Short circular loop south of Termes

From Narbonne, take the D6113 to Montredon-des-Corbières. At the roundabout, take the D613 to the left, towards Bizanet, Fontfroide Abbey and Saint-André-de-Roquelongue. Continue along this departmental road, pass through Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse and continue left as you leave the village, staying on the D613. Pass through the village of Talairan to reach Félines-Termenès. Pass through this village and continue on the D613 to the junction with the D40 towards Termes. The long descent leads to the entrance to the village where the designated car park is located, on the left, from where the walk begins.

(S/E) At the bottom of the car park, take the steps and the concrete path that follows the right bank of the Sou stream to avoid walking on the road. Enter the village and continue down the path alongside the stream. At the fork by the cemetery, keep left.

(1) Walk past the inn and turn left onto the bridge crossing the stream towards the tourist office. Head up the road towards the castle and, at the end of the tarmac, take the track branching off to the left. (If you wish to visit the castle, remember to buy tickets at the tourist office, as you may be fined if you visit without them).

(2) Continue along the track which climbs gently to the left and passes a yellow-marked path leading down to the left. Ignore this and continue along the track.

Yellow markings

Ignore the track branching off to the right and continue climbing gently along the main track, which leads to a paddock and a farm. The path begins here. The path climbs gradually and very steadily.

White-red markings

(3) At the next path junction, join the GR®36 coming from Mouthoumet (signpost). Continue left on the GR®36, which leads through the woodland to a plateau (elevation 577).

(4) On the plateau, leave the marked path temporarily to make a 200-metre round trip to the viewpoint , from where you can see the village of Mouthoumet and the Pech de Bugarach in the background.

(5) Return to the fork.

(4) Resume the original path on the right to cross the grassy plateau (which is full of flowers in season). Begin the descent on the other side of the massif, passing at the foot of limestone cliffs. There are now a few slightly steep sections.

(6) At this junction, turn left. Leave the path for a few metres on three occasions to admire the gorges and the landscape unfolding below. Continue the descent along the path.

(7) The little Nougairole stream marks the end of the difficult sections. Cross it at a track to follow; opposite, walk a few metres across a cultivated field and rejoin the path that runs along the left bank of the Sou stream. You’ll reach a causeway built across the stream to feed the irrigation canal. Follow it from a picnic area (tables and benches). The path leads back to the village, running alongside gardens, passing near the town hall and a large picnic area before crossing the Sou stream via a footbridge.

(1) You will reach the tarmac road and turn right to return to the car park (S/E).