Short circular loop from Bedous to Accous

Park near the Orcun mill. If you’re coming from Bedous: from the church, follow the small road (or street) that runs behind it; this will take you to the mill in a few minutes.

(S/E) Set off along the small, uphill street leading towards the hamlet of Orcun. At the top of this street, turn right and walk past the Orcun Chapel. As you pass, take a moment to admire the arched doorways of the old houses.

(1) After 150 m, take a small path on the left, leaving the tarmac road. Climb gently towards a wooded hill. The path appears to be used only to access the fields, but when you reach the top, look out for a forest track a few metres to your right, leading off towards the rear.

(2) Follow it, still through fairly open woodland. This path descends, veering slightly to the left, and takes you to the foot of the hill, eventually leading out onto the small road from Bedous to Accous (right next to an educational centre). Follow this road to the left (southwards, therefore) for about 250 m.

(3) At this point, a path opens up to the right, between two fields (heading east). Walk slightly uphill along this path, which then descends along the slope of a hill that is also wooded. You will eventually reach the Route d’Espagne (formerly the N134) and follow it to the left. Be careful! Walk on the left-hand side of the road.

(4) At a place called Suberlaché, cross the road carefully and take the small road branching off to the right. After 100 metres, you’ll reach a crossroads. Turn left onto a small road that runs alongside the railway line for 1.5 km.

(5) You will then reach what appears to be an old gatekeeper’s house; this is in fact the former Accous railway halt. Take the road on the left to rejoin the nearby Route d’Espagne. Cross carefully and continue along the small road opposite, towards the village of Accous. Walk alongside a river (the Berthe).
‘You can cross it via a small footbridge and thus make your way up the left bank.’
The path appears to end at a private property; however, a track runs close to the river and leads to the next bridge, which you cross.

As you enter Accous, walk past an old wash house and immediately take the street on the left, Rue de Baix (the lower street). Continue along this street until you reach the junction with the pizzeria and the children’s playground. Opposite, take the narrow lane heading up the hill: Le Pouey.

(6) Do not continue along the alleyway, which turns into an uphill road; instead, turn sharply left onto a path that runs behind the gardens and leads onto the Ruelle du Pouey. Follow this path until it joins a small road (the Chemin d’Accous à Jouers). Follow this to the hamlet of Jouers. When you arrive, turn left at the first junction, then right at the next one, and walk past the Chapel of Saint-Saturnin.

(7) At the next junction, turn right, then left immediately afterwards. Join a signposted path and head towards the hamlet of Orcun, generally heading north.
Once you reach the hamlet of Orcun, turn left then right to return to the starting point (S/E).

• The most suitable map for this walk is OpenStreetMap (not all paths are shown on the IGN map).
• No difficulty with the walk
• Season: the open section of the route can get quite hot in summer!
• Provisions: bread and brioches at the Orcun mill; honey and refreshments in Accous.
• Fountain at Accous.

• The hamlet of Orcun: traditional houses, mill, chapel, etc. (admire the house porches made of ‘cargneule’ or ‘espugne’, porous and very light limestone).
• Orcun Chapel, listed as a historic monument – details on the Monumentum website.
• The village of Accous (18th-century houses).
• Ludopia leisure centre.
• The hamlet of Jouers.
• The Saint-Saturnin Chapel in Jouers (12th century), listed as a historic monument – entry on the Monumentum website.
• The former Accous railway station.