The hills of Montbrun-Bocage via Les Cabanères

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This walk will allow you to explore the open countryside around Montbrun-Bocage and take you to the Plantaurel ridge via old paths and forest tracks. You will come across numerous springs and streams. A GPS will be essential as signposting is virtually non-existent.

Details

n°68956141
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.22 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,529 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,519 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,470 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,050 ft
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Description of the walk

From Montbrun-Bocage, take the D74 towards Mérigon, pass a picnic area, then at the clearly marked junction (road marker on the ground) take the road on the left, cross the bridge and park carefully in the bend, taking care not to obstruct traffic.

(S/E) Follow the road upstream alongside the Ruisseau de Hajou.

(1) Pass the turn-off to Quillet on the left and continue along the stream.

(2) Take the Sentier de Monsieur Sans on the left: an easy walk in dry weather through a forest of chestnut and beech trees. Continue to the end of this path (spring) after negotiating two wide hairpin bends.

(3) Cross the hamlet of La Bariesse, reach the D15 and turn left onto it: the signpost is well hidden behind a sign.

(4) Turn right towards Cap Long. Enter the forest and reach a three-way junction.

(5) Take the forest track called La Plane, heading left uphill through a pine forest. Follow the track to the end and come out onto a tarmac road at Ponce.

(6) Continue straight on along the road until you reach a sharp bend to the right.

(7) Leave the road and take a path on the left into the gentle valley of La Goutte de Sarrot, following it straight ahead for 400 m (322° North-North-West) until you reach a well-marked path at the edge of the pine forest.

(8) Head up to the left to the summit of Cabanères, the highest point of the day.

(9) From there, head back down the well-marked path heading north. You’ll reach a crossroads of tracks.

(10) Take the track on the left and join the D15 at Les Moulis: educational farm and eco-museum.

(11) Cross the D15 and take the signposted path opposite towards Montfa and Durrieux. You’ll reach the Cloutets crossroads.

(12) Turn left, cross the plateau along a well-marked path following the sign for "Pasquet du Bocage".

(13) At the junction (buildings on the right), head left, pass the hamlet of Pasquet and follow the forest track to rejoin the outward route.

(1) Continue straight on to return to the car park at the bend (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,050 ft - Car park at the bend
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 1,066 ft - Quillet junction, straight ahead
  3. 2 : mi 0.87 - alt. 1,207 ft - Start of the M. Sans Trail
  4. 3 : mi 2.14 - alt. 1,654 ft - La Bariesse
  5. 4 : mi 2.73 - alt. 1,634 ft - Cap Long crossroads, on the right
  6. 5 : mi 3.37 - alt. 1,673 ft - Fork, track on the left
  7. 6 : mi 4.64 - alt. 2,182 ft - Arrival on a tarmac track
  8. 7 : mi 4.98 - alt. 2,185 ft - Goutte de Sarrot
  9. 8 : mi 5.25 - alt. 2,431 ft - Edge of the pine forest, on the left
  10. 9 : mi 5.4 - alt. 2,470 ft - Cabanères
  11. 10 : mi 6.2 - alt. 2,028 ft - Crossroads, left
  12. 11 : mi 6.57 - alt. 1,814 ft - D15, Les Moulis
  13. 12 : mi 7.23 - alt. 1,378 ft - Les Clouets, on the left
  14. 13 : mi 8.08 - alt. 1,378 ft - Ravaille, on the left
  15. S/E : mi 9.22 - alt. 1,050 ft - Car park at the bend

Reviews and comments

3.6 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.7 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
patou09
patou09

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We didn’t find this walk particularly interesting. The Monsieur Sans trail is almost impassable… very muddy, but that’s to be expected given the bad weather over the last few days… otherwise, nothing special…

Machine-translated

math46
math46
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The climb is very muddy up to point 3 (it’s probably better in the height of summer).

However, from point 7 to 8, it was completely impassable and there is no path. You have to fight your way through dense brambles and ferns!! The problem is that the land is probably private with no right of way, as there is no path. I wouldn’t want to find myself there during the hunting season....
It would be best to amend your route and the description.
I advise against taking this section; it’s better to continue along the road to “Molles de Darré” and rejoin the path on the left.

It’s a real shame because the rest of the walk is quite pleasant...

Machine-translated

Anne-Valerie
Anne-Valerie

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, but the path was rather muddy!

Machine-translated

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