then descend to the road/path junction.

(8) Take the path on the left. It leads through fields and then continues downhill through the woods. At a left-hand bend, ignore a vague path on the right (not shown on the IGN map). You will arrive at a four-way intersection (only three shown on the IGN map) and find yellow markings again.

Yellow markings (Lou Cami dels Castanhals, signs pointing in the opposite direction)

(10) Turn right. At a fork in the path, keep left. Join a road at a hairpin bend. Follow it to the left. Pass the hamlet of Cramaux and continue for about 150 m.

(11) Turn right onto Chemin du Mas Viel. After passing this farmhouse, continue along the path. Further on, the path winds between the houses of the hamlet of Gos before joining a road (the IGN track is incorrect at this point). You will see the^GR®® markings^again.

Red and white^GR®® markings and yellow markings (from the Lou Cami dels Castanhals route, signs in the opposite direction)

(12) Follow the road to the left. After a hairpin bend to the left, you will come out onto the D77 at Moulin de Panis. Take a few steps to the right, turn right towards the entrance to the mill, then immediately take the path that branches off to the left, running alongside the road. Cross the footbridge over the Ruisseau de Malagousse stream, then turn left to rejoin the road, passing the sign saying "Autrefois ici, le lavoir" (Once upon a time, here was a wash house).

(13) Follow the road to the left towards the village of Villeneuve-sur-Tarn. Note the numerous signs saying "Autrefois ici" (Once upon a time here). At the town hall, turn right, then follow the street on the right to the remarkable yew tree (which can be seen in a garden), retrace your steps and continue straight ahead to return to the main road. Follow it to the right to continue through the village and return to the bridge over the Tarn (S/E).

Moderate hike, fairly easy, no difficulty. Standard hiking equipment.

Discover more hikes in this area with a description or the Visorando app here

Photo album here

In the village of Villeneuve, information panels entitled "Autrefois ici" (Once upon a time here): the wash house, the mill, the grocery stores, the presbytery, the church, the clockmaker, school, hotel, tailor, bicycle dealer, carpenter, cobbler, tinsmith, tobacconist, baker, bridge, etc.

There are lovely views at several points along this route.

In the village of Saint-André: church, sculptures, castle.

Other walks along the Tarn here.