Panoramic view of the Cévennes

Stroll through the narrow streets of Les Puechs and Carnoulés, beautiful Cévennes hamlets, and discover panoramic views of the Cévennes with the scents of the heath, chestnut trees and green oak groves..
Be careful on rocky sections, which can be dangerous (3) and (6).

Details

176850
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 688 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 688 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 667 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 226 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Starting point in Saint-Sébastien d'Aigrefeuille, in the quarry car park. This car park is on the road to Camperigous, 700 metres from the junction with the D217 (be careful, it is poorly signposted).

(S/E) Once you arrive, turn left and follow the paved road to the northwest. Cross Campeyrigoux and continue on the main track, northwest then north.

(1) At a hairpin bend on the right, leave the track and follow the path north, along the Ruisseau de Campelonne. Take a hairpin bend to the left and climb up to the villages of Les Puechs. Cross Mas Gaussin via a narrow lane and turn left at the information signs. Continue along the road, and at the next right-hand bend, follow the signs for La Rouvière and leave La Blancharde on your right.

(2) At the crossroads, take the path furthest to the right. Heading north, climb up with views of the Roquefeuille and Mialet valleys and the surrounding greenhouses.

(3) Take the small path on the left (chemin de chênes verts); be careful, the sign is not very visible.

(4) At the pass, continue to the right (east).

(5) At Escoudas, you can take the path that climbs to the left.

(6) At the end of the second point of L'Escoudas, descend a path (yellow signpost) that starts eastwards and then turns south-east.

(7) At thePR® Cendras junction, take the forest fire prevention track (DFCI) P16 on the right.

(8) After Mas Malabouisse, take the DFCI P19 on the right.

(9) At the crossroads, follow the DFCI P32 on the left.

(10) Viewpoint over Carnoulès. 250 metres after the reservoir, leave this DFCI and take the path on the right (unmarked), which will take you back to the village.

(11) At the upper car park, cross part of the village. When the road turns left, take the lane on the right, at the bottom of Carnoulès, and take the tarmac track downhill to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 238 m - Quarry car park
  2. 1 : km 2.62 - alt. 290 m - Camplonne stream
  3. 2 : km 5.06 - alt. 423 m - La Rouvière
  4. 3 : km 7.53 - alt. 591 m - Be careful on the path on the left, as the sign is not very visible
  5. 4 : km 8.3 - alt. 591 m - Bouscavou
  6. 5 : km 9.56 - alt. 624 m - Left path
  7. 6 : km 9.93 - alt. 626 m - l'Escoudas
  8. 7 : km 12.53 - alt. 467 m - PR Cendras crossroads
  9. 8 : km 14.75 - alt. 329 m - Malabouisse
  10. 9 : km 16.27 - alt. 441 m - Brugaunède
  11. 10 : km 17.18 - alt. 479 m - Viewpoint over Carnoulès
  12. 11 : km 18.48 - alt. 361 m - Carnoulès
  13. S/E : km 20.07 - alt. 238 m - Quarry car park

Notes

Be careful during hunting season (September to February) as there are wild boar hunts.

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 47 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Serge Cévennes
Serge Cévennes

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Follow the description carefully, no major difficulties. The junction for the last path (on the right after point 10) is not very visible: keep an eye out for the blue dot...
Accessible in all seasons, although cooler weather is better for panoramic photos, which are superb.

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petrieux
petrieux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is very pleasant, the scenery is magnificent except for the last part, the last few kilometres (3) follow a small path that is barely passable because it is not maintained... You have to be careful not to miss the turn-off for this small path and you really have to fight your way through.

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Ginielanomade
Ginielanomade

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied hike (paths, trails, forest...) with a beautiful view, as its name suggests.
High-top shoes are recommended as the ground is stony

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Nadège12
Nadège12
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with lovely scenery and hamlets
No major difficulties
During hunting season, be very careful! We saw many hunters, but they were very friendly.
Be careful when taking the path between points 10 and 11 as it is really not visible and the path is quite overgrown with brush.

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Levant
Levant
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, very varied with superb views.
No difficulties except for the hunters.
I relied solely on the GPX track, which is perfect

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Romain 08
Romain 08

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

MAGNIFICENT! The most beautiful hike of this past week spent exploring the Cévennes!

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pagueri
pagueri

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, done in winter but with excellent visibility and bright sunshine. The start along the river, in a landscape covered with frost, was magical!
There were some beautiful panoramic views, which unfortunately could only be enjoyed intermittently as there were many sections through the forest.
The route is quite long but not difficult, with quite a few forest fire tracks and roads or tracks suitable for vehicles.

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Elina23
Elina23

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike completed over the Easter weekend in shorts and T-shirts, under bright sunshine. We had to retrace our steps after point 10, as the path to take on the right is not clearly marked or signposted, so we relied solely on GPS to ensure we were on the right track. A good mix of sunny and shaded sections. Some parts are a bit challenging, but if you take the hike at a leisurely pace, it's not too difficult. You can camp between points 9 and 10, in a grassy, almost flat clearing with an incredible view. We highly recommend it!

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Marc LB
Marc LB

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Perfect route, magnificent views of the Thau lagoon and Mont Lozère, with fairly clear skies on the day.
Encounter with numerous Camisard hamlets.
Be careful in wet weather as the rocks can be slippery
in some places along the route (especially on the descent)
Following the Visorando route, nothing to report.
Best done in spring when the vegetation will be superb.

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denisVTT34
denisVTT34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful panoramic views and walks through Camisard villages. There had been quite a lot of rain in the days leading up to our visit, so all the streams were rushing, which added to the charm. The hunters were very friendly, but it's never reassuring to share the trail with them, so we swapped an unmarked drovers' road for a more visible and open trail. According to the GPS, we covered 20 km and 800 metres of elevation gain in 5 hours and 45 minutes, including 1 hour of breaks.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with no real difficulty. It consists of tracks, paths and very beautiful trails.
Superb panoramic views. At the start, the beautiful Amous river is low on water but gives an idea of what it used to be like. The same goes for the Camplonne stream. Passes through pretty hamlets. To finish the hike, there is a pleasant walk through the old Camoulès mines and a pine forest.
The hike is made easier by mild temperatures and a light breeze. (Not recommended in very hot weather).
PP and MM

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shumash
shumash
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A fairly challenging loop with superb panoramic views. A few sections under trees provide temporary shelter from the scorching sun. Take water with you as there are no sources along this 19.83 km route, which took 5½ hours including 40 minutes of various breaks.

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Fana
Fana

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lots of trails, but a nice hike with pretty views. I cut between 6 and 9 to shorten it to 16 km, which took 4 hours.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

By "route on map", we do not mean evaluating the signposting, but rather the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

Enjoy your walks!

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PUYOUMAURIC
PUYOUMAURIC

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route is very interesting and well deserves its name, "Panorama of the Cévennes".
You do need to ignore the signposts, as they are confusing (in two or three places, you need to follow the route as described, ignoring the crossed-out signs). A very beautiful hike, which also takes you through some lovely hamlets!

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