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Park in the car park at the top of the village of Mons, at the foot of the church.
(S/E) Head towards the top of the village by taking the road (D14E20) on the right as you leave the car park, then turn left onto Rue du Caladou. In the left-hand bend, continue straight ahead to reach Chemin des Luttes.
(1) Take this path, the last one in the village, which climbs to the right. Do not turn left following the markings, but continue straight ahead along the left side of a property fence. Continue straight ahead through the terraces and chestnut grove, along the Sentier Supérieur du Cabalet. You will soon reach an intersection that is not marked on the IGN map.
(2) Turn left. The path climbs towards the heights and rocks, and joins a shaded plateau in the forest, where several paths meet.
(3) Take the path furthest to the right, heading north. Pass successively through the Peyris, Auge and Coulaigo passes, with magnificent views over the Gorges d'Héric and the river below, and the Aiguilles du Rieutor opposite. Pass under the Col de la Maure before arriving at a vast scree slope and an overhang at the Rocher du Renard.
(4) Climb the scree slope in zigzags towards the Col de la Maure. Join the GR® on the right and head towards the Col de Bardou, where several paths intersect.
(5) Take the trail opposite, which leads to the Belvédère de Bau Filiti (blue markings). Enjoy the view, then continue straight on, following the Sentier Supérieur du Cabaret. Descend the steep slope towards the river, its gorges and rapids! This little-known spot is a secret garden for fishermen and canyoning enthusiasts.
(6) Wade across the river where possible, depending on the water level. Opposite, find the blue markings to climb the slope through the terraces of the chestnut grove. After 300 metres of effort, you will reach the Sentier du Vialais (yellow markings), a much more clearly marked and easier path than the previous ones, which winds horizontally through the chestnut grove.
(7) Turn right towards the village of Héric on flat ground, then descend on a pleasant path through the chestnut grove.
(8) Cross the hamlet and descend the tarmac road.
(9) Just outside the hamlet, don't miss the faint red trail on the left that climbs into the woods: this is the start of the Piste des Aiguilles. The slope becomes steep and winds its way up to the Col de la Narquoise, a vast plateau offering beautiful views of the gorges.
(10) Leave the red markings and head south, following the blue dots that wind down through a jumble of large boulders: this is the Piste des Hirondelles. Join the paved Piste des Gorges d'Héric.
(11) Turn left to descend towards the car park at the entrance to the gorges.
(12) After a few hundred metres, once you have passed the first bridge and just before the second, look out for the Sentier Inférieur du Cabalet on your right, which starts on the right bank of the river and runs along its steep banks. Follow it, climbing to halfway up the gorge until you reach the tarmac road.
(If you are tired, you can also continue down the tarmac road to Verdier-Haut.)
(13) Continue down the road, still heading towards the car park, and pass it. You will arrive at a large turning area for cars at Verdier-Haut.
(14) Take the path on the right, at the corner of a staircase and a house, and follow the yellow PR® and white and red GR® markings along a pleasant path through stone walls and chestnut groves, which will take you back to the centre of Mons. Take Rue du Caladou on the left, then the D14E20 on the right once in the village, to return to the church car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Moderate 
