The meadows of Le Cailar

A short half-day hike to breathe in and enjoy the Camargue and its treasures: horses, bulls, herons, storks, etc.
As "denisdenim" points out, there is an alternative route to avoid the road at point 1: cross it and take the small road that passes by the Mas du Bourry farmhouse, keeping to the right to rejoin the main road and descend towards point 2.

Details

19470183
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Le Cailar (30740)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.668171° / E 4.245042°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2943OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is just after the bridge coming from Le Cailar on the left.

(S/E) Cross the road and take the white path opposite, continuing to the iron footbridge on your right. Ignore it and continue on the path to the left until you reach the tarmac. You will see some beautiful Camargue bull farms.

(1) Take the road on the right, watching out for traffic, and continue for about 1 km. You will come to a fork in the road with a circular concrete park a few metres to your right.

(2) Turn right onto the path that is closed to all motor vehicles (GR® andPR®) and continue straight ahead, crossing the small bridge and then, if the barrier is closed, going around the side. Follow this path, which will turn left to follow the Vistre river. Take the opportunity to see the bulls again and, depending on the season, the storks. Walk along the Vistre, passing a memorial dedicated to the herdsmen who drowned while trying to save their bulls during severe flooding.

(3) Turn right, crossing the small Pont de la Clapière bridge, then immediately right again, and continue for about 50 metres.

(4) Leave the wide path that branches off to the left and follow the path with a gate (usually closed as horses are often left to roam freely). Once you have passed through, close the gate behind you and continue along this path between the Vistre and the Rhony. You will see more cattle and horses.

(5) Go through the gate, closing it behind you, and you will come to the road. Ignore it and take the small path on the dyke that runs alongside the Rhony. Continue straight ahead, pass another stele, then the metal footbridge you saw on the way there. Ignore it and continue along the dyke. Find the road coming from Le Cailar and cross the bridge over the Vistre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Car park - Vistre (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 1.65 - alt. 5 m - Route D104
  3. 2 : km 3.37 - alt. 4 m - GR and PR trails
  4. 3 : km 4.86 - alt. 0 m - Pont de la Clapière
  5. 4 : km 4.97 - alt. 2 m - Trail
  6. 5 : km 6.93 - alt. 3 m - Seawall
  7. S/E : km 9.18 - alt. 2 m - Car park

Notes

No water, shade in summer, picnic facilities, if you feel like spending a day observing and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Worth a visit

The village of Le Cailar, with its statue of a bull at the entrance, is a typical, authentic village.

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very pleasant walk.
As other walkers have mentioned, we recommend taking the PR path between points 1 and 2, which goes past the Bourry farmhouses, thus avoiding the busy D104.
The return journey is perhaps a little monotonous from point 4 onwards, but it gives you time to look at the local wildlife (plenty of tortoises).

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User 25093487

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

saw many species of birds, + spring sunshine

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User 25595108

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I loved this hike! It really allows for a peaceful stroll surrounded by animals and nature: perfect! I did it with my dog and it was great!

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linoulun
linoulun
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

I was very disappointed, which is rare – the landscapes are monotonous, with fields, a few herds of cattle, and two rivers that are not very clean. Above all, the path has sections that are too long and straight. On the way there, at the end, I thought I would have a picnic near the water, but it was always the same meadows. And then it was the return trip, on the dyke that ultimately runs alongside a small road the whole way. The route is easy to follow and was very busy, not with hikers but with cyclists. - I would have appreciated a few small shaded sections if I had taken my bike myself. - But... would I have seen the glais flowers, dear to Mistral, hidden by the river?

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Mcdid
Mcdid

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk through meadows surrounded by bulls.

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mjeanmonod
mjeanmonod

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk through landscapes and wildlife typical of the region. The detour via the hill adds an extra kilometre but is well worth it, as you cross nectarine orchards protected by pretty poplar hedges, followed by a vineyard that gives you an idea of what a large estate can be like...
However, be careful: when entering the marshes and returning between the two rivers, you need to be (very) well protected from mosquitoes!

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Pierrot-Gwada
Pierrot-Gwada

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk. Lots of shaded areas and plenty of bulls and horses to see. Ideal for children as there are no steep slopes.
The section along the road is indeed unpleasant: there is traffic and no shade. It is better to avoid it by extending the walk a little, as suggested in the previous post.

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

This is indeed a variant that takes us a little before the water tower, and we find the trail at the bottom of the hill. Thank you for this clarification.

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denisdenim
denisdenim

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Instead of following the D 104, we preferred to climb slightly up the hill and then descend back onto the D 104 after the houses, returning to the trail a few dozen metres further down the road.

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

Thank you

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Cinéfille
Cinéfille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A delightful little hike immersed in the Camargue, with bulls, horses, birds and canals. A guaranteed change of scenery!

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chenille30
chenille30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

smooth ride

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