Over hill and dale around Vabre

Park your vehicle in the small car park at the municipal swimming pool, on the right on the D55 coming from Castres.

(S) Turn your back on the swimming pool, return to the D55 and turn left. Continue until you reach the second small bridge over the Gijou.

Followthe yellow^PR® markings.

Turn right onto the small road that climbs uphill and quickly turn right at the first intersection. After the last house, the road gives way to a wide path that climbs steadily to a crossroads, just after a hairpin bend to the right.

(1) Leave the wide track that descends to the left and take the one on the right that climbs quickly to the ridge. The view opens up and you can enjoy beautiful panoramas on both the left and right. The wide, very pleasant path alternates between false flats, steeper climbs and small descents until you reach the viewpoint over Vabre.

(2) Leave the path and head towards the viewpoint, which is about a hundred metres to the right. Take care when approaching the rocks, as the drop is steep and dangerous. Turn back and take the path on the right. At the next junction, leave the^PR® which turns right and continue straight ahead on a slight incline on the other PR^®. You will reach a fork with a tree bearing a yellow sign marked VTT6.

(3) Turn right and you will soon reach the hamlet of Caynac, walking under tall box trees. At the small tarmac road, turn right, cross the hamlet and immediately join another small road.

No markings

(4) Leave the^PR® which descends opposite (contrary to the IGN map) and turn left onto the road. You will soon reach a crossroads with a small concrete shelter for school transport. Turn left, leave the road on the left that leads to Las Goutes and continue north. After a water catchment on the right, you will come to a crossroads with five roads.

(5) Cross carefully and take the road opposite. Pass in front of the large Font Peirègne barns, turn left at the hairpin bend and join the plateau. The slope levels out and you will reach an intersection.

Yellow^PR® markings

(6) Turn right onto the small road that winds pleasantly and leave the^PR® at a 90° left turn.

No markings

Reach the hamlet of Vialelles. On the IGN map, you can see a marked trail that leads to the hamlet. This marking no longer exists, except for two yellow marks that are almost faded. Cross the hamlet. After the last house, the road gives way to a wide, stabilised path that descends through meadows and small clusters of trees, heading south. Leave a path that branches off to the left and arrive at a large grassy crossroads with a cluster of trees in the middle.

(7) Pass to the left of the cluster of trees and then turn left onto a small path. You will enter a beautiful undergrowth of fir and spruce trees, but the path becomes very poorly maintained for about 300 metres. The trail is cluttered with regrowth, broom and brambles, making it difficult to progress.

(8) Do not miss this fork where you must turn right onto a narrow path. A few dozen metres further on, a landslide cuts across the path and you must take an escape route to the left to get around it easily. The path becomes more overgrown and leads to a fork where you must leave the path on the right between the box trees and holly and turn left. You will finally reach a wide forest track.

(9) Turn right downhill and join the D171. Turn left and follow this road along the Gijou, which is very pleasant but also very busy (caution). Cross the bridge and arrive at the crossroads about 400 metres further on, marked by a yellow post box and recycling bins.

(10) Turn right towards La Razigade, leave a path on your left and arrive at the crossroads before the hamlet. Turn right at the hairpin bend (road sign for La Vergne).

Yellow^PR® markings + "Sentier de la Razigade" signs

Continue along this small road, which climbs steadily through the woods, and leave it to follow the^PR® on the right (Sentier de la Razigade sign). You will arrive at the hamlet of La Vergne with its few well-restored houses. Once you reach the road, turn left and then very quickly right at the hairpin bend. 50 metres further on, take a narrow path on the left that climbs steeply between the box trees.

(11) Stoically tackle this real "leg breaker", which is all the more noticeable as it comes at the end of the route, cross the D55 and continue straight ahead. Fortunately, you will soon find a wider path on the right, where the slope becomes gentler, allowing you to catch your breath a little.

(12) At a left-hand bend, near a ruin, leave this wide path and turn right onto a narrower path closed by a gate. Go through it, pass a second gate 100 metres further on and continue to the ridge.

(13) A^PR® signpost invites you to turn left. Do not follow it, but turn right onto the wide, flat path that heads south-west and runs along the Berlou Valley on your left, offering splendid views. You will reach a large open space.

(14) Do not continue straight ahead into the meadow, but look for the start of the narrow path on the left marked with^PR® signs and take it. Leave a track on your right. The path descends and arrives at a large meadow. Take the opportunity to turn around and admire the view to the left and right. Climb a little way back up to Sucal, then begin the descent, which offers beautiful views of Vabre straight ahead. The slope becomes steeper as the path winds its way down a few hairpin bends; it turns sharply to the left and joins a fork in the path.

(15) Ignore the path on the left, turn right and join the tarmac road at a small residential area. Go straight ahead, continue to the right at the crossroads (containers on the left), then leave the main road 100 metres further on and turn left onto a small tarmac path that leads to the D55.

(16) Turn left towards the village. Cross the Pont du Berlou bridge, go slightly uphill and turn right towards the bridge over the Gijou. Cross the bridge and, before reaching the crossroads opposite, turn left to take the steps that lead directly to the swimming pool and the starting point.

There are no drinking water points along the route, so plan accordingly.
Few shelters. Barns and stables.
Good hiking boots are recommended due to the rocky terrain. Walking poles will also be very useful on the numerous steep slopes.
The section after point (11) is difficult, although quite short. You should climb at your own pace to avoid cramps and breathlessness.

The site of Vabre.
The Gijou Valley.
Magnificent views between (2) and (3), (4) and (5) and the entire section after (13).
Not far away are the Montredon-Labessonnié Astronomical Observatory and the Trois Vallées Zoo.
Trout fishing in the Gijou, of course.