Menhirs and the hamlet of La Fage

The first part of the hike follows the Balade au pays des Menhirs discovery trail. The rest of the route continues to the hamlet of La Fage. In addition to the Clocher des Tourmentes bell tower marked on the IGN map, you can admire beautiful granite houses covered with slate tiles. Unfortunately, while some have been restored, others are partly abandoned.

Details

4002422
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 325 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 323 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,257 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 996 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the car park on the D35, 4 km from the Col de Montmirat.

(S/E) Leave the car park via the Route des Combes.

(1) At the top of the hill, leave the road on the right among the menhirs, following the marked path, then begin the descent.

(2) After three menhirs on a flat section, at the three-way junction, take the path on the left. Arrive at the hamlet of Les Combettes.

(3) Take the dirt road on the right and continue following theGR® markings to a small pass with a few menhirs.

(4) Leave theGR® and take the path that climbs to the right.

(5) At the end of a hedge, leave the discovery trail, which turns right towards the car park, and continue straight on to the D35. Take this road on the left and then, at the first crossroads, turn right onto the road leading to the hamlet of La Borie.

(6) Just after a large agricultural shed, turn right onto a path through the trees. At this point, join the red and whiteGR® trail markers. After a descent into the woods, join a wider, almost horizontal path.

(7) Take this path to the left and head back.

(8) After about 100 metres, turn right onto a smaller path leading down to the river. Cross the footbridge and climb back up to the first houses. Continue to the Clocher des Tourmentes.

(9) Take the road on the right and follow it until after the bridge over the stream.

(10) Leave the road and turn left onto a wide path. Pass two paths on the left and arrive at the Croix des Faux.

(11) Turn right. Cross the road, pass by the Rocher de la Baraque and then cross the Bramont via a ford of large stones. Arrive at the D35, which you cross straight ahead to return to the hill of menhirs.

(1) Turn right onto the small road that leads back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,169 m - Parking on the D35
  2. 1 : km 0.44 - alt. 1,178 m - Menhirs on the hill
  3. 2 : km 1.57 - alt. 1,084 m - Fork
  4. 3 : km 2.33 - alt. 1,001 m - Les Combettes
  5. 4 : km 3.46 - alt. 1,049 m - Path on the right
  6. 5 : km 4.89 - alt. 1,138 m - Continue straight ahead until you reach the road.
  7. 6 : km 6.21 - alt. 1,137 m - Path on the right after the shed
  8. 7 : km 6.5 - alt. 1,115 m - To the left behind you
  9. 8 : km 6.65 - alt. 1,101 m - Turn right and cross the footbridge over the - Bramont (rivière)
  10. 9 : km 7.64 - alt. 1,211 m - La Fage
  11. 10 : km 7.94 - alt. 1,202 m - Path on the left
  12. 11 : km 8.88 - alt. 1,257 m - Croix des Faux
  13. S/E : km 11.4 - alt. 1,168 m - Parking on the D35

Notes

Apart from the short section of road between (5) and (6), the path is marked all along, mostly with white and redGR® markings.
As in many places around Mont Lozère, the ford crossing the Bramont consists of very large stones spaced apart and firmly planted in the ground. It can be crossed easily without getting your feet wet. However, avoid periods of very high water.

Worth a visit

A detailed description of the "Balade au pays des Menhirs" (Walk in the Land of Menhirs) route can be found on the Lozère Tourist Office website.

On the descent between (1) and (2), there is a beautiful view of the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn.
At (3), a short detour to the hamlet of Les Combettes will allow you to discover the bread oven and a few log hives.
At La Fage, after the first house on the right, don't miss the wash house below and a large building (a barn?) with magnificent vaults on the left.
Before the (10), you can see the old mill by the stream.

Heading back along the D35 towards Pont de Monvert, you can stop to see other menhirs on the Cham des Bondons and, a little further on, the Cascade de Rûnes waterfall.

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 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Bonzom Jean Louis
Bonzom Jean Louis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

route taken on Sunday, 22 June 2025 in beautiful sunshine. The climb up to the hamlet of La Fage from the Bramont stream crossing is almost completely overgrown (obvious lack of maintenance, it needs serious clearing)
This is the only downside to this otherwise very pleasant loop

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jo1703
jo1703
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route despite the rain that often accompanied us during the hike.
This route is divided into two very distinct parts. The first, dotted with menhirs, is quite spectacular, with magnificent scenery. The second, more challenging part takes forest paths and leads us to the Tourmente bell tower in the hamlet of Fage, which is completely isolated but has a remarkable ancient heritage.
The end of the route, with its descent to the stream, takes place among large granite boulders and is therefore a little more difficult. It may not be recommended for people with fragile ankles, but it can be done without any problems with a little care.
We would like to do this again in better weather as we really enjoyed the diversity of the landscapes.

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kinou1273visorando
kinou1273visorando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the land of standing stones. We were familiar with the neighbouring hike in the Bondons area, which is even more majestic but more "difficult". This one is very accessible and allows you to discover the standing stones in a superb setting. Be careful, the signposting is a little confusing at La Borie; you need to turn just after a farm building. For food lovers, you can continue on to the hamlet of La Borie, where you will find an excellent producer of pélardons. We recommend it...

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Marc Vandevelde
Marc Vandevelde

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with splendid views and a remarkable concentration of standing stones.

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marenghi
marenghi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

magnificent, very beautiful and varied hike

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LoicFleurus
LoicFleurus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike combining the well-marked menhir route with the hamlet of La Fage on the other side of the road. The route is open, but there are shaded areas where you can take a break, even towards the end. Park in the car park on the Route des Combettes.

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Jacques 84
Jacques 84

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy route with some beautiful points of interest, including standing stones and a well-preserved hamlet, despite a few ruins that bear witness to past activity. Between points 6 and the village, simply follow the red and white markings. There is a slightly steep climb before reaching the village, but it is short. We had a great day.

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