Access: from Montarnaud, head north towards Argeliers. In a left-hand bend uphill, at the road-track junction, turn right onto the DFCI track, at the pumping station. Park in the dirt car park bordered by coppice opposite the station, which is protected by a fence.
(S/E) Heading south-east, at the corner of the station, turn left onto the path. Do not go onto the road.
Join a path. Continue left in a north-easterly direction, cross a stream and approach a crossroads.
Turn right heading south-east and walk along the Ruisseau de la Garenne stream on your right. Avoid an exit at elevation 157 and approach a section (not shown on the map) at a fork.
(1) Continue straight ahead and reach a fork in the road.
Turn left uphill heading east, negotiate a right-hand bend at a place called La Gariguette and reach a junction.
Continue right on the path heading south.
On a long straight stretch, at a place called Fontenille, cross a stream, avoid all exits, walk alongside the Bergerie de Nasse, then pass the 158 metre mark and reach a fork.
(2) Turn left into the undergrowth, heading north-east, cross the summit at hill 181 and reach a crossroads.
Keep left, heading north on the winding, stony track with a steep climb, cross the 206-metre peak and arrive at the crossroads.
Keep left uphill, cross the dolmen ruins and continue uphill, past the copses, to a section (blue cairn).
Important: Site of ruined dolmens. For hikers and visitors, outside the track, refer to your own visible trail (essential) so as not to get lost (sense of direction).
Warning: there aremany paths around the site, so be careful to stay on the main track.
(3) Dolmen de la Coste or de la Lauze Couverte.
- It is possible to visit the site and its dolmen (remarkable) below, near rocky scree, with a significant technical passage (be careful), keep the trail visible.
Climb back up, rejoin the track and turn right heading north. Cross the visible dolmen ruins and rejoin the old wall.
(4) Walk along the left side of the old boundary wall and its scree, on the right at elevation 295, and cross the top of the Bois de Paturascle. Avoid two exits and reach an intersection.
(5) At elevation 284, keep right and join a DFCI track (cistern). Turn right onto thePR® (yellow marker), cross elevation 278 and arrive at the junction.
(6) Leave the path, continue left on an uphillPR® trail (yellow marker) and follow the summit (Le Closcas). Cross the 289-metre peak marked by an exit, keep left on thePR® (yellow marker) and stay on the visible trail.
Reach a steep slope on a technical section and join Dolmen A at Mas Reynard (remarkable).
(7) Take the path in the opposite direction, cross the 289-metre peak marked by an exit, keep right on thePR® (yellow marker), stay on the visible trail and rejoin the DFCI track.
(6) Turn right after hill 278 and reach a crossroads (cistern). Turn left onto the track, leaving thePR®, and reach a fork from hill 284.
(5) Turn right onto the track, which is partially visible on the map. Cairns are positioned here and there to mark the trail. Reach a section.
Keep right, continue over a rocky area (the rest of the route is not shown on the map) and reach a fork.
(8) Keep right, continue up a steep rocky slope and you will come to an old wall and its scree.
(9) Walk along it on your left, continue on the visible path, follow the trail carefully (not shown on the map), cross a steep rocky slope, go through the undergrowth and reach a section.
(10) Continue straight ahead through the undergrowth and you will eventually come out onto a path.
(1) Turn right, avoid the exit at elevation 157, keep left and reach the fork. Turn left, cross a stream and follow the same route as on the way there. Reach the pumping station and the car park (S/E).
The paths are very stony and your ankles take a beating at times, but experienced hikers have seen worse. I strayed from the right path at the end and found myself on a very dangerous steep, stony slope. Conclusion: a hike worth doing for the dolmens if you are in the area, but not an unmissable hike! Have a good trip.