The drystone shelters of La Moure

This very pleasant and easy hike offers a journey back in time to the heart of the Moure massif.

Allowing you to discover the exceptional heritage hidden in the Hérault heath, this circuit of just over 5 km offers a high concentration of perfectly restored traditional buildings.
A dozen drystone shelters and other buildings can be seen along the route.

Details

1802586
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 108 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 99 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 136 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 38 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The hike starts at the intersection of Rue des Pampres and Rue Pasteur. Parking is easy.

(S/E) Go to the end of Rue Pasteur and take the grassy path that continues on. Follow the ruined wall until you reach a passage between two walls on your left. Walk along this path until you reach the road that crosses it.

Cross the road and take the road opposite. Continue straight ahead until you reach the ruins of a sheepfold at a 90° left turn.

(1) Take the path that climbs up to the right of the sheepfold and leads into the heath at a crossroads

(2) Turn onto the path on the left and continue for about 500 metres towards the south-west

(3) You will arrive at a site with the ruins of several buildings, where there is a small stone staircase on the right of the path.
Take the staircase to discover a spring protected by a structure. Go back to resume the hike on the main trail.

Continue along the path until you reach a crossroads after passing through a passage between two walls. Turn onto the path on the right. About 150 metres after the crossroads, you will see a beautiful drystone shelter on the right of the path.

A few dozen metres further on, there is a drystone shelter on the left. Continue along the path until you reach another crossroads. Continue straight ahead for 70 metres to see a drystone shelter on the left, directly below the path.

(4) Turn around to return to the crossroads and take the path on the left.

(5) 50 metres further on, a small path branches off to the left; take it and continue for about 600 metres until you reach a large X-shaped crossroads. Take the path on the left

(6) When the path makes a wide left turn, follow the small path on the right in the hollow of the bend to reach the Trou de Bonnefoy
Cross the site to reach a small metal gate. Go through it and take the path for about 200 metres until you reach a junction with a wide path.

Turn right, follow the path until you reach another crossroads and turn right. Stay on this path until you reach the path that leads to the road. Continue left and walk about 50 metres.

(2) Continue straight ahead on the path that descends between the trees to return to the road at the foot of the ruins of the sheepfold.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the road until you reach a crossroads.
Cross the road and take the grassy path directly opposite. Continue along this path until you reach a passage between two walls. Turn right and continue straight ahead.
The grassy path ends; continue on the road that extends from it to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 38 m - Parking: Rue des Pampres X Rue Pasteur
  2. 1 : km 1.14 - alt. 61 m - Ruins of a sheepfold
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 79 m - Crossroads of the loop
  4. 3 : km 1.65 - alt. 89 m - Stone staircase
  5. 4 : km 2.21 - alt. 124 m - New drystone shelter
  6. 5 : km 2.36 - alt. 123 m - Small path on the left
  7. 6 : km 3.1 - alt. 101 m - Path on the right
  8. S/E : km 5.13 - alt. 38 m - Parking: Rue des Pampres X Rue Pasteur

Notes

IMPORTANT!

This circuit was created by the association responsible for the restoration and renovation of all the buildings visible during the hike. The work carried out is remarkable, but the signposting is very imprecise and often leads hikers astray.
Furthermore, it is inconsistent with the sign (which is also imprecise) visible at the start of the hike at the (1).

This signage consists of blue paint dots, sometimes accompanied by letters and numbers.

It is best not to rely on it and to follow the description provided here.

Worth a visit

The hike offers views of many traditional buildings. Most of them are located along the path, but some are slightly off the trail.
There are a few deviations from the route, which lead to buildings slightly off the path.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 40 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Boby47
Boby47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on pleasant trails with an interesting discovery of the local heritage. Thank you for the description of the proposed route which, with the help of GPS at times, allows you to see most of the remarkable sites, which would have been impossible with only the discovery route diagram, which is difficult to understand, on the sign at point 1. The location of certain drystone shelters should be included in the description: for example, the Triadou drystone shelter between points 1 and 2, the Catou drystone shelter before reaching point 6, and the Oliviers drystone shelter (one of the most beautiful), near point 2, which can be accessed via a path marked with blue dots. The latter does not appear in any description, so perhaps it has been restored at a later date? The car park at the sports complex, next to the secondary school, is easier to reach as a starting point for the hike. It offers more parking spaces and more access routes to the Moure massif via paths and trails, which means you don't have to return via the same route. The proposed route can be enhanced by variations that extend it.

Machine-translated

User 26347346

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

lack of signage, confusion at the start, lack of details... a shame

Machine-translated

User 8184853

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Maybe it's just me, but sometimes the description told me to go left and the geolocation showed me to go right... And it was indeed right that I had to go.

Machine-translated

tatayet
tatayet

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's difficult to keep your eyes on your phone during the entire hike on fairly steep trails
It's a shame there's no voice guidance
Despite activating notifications for when we strayed from the route, it didn't work because we took the wrong path
Relying solely on the phone
Very pretty walk with beautiful scenery and very few people. Avoid in hot weather as there is no shade

Machine-translated

CetAlain
CetAlain

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this tour in February 2025. We parked our camper van near the secondary school above the municipal workshops. We were alone on this very pleasant route, especially as the weather conditions were perfect.
One small downside is that the route needs to be updated. Without GPS, we would have had some difficulty following the route. That said, there is little risk of getting lost.
We will do this tour again with our grandchildren.

Machine-translated

rusek
rusek

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful little hike on a hill surrounded by scrubland and restored drystone shelters
The stony paths are well maintained by a local association. This hike near Balaruc is ideal for spa visitors who want to explore the region

Machine-translated

BALADEZ
BALADEZ
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

I completely agree with you about the signposting, which is very unclear and tends to confuse hikers.
It does not correspond to the sign visible at the start of the hike near the sheepfold. The signposting consists of blue dots and numbers and letters, which can be confusing if you don't know what they mean.
It is best not to rely on it and to follow the description provided by Visorando, which confirms that a hat and water are essential. It may be useful to have a pair of secateurs in your bag. We did the walk with a 4-year-old child without any problems. Beautiful drystone shelters, but we certainly didn't see them all. To be done again in cooler weather and with the Visorando guide. We salute the association that is renovating and developing the site.

Machine-translated

Odeli
Odeli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through the heath, discovering a heritage steeped in history. Beautiful views. The first drystone shelter is not signposted and is located just before point 2: at the crossroads of the loop, on the left. It looks like a simple stone wall that you have to go around to discover a perfectly restored drystone shelter. Avoid in very hot weather; bring water and a hat.

Machine-translated

Philpastelliste
Philpastelliste

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful panoramic views. Discover the local heritage.
Very good description. In addition, recorded tracks to check the route at intersections.
Please note that the path is difficult to see (very tall grass) shortly after the start of the first trail on the left (this trail may disappear soon). Check for an alternative route to reach point 1.

Machine-translated

Laurence3430
Laurence3430

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful landscapes, a superb view of Sète and the lagoon, as well as some beautiful drystone shelters to see. The description is good but sometimes not precise enough, especially when there are successive intersections or at the beginning because the vegetation has grown a lot. We often hesitated about which way to go. But you can find your bearings and the starting point, and you have a great time in the heath! (Be careful, there is little shade. Avoid in summer.)

Machine-translated

fanee
fanee

Hello
I didn't do this hike!
Next time...

Machine-translated

soldo
soldo

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, pleasant walk through the heath with the sea and the Thau lagoon in the background...
Wear good shoes because the stones are slippery, especially on the way down!

Machine-translated

Jean-Marie GALMES
Jean-Marie GALMES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and enjoyable hike with views of the Thau lagoon and the Gardiole massif

Machine-translated

Calou58
Calou58

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice hike, easy

Machine-translated

didrobin
didrobin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.