On the banks of the River Aude

Nature trail along the Aude river and urban trail through the villages of Campagne-sur-Aude and Espéraza.

Technical sheet

206455
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 123 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 115 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 338 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 231 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the sports field.

(S/E)  From the car park on the banks of the Aude, continue on the left along the road between the railway line on the left and the river on the right for about 2.3km.

(1) At the junction with Chemin Rural de Nebias, go straight on for about 200m to the next junction.

(2) Turn right into Rue du Cazal and follow the path along the Aude. Follow it to reach Avenue du 19 Mars.

(3) Turn right, cross the river, fork left onto Avenue André Malraux. Turn left then right into Rue Alexandre Dumas, then left again at the second bridge.

(4) Turn right into Rue des Jardins towards the municipal campsite.

(5) When the road bends to the right, turn left to follow a path along the Aude River, and at the end of the path, turn left.

(6) At Avenue de Carcassonne (D12), turn right, continue for about 150m, then cross the road by the pedestrian crossing up to the level crossing.

(7) Turn left, continue to the short dirt path that joins the two asphalted streets, and continue straight on to the cemetery. Continue for 200m.

(8) Turn left at the hairpin bend onto the D12, continue for 100m, then cross the railway track and turn right. For a short while, return to the outward path and follow it in the opposite direction.

(1) After the bridge, turn right, cross the railway again and turn left onto Rue Etienne Fontvieille. Continue for approximately 450m.

(9) Turn right onto a wide dirt track with a slight gradient. Ignoring two paths on the right, turn 90° right at a hairpin bend to reach several vineyard plots. At the corner of the first vine, follow the path on the left along the edge of the vines, then start downhill along the Chemin de Pech Cerda, which leads to the Cave Coopérative. Turn left, then quickly right.

(10) Cross the railway track and follow Rue de la Gare to the car park opposite (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 252 m - Parking near the sports ground
  2. 1 : km 2.44 - alt. 244 m - Crossing with Chemin Rural de Nebias
  3. 2 : km 2.61 - alt. 244 m - Espéraza, fork, turn right
  4. 3 : km 3.22 - alt. 240 m - Avenue du 11 mars, crossing of the > > Avenue du 11 mars, crossing of the - Aude (fleuve)
  5. 4 : km 3.65 - alt. 237 m - Right Rue des Jardins toward Campsite
  6. 5 : km 4.1 - alt. 236 m - Turn left to follow the River Aude
  7. 6 : km 4.7 - alt. 237 m - Avenue de Carcassonne, turn right for 100m
  8. 7 : km 4.84 - alt. 242 m - On the left, after the level crossing
  9. 8 : km 6.61 - alt. 248 m - D12, left
  10. 9 : km 7.5 - alt. 245 m - Take the dirt track on the right
  11. 10 : km 9.78 - alt. 258 m - Crossing the railway line
  12. S/E : km 9.93 - alt. 252 m - Parking near the sports ground

In the nearby area

View of Rennes-le-Château and the Pech de Bugarach. View of the snow-covered Pyrenees, depending on the season.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
randonnéeaude
randonnéeaude
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

A lot of tarmac at the start (2.5 km), with no real proximity to the River Aude, the noise of the road on the other bank and a rather unpleasant urban crossing. This route should be avoided in midsummer, as it is only partly shaded.
Disappointed, we turned back without climbing the hill, which was too exposed to the sun.

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ckenway
ckenway
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We're a group of "pushchairs" and don't do serious walks, so only look for easy walks, those that take 1H30 to 2H and not many ascents and descents. We took this walk and adapted it. We started at Esperaza (marker 2, swimming pool car park). At marker 1, we went right. Once we'd finished the accent, we veered off the road to the left. Walked down the track at the edge of the vineyard to where it says the height is 276 m. Walked the road (dead end so little traffic) to Campagne-sur-Aude then completed the rest of the signposted route to Esperaza, took about 1H30. Part of this is the dinosaur walk and there is lots of interesting information along the way. This is also closed to cars but not bikes and walkers. Good informative route for families with children.

We are a group of "strollers" and don't do serious hiking so only look for easy walks, ones that take 1H30 to 2H and not much in the way of up and down hills. We took this walk and adapted it. We started at Esperaza (marker 2, Swimming pool carpark). At marker 1 we went to the right. Once we had completed the accent we deviated from the route to the left. Walking down the track on the edge of the vineyard to where it says the height is 276M. Walked the down the road (dead end so little traffic) to Campagne-sur-Aude then completed the rest of the marked route back to Esperaza, Took about 1H30. Part of this is the Dinosaur walk and there is plenty on interesting information along the way. This is also blocked to cars but not bicycles and walkers. Good and informative route for families with children.

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sequoia1
sequoia1

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Busy trail : No

ATTENTION.
On that February day, we arrived at the vineyards, where a few sheep were grazing. When we got to the point where we were supposed to come back down, the bulk of the herd was there. And with it a patou (huge like all patous) who pounced on us. We had to back up more than fifty metres before we could turn around. He had very nice fangs when he showed us his teeth, curling up his lips and growling. We put our trekking poles forward to keep some distance from the monster.
Of course, there was not a guard in sight! (These dogs are supposed to protect the herds from bears and wolves. Not a shadow of one of these animals! No doubt they are also used to protect tourists/hikers).
In short, especially if you have children, be very careful around sheep!

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Dominique Gente
Dominique Gente

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

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LN66
LN66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We walked part of the route along the Aude, and the path was well signposted and pleasant.

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Ribandre
Ribandre

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We did part of the D-1-9-10 route, but the yellow markings were intermittent, especially at the end, so we got a bit lost.
Otherwise a varied walk with sections along the banks of the Aude, in the heath on the crest of the hill with a fine view and then through the vineyards.

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cendro12
cendro12

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice route, very well described and quite varied, with a section in the countryside on the heights between Esperaza and Campagne sur Aude, a section through the two villages (nice to visit), and a third along the river Aude.
The only drawback was the noise when crossing the heights (the départementale doesn't go very far) and that day there were motocross bikes in the area.

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azurdefa
azurdefa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 07, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

an easy hike. It is well signposted

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