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Park in the large car park at Padern on the banks of the Verdouble.
White and redGR®®367markings.
(S/E) Walk along the car park towards the ford. Without crossing it, continue following the markings. Turn left, cross Rue de l'Affenage (D14) and follow the signs for the castle.
(1) Look for the stairs on the right and take them. Cross Rue du Cers and continue up the stairs towards Chapelle Saint-Roch. Walk past the chapel and continue towards the castle along the concrete road. You will arrive at the foot of the castle, which is closed to visitors due to the risk of falling rocks.
Fluorescent green markings on the ground (as of December 2022). Old yellow markings.
(2) Leave theGR®®367and turn left, climbing up a narrow path through the forest. Cross the Pas de Massac and join a wide track.
(3) Turn left onto this wide track heading south-east until you leave the forest and come out into a clearing. Take care: look out for a large sign on the right with information and the start of a path.
(4) Keep right, at the edge of the forest, and follow this steep, stony path uphill. Go through a few hairpin bends and you will arrive at Pas de la Serre. ''Vast landscape over the valley and Grau de Padern''.
(5) Descend along this steep path and join a track in a large grazing area.
(6) Turn right onto this track and climb slightly for exactly 400 m until you reach another grazing area on your right. Look out for a clearly visible path climbing up on your right, to the north-west.
(7) Leave the track and continue right, heading west, on flat ground at first. Very soon, climb up the well-marked path that turns northwest. Reach the ridge. Take care in wet conditions.
"Enjoy the beautiful scenery by stepping a few metres to the right at designated points."
Take a steep path heading south-west to reach Roc de Capéliane at an altitude of 589 metres. "A very beautiful spot."
(8) Still on the steep ridge path, descend to the Col de la Canalisse **. "Another very beautiful spot."
Start climbing again on a wider, cleared path (as of December 2022). Reach the highest point of the hike at Jarséby at an altitude of 614 metres.
Then begin the descent: be careful not to head south towards a hunting blind.
Descend south-west. Aim for a huge EDF double high-voltage power line pole. Directly below this impressive power line, join a track suitable for vehicles. Follow it to the left, almost flat, and join a track and the GR®367.
Follow the red and white markings of the GR®367 (Chemin Cathare), which replace the GRP® Tour des Fenouillèdes.
(9) Continue straight ahead on the wide track for 400 m until you reach an intersection with another track a little further down.
No markings.
(10) Leave theGR®367and descend to the left, heading south, on a track. After 200 m, continue left heading east, then turn south-east and join the Col de l'Ire, in a vast flat area, in a right-hand bend.
(11) At this bend, keep to the far left, heading south-east again, then east, along a track to elevation 509. Continue along this same track, which descends to elevation 463. Continue for about 30 metres to a fork and look for another narrower track on the left.
(12) Descend to the left (north) along this track, noting an old radio antenna on the left after a few metres. Much further down, you will reach a flat, inhabited area. On the right is an open house: the Ostal d'en Bill.
This is a beautiful spot for a well-deserved lunch break. Please respect these maintained and inhabited areas. Thank you.
(13) Continue along the dirt track that descends slightly to the north-west. Well before the end of the track and the olive trees, descend to the right along another track that is in poor condition and overgrown with grass. Reach the bottom of the valley and the Grazels stream at around 310 m. Follow a black water pipe and cross the stream.
Do not follow the stream bed. Go back up the stream, crossing from one bank to the other six times, following a path that I cleared (December 2022). After the seventh time, go up to the right and join a dirt track higher up at an elevation of 398 metres.
User comment 29 July 2025:
there are red dots on the ground and on the trees, so be very careful to follow them strictly.
(14) Follow this track to the right uphill and return to a crossroads on the loop that you passed on the way there.
Fluorescent green markings on the ground (observed in December 2022). Old yellow markings.
(7) Continue straight ahead downhill and return to another junction on the loop that you passed on the way there.
Old yellow markings are very sparse
(6) This time, turn right down the recalibrated track (observed in December 2022). You will come to an intersection with another track going uphill to the right.
(15) Continue straight ahead, still descending, until you reach a large flat area and an intersection with a poorly marked track on the right.
(16) Continue straight ahead on the track closed to cars and motorcycles. You will quickly arrive at the Pas de la Goutine between two rocks. A steel railing protects you from the drop on the right. There is no danger. It is a beautiful spot.
Continue downhill towards the village on the narrow, stony track. Ignore all the adjacent tracks and join the concrete section. Enter the village via the tarmac road and return to the initial crossroads of the loop that you passed on the way out.
White and redGR®®367markings.
(1) Turn right towards the village square.
The Padern town hall, the bus shelter and another shelter with benches are on your right. Continue straight ahead, descending towards the Verdouble, and turn right towards the car park (S/E).
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