The hillsides north of Carla-Bayle

This hike, an opportunity for a beautiful walk in the countryside through woods and fields, will allow you to discover Carla-Bayle, an artists' village about 50 kilometres south of Toulouse, at the end of the route.

Details

17019688
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 308 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 302 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 398 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 242 m

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Carla-Bayle community centre at the roundabout at the bottom of the village on the D14.

The route is marked in yellow (with some markings almost faded).

(S/E) Turn right at the hall to go behind it and find a path that runs alongside the cemetery to the D26, then descend on the left to the D14.

(1) Take the D14 to the right and follow it for about 500 m. Be careful, there is quite a lot of traffic.

(2) When you reach a large bend, continue straight on the D614A and, after about 300 m, turn left onto the small road, signposted as a dead end, towards La Badoune.

(3) At the end of the bend, after La Badoune, take the path on the right and follow it for almost 2 km between two hedges of bushes and shrubs to reach a crossroads of tarmac roads.

(4) Continue straight ahead towards Moulin de Cassagne and follow the road until you reach a small path on the right that goes straight ahead. Follow it for a good kilometre through the woods and, at the end, turn left to join the D 614.

(5) Follow the D614 to the left for 800 metres until you reach Jean Bounet. Turn onto the path furthest to the right. Walk alongside the scrapyard and continue along the edge of the field until you reach the tarmac path.

(6) Follow the path to the left and join the road.

(7) Turn left and descend to the first tarmac road on the right.

(8) Climb towards Peyres and leave the hamlet on your right. Continue through the alluvial plain and follow the path on the left at the bottom of the descent.

(9) Go down this path and then climb steeply towards the hamlet of Bellecoste. Cross the D14 straight ahead and reach the lake via the grassy path that starts at the end of the hamlet.

(10) Follow the right bank of the lake and, at the end of the lake, climb back up towards the village by following the road to the left.

(11) Halfway up the slope, take the path on the right towards the cemetery, pass it and take the road on the left that climbs towards the village.

(12) Cross the paved square and continue climbing until you reach the entrance to the village. Take the main street on the left and cross the village. Pass to the left of the church and descend to the cemetery to return to your starting point at the multi-purpose hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 378 m - Carla-Bayle Multipurpose Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.33 - alt. 355 m - Route D14
  3. 2 : km 0.88 - alt. 339 m - Route D614A
  4. 3 : km 1.72 - alt. 332 m - After La Badoune
  5. 4 : km 3.53 - alt. 318 m - Cassagne Mill
  6. 5 : km 5.32 - alt. 242 m - D614 junction
  7. 6 : km 6.91 - alt. 288 m - Bourgailles
  8. 7 : km 8.32 - alt. 306 m - Road junction
  9. 8 : km 9.51 - alt. 258 m - Towards Peyres
  10. 9 : km 11.54 - alt. 329 m - Towards Bellecoste
  11. 10 : km 12.84 - alt. 301 m - Lake
  12. 11 : km 14.66 - alt. 353 m - Towards the cemetery
  13. 12 : km 15.01 - alt. 386 m - Paved square
  14. S/E : km 15.57 - alt. 378 m - Carla-Bayle Multipurpose Hall

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
User 10217335

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Most of the hike was on roads for us. The start was well marked, but when we got to the sixth stage, there were no more signs and we had to finish the hike on the road, which wasn't very interesting
The first part through the small woods was nice, though

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HeleneLalanne
HeleneLalanne

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

More than half of this hike takes place on small roads, which are traffic-free but paved! I was expecting a hike on trails! The scenery is beautiful at the beginning and end (view of the Pyrenees), especially with the colours of the approaching storm.
A disappointing hike for me.

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Roroboubou
Roroboubou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant village, rolling green countryside, ideal weather, majestic snow-capped Pyrenees, no hikers, but too many busy roads today. A real shame.
Thanks to the author.

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bali3164
bali3164

A beautiful hike. Quite a few roads, but little or no traffic.
Starting and finishing at the lake car park is a good suggestion from an experienced hiker.
The trails are shaded and well maintained.
Best done in dry weather.

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gaillardou31
gaillardou31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful first part of the route, alternating between woodland and open areas. Second part with lots of country roads, less pleasant. May (when it's not raining) is a good time for this hike.

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iSenior
iSenior

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are sweeping views of the surrounding hills and the Ariège Pyrenees to the south. You can visit the village of Carla Bayle on the way back, but it's a shame that half of the route is on tarmac, even if it is on small tarmac paths. Be careful in hot weather as there is little shade on the route.

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VincentLafon
VincentLafon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 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 hike! With the beautiful village of Carla-Bayle and the lovely snow-capped Pyrenees!

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grosselin
grosselin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

In summer, I think, with the attraction of the village of Carla-Bayle and its lake.

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carbourette
carbourette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a pleasant outing, which leads to a visit to the village.
We had a picnic by the lake.

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4873483738
4873483738

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A route with no particular problems for the 16 walkers.
Good weather, although a little foggy, which hid the beautiful view of the Ariège Pyrenees from us.
Thank you for the guidebook.

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Emmanuel Moulis
Emmanuel Moulis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I did this hike on 6 April.
It was a reconnaissance trip for a hike with a group planned for 25 April.
There were five of us on this reconnaissance trip, and we followed the route described by Visorando to the letter.
We didn't encounter any particular problems (the trail is well marked).
However, we found the section up to 2 along the road to be dangerous.
For 25 April, we modified the route as follows:

  • we decided to take the quiet D614 road and join the Visorando route shortly after 3, passing through Montcagnou.
  • For the start, we preferred to leave from the car park by the lake where there are public toilets.

This also has the advantage of having the climb to the village at the beginning of the hike rather than at the end.

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bahvirani
bahvirani

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Lovely views of the Pyrenees mountain range, but quite a long drive.
Best avoided after rain as it gets quite muddy.
Picnic tables by the lake with

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randofossat
randofossat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was completed in beautiful weather despite a cool breeze on the ridges. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees. This route is best done in dry weather and must be very pleasant in hot weather. A little long, but the climbs are not particularly difficult.
Arrival at the superb Lake Carla Bayle and a final fairly steep hill to be taken at a leisurely pace. A beautiful walk.

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randofossat
randofossat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route completed by

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hc31
hc31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good route with beautiful views of the Pyrenees.
The yellow markings are good.
The village is worth another visit when it is open.

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