The Pouzols Ridges

A short walk that is ideal for the cold season. It will take you through bucolic landscapes dotted here and there with neighbouring church towers.

Details

901292
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 114 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 120 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 249 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 195 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the car park of the old school in Pouzols, just behind the church. The route is very well signposted, with additional information panels.

N.B. I suggest you do this circular in the opposite direction to that shown on the "Chemin des Crêtes" signs.

Yellow markings

(S/E) With your back to the church, head towards the crossroads on the left. Pass in front of the cemetery and immediately turn left onto the grassy path. You are now in a nature reserve that stretches as far as Las Bories.

(1) Go around the farm and head left, towards the south. The road will lead to Escrabins (a large farm protected by a pack of dogs). Read practical information. Go around this farm, still heading left towards Sept Deniers. Before the old buildings of Sept Deniers, take the pretty path on the right that gently descends to the road.

(2) Turn left towards Orban.

(3) Visit the small square in front of Orban church, then rejoin the route by passing in front of the primary school. Continue along the road to the right towards Fontvieille and keep right at the next two junctions.

(4) Before the Fontvieille farm and in a left-hand bend, continue straight ahead on a dirt track that is not shown on the IGN map. Follow the yellow markings and cross the first local road. At the second road, turn left and, after about 50 metres, take the dirt track on the right between the fields, which leads to a junction of several PR® trails.

(5) Stay on the "Chemin des Crêtes" by turning left. In front of Conté, cross the road and, a few steps further on, follow the grassy path on the right. The path continues, passing Daudou on the left and then Puech Ferri, also on the left. At the end of the path, turn left onto the tarmac road that leads back to Pouzols and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 230 m - Car park at the old school in Pouzols
  2. 1 : km 1.33 - alt. 213 m - Bypass Las Bories
  3. 2 : km 2.65 - alt. 220 m - Crossroads with the tarmac road
  4. 3 : km 3.46 - alt. 238 m - Place de l'Eglise d'Orban
  5. 4 : km 4.05 - alt. 226 m - Before the Fontvieille farm, dirt track
  6. 5 : km 5.88 - alt. 217 m - Junction of three PRs
  7. S/E : km 8.44 - alt. 229 m - Car park at the old school in Pouzols

Notes

This circular can also start from the village of Orban.

NB: Following numerous incidents involving dogs in the locality of Les Escrabins, the Centre Tarn Community of Municipalities has decided to no longer promote this ridge path. A route bypassing this locality will be studied by the Centre Tarn Community of Municipalities. In the meantime, please be careful on this section.

Worth a visit

Churches of Pouzols and Orban.

 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

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Monique L
Monique L

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful scenery throughout the hike, easy route without too much elevation gain.

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footboogie
footboogie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant and easy hike for everyone.
Lovely views.

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GiPhi
GiPhi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in reverse and think we made the right choice. Magnificent views

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Mexted
Mexted

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A lovely, easy hike that is well signposted

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Gerdre 81
Gerdre 81

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A tricky section threatened by dogs, on the edge of a farm.
Otherwise, a very pleasant hike, without difficulty and completely in line with the hike description.

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fourcet
fourcet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike redone without any problems at Escrabins regarding dogs. Just one in a field that barked a little, nothing more. Frankly, I don't see the urgency to change the route. It's true that a lot of miscellaneous equipment has accumulated in this area, but it doesn't interfere with this hike, which is well worth doing.

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Didiro
Didiro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike suitable for all ages.
We added the Agros trail to this route, which has the same starting point. The "8" is about 15 km long.
we didn't see the Escrabins' dogs, but there was a lot of rubbish around the farm.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

An easy route that allowed me to fully enjoy the winter sunshine. The paths were a little muddy but passable with good footwear. I found the route more pleasant in this direction.
I cut across the fields to avoid the farm, but the three dogs still followed me all the way along the diagonal path – close behind me, barking loudly... something to bear in mind.

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madydou
madydou ★

Nothing has changed, not even the plan to devalue the route.
The markings are still in place and this route continues to be used.

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Mamitatren
Mamitatren

Good evening, Mady, and thank you for your reply.
Indeed, nothing has changed in terms of the route, but the Departmental Hiking Committee advises against using the trail. Here is what I found on their website:
Ridge Trail
Orban
Following numerous incidents involving dogs in the area known as Les Escrabins, the Centre Tarn Community of Communes has decided to no longer promote the ridge trail in Orban.
The Centre Tarn Community of Communes will look into a route to bypass this area so that the trail can eventually be used again.

However, to date, the Centre Tarn Community of Communes has not yet taken any action.
Yours sincerely.

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
Nothing has changed since the last recommendations.
However, as jf81 pointed out, the dogs sometimes bark, but not aggressively.
I tested this on 30 November.

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Mamitatren
Mamitatren

After reading the recommendations at the bottom of the information sheet about the difficult section with aggressive dogs (one of my acquaintances was bitten there a few years ago), I changed my destination. I didn't want to repeat the experience. Perhaps it would be good to know exactly whether this route is still passable and whether a detour has been planned. Thank you.

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jf81
jf81
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The three dogs at Les Escrebins are cuddly toys. They are old, bark a little, but are not aggressive.
There are a few drivable roads around Orban, but they are not busy.
The entire route is pleasant. Well marked.
Allow about 2 hours.
Thank you to the author of this hike.

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fourcet
fourcet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

A very beautiful route with little road travel. No problems passing by the farm. There were three dogs: one black, one brown, and one white!
We passed by less than a metre away. Only the black one barked, but he was friendly. The others remained calm. So let's stay optimistic.
Thanks to the author

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Canelle
Canelle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with superb views of the green spring countryside. Thank you, Madydou.

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