The Garouille oaks

Through woods and high hills, this route offers several facets of this green hillside with unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside before descending back down to the plain.
Before completing the circular, take a bucolic break in the shade of the three-hundred-year-old oak trees, which have been waiting for you for so long!

Details

3381875
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.48 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 99 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 94 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 194 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 99 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Bondigoux (31340)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.839408° / E 1.538105°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2142O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

(DA) Start at the junction of the main street and the Villemur road. Head towards Villemur on the D22.

(1) At the presbytery, turn right onto Rue Marius Cazeneuve, then left onto Chemin du Lavoir. Walk along the park and past the wash house. The road crosses the small Souet stream.

(2) At the right-hand bend, continue through the housing estate, keeping to the right.
At the bend in Impasse des Amandiers, continue straight ahead along the grassy track at the edge of the field.

(3) At the intersection, go down to the right to join the cemetery path. Pass in front of the cemetery and reach the D61.

(4) Carefully follow the D61 to the left for 600 metres. Pass the Bondigoux exit sign.

(5) At the junction with the D87, turn right onto Chemin du Fraysse and follow it for 2.4 km. Leave the private road on the right at Truque and continue straight ahead on the track. Shortly afterwards, a path appears on the left. Leave it and continue straight ahead on the path that climbs uphill.

(6) At the end of the path, descend to the right onto the D15 until you reach the junction with the D22b.

(7) Take the D22b towards Bondigoux. At a bend, take the path on the left that joins the D15 (a no-vehicles sign marks the start of the path) and continue downhill to Layrac.

(8) Go straight through the village and continue on the D15 for 700 metres. Take care as there may be some traffic on this road.

(9) At the crossroads, take the Chemin des Prés-Hauts on the right for 2 km. Two 300-year-old oak trees stand proudly on this stretch of road. Continue along Rue de la Croix Blanche on the left, which leads to the centre of Bondigoux (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 104 m - Parking on the main street.
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 104 m - Rue Marius Cazeneuve
  3. 2 : km 0.37 - alt. 99 m - The Garden
  4. 3 : km 0.83 - alt. 124 m - Miquelou
  5. 4 : km 1.23 - alt. 102 m - Saint Martin
  6. 5 : km 1.88 - alt. 109 m - Chemin du Fraysse
  7. 6 : km 4.28 - alt. 185 m - D15
  8. 7 : km 5.77 - alt. 172 m - D22b
  9. 8 : km 6.84 - alt. 110 m - Layrac/Tarn
  10. 9 : km 7.55 - alt. 105 m - Chemin des Prés-Hauts
  11. S/E : km 9.48 - alt. 104 m - Parking on the main street.

Notes

The entire circular route is marked with yellow signs.
Bring a hat in hot weather.

Worth a visit

At the point (9), you can extend the circular route by taking a return trip a few metres further along the road on the left (chemin des lacs) to reach the Valette lakes 1 km away, then retrace your steps to resume the route.

The Valette lakes have just been classified as a Sensitive Natural Area. The bird sanctuary is home to grey herons, little egrets, cattle egrets, squacco herons and more, which can be observed provided you are very, very discreet! The wetland and meadow are home to a wide variety of flora and insects that live here and invite you to explore discreetly.

A pleasant shaded park with picnic tables and children's games welcomes you at the start of the trail.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
geneviève crokaert
geneviève crokaert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

More than just a three-hundred-year-old oak tree!
We started by crossing the village via the D 61 to point 4. In the afternoon, we added the "From valleys to hillsides from Bondigoux" hike, so we didn't do the same section twice.
17 km in total.

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Solaine
Solaine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant stroll on this Sunday in May.
The grass was a bit tall, but nothing serious.

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grandpirate
grandpirate

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Yes, beautiful moments, but lots of roads!
Best avoided after heavy rain, as there is a long muddy climb and the same applies to the beautiful descent to Layrac.

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Les Randonneurs Toulousains
Les Randonneurs Toulousains

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Avoid in winter due to slippery descent on Layrac.
Beautiful country walk.
Magnificent oak tree.

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jeanmarie.chopin
jeanmarie.chopin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, varied with beautiful panoramic views.
No problem following the route with the description and map (I admit I never trust the "signposts", which are always yellow and very often multiple). The description is very clear and sufficient.
The magnificent oak trees are well worth stopping to admire!
Note: Speaking of signposts, I admired this "historic" signpost in the centre of Layrac, which indicates "Toulouse at 32,763 m" and "Montjoire at 9,496 m": how precise... (but important, because at the time, this route was done on foot). Thank you to the municipality of Layrac (?) for highlighting it in this way.
Question for Visorando: how can I add or send you the photo I took of this "historic" sign for illustration purposes?

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Office de tourisme Valaigo
Office de tourisme Valaigo

Thank you, we will take the necessary steps.

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marc f
marc f

Good morning
After the curve of the almond trees. And after the cemetery.

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Office de tourisme Valaigo
Office de tourisme Valaigo

Hello Marc, thank you for your information. Could you tell me where you had difficulty following the route so that we can take the necessary measures?

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marc f
marc f

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely 2 hour 45 minute hike. It's a shame that the signposting is a bit poor. Magnificent views at the top of the valleys.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The recent rain, wind and grey skies did little to encourage us to set off on an adventure, but this walk turned out to be an excellent choice. There was just a little mud on the descent to Layrac, but the view quickly made us forget this minor inconvenience. Returning via the plain is a good idea to enjoy the view of the hillsides. As indicated, be careful on the short stretch of road; there are few cars, but they seem to forget to drive carefully... No worries about the route. To be done again in different weather. I find this route perfectly balanced, completed without rushing in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

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JOADIE
JOADIE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely little hike, but don't count on the shade of the oak trees to cool you down, as most of the route is on roads in open terrain, surrounded by fields of sunflowers, sorghum and corn. Avoid hot days unless you set off at dawn. The bench under the 300-year-old oak tree was much appreciated for our lunch break.

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