Pic des Coves and Garrigas from Serdinya

The outward and return journeys follow roughly the same route, except around Roc del Canals, which is approached from the east on the way out and from the west on the way back (easier).

Park on the right-hand side of the road just before entering Serdinya, in a car park for 5 or 6 cars.

(S/E) Turn back slightly along the road.

(1) Immediately turn left onto a service road for a recent house that climbs steeply up the mountainside. This road quickly turns into a simple mountain path, which is well maintained and marked (yellow). Further on, this path crosses the Canal de Jando. Continue climbing fairly steeply. On the right, there is a large ruin and the path widens towards Camp de la Coume (Camp de la Coma).

(2) Be careful not to take the wrong path; you must continue straight ahead (slightly to the left). The path becomes much narrower. It leads north to the small hamlet of Marignans (Marinyans), consisting of two houses, between which the path passes. Leave the house on the left.

(3) The path continues straight ahead, heading north for 20 metres, then straight ahead again, while a forest track branches off to the left.
The path continues to climb up the mountain, still marked in yellow. There is no risk of going wrong for several hundred metres.

(4) After walking for 45 minutes, you will arrive at the abandoned village of Les Horts, which is almost entirely in ruins. Pass behind the shepherd's hut, which is in good condition, and a few dozen metres further on you will come to a stone and masonry fountain and a very long trough, which is no longer in use.

From here, we leave the trails and signposts. On the way there, I decide to reach the heights of Garrigas by passing south of Roc del Canals. I cross the Ravin des Rocs Llisos after the fountain, go around the rocky promontory towards the Ravin des Horts and begin the partial ascent of the Roc des Canals. This allows me to pass this large peak and reach the Garrigas (El Garrolar) via the Pic des Coves.

The climb is tough. There is no path. You pass through holm oak undergrowth. Sometimes you have to make detours, pass under low branches, stumble over scree...

(5) You reach Pic des Coves, a beautiful promontory and a peaceful spot before the slightly less arduous next section! (6) Once you reach an altitude of 1,300 metres, the trees give way to short grass and a few scattered shrubs, oaks and pines.

(7) Staying on the ridge, you reach the summit of Garrigas, at 1,412 metres. The summit is marked by a small pine tree, probably battered by winter winds and snow. This summit is the secondary summit of Pla dles Horts, which rises to 1,440 metres at the top of the plateau.

(5) Descend the western slope of Pic des Coves, leaving Roc del Canals to the east, on the eastern flank of the Ravin d'Ayrolles (or Airoles).

(8) At the bottom of this ravine, where it meets the Ravin des Rocs Llisos, you will come to a decent path. You can follow the Ravin des Rocs Llisos as best you can on this path, which is unmarked and invisible on the ground, until you reach the ruined village of Les Horts and rejoin the original path you took on the way up.

(4) The end of the return journey is the same as the outward journey (S/E).

Please note
As is often the case, I am taking you along little-known, unmarked and sometimes even hostile trails for hikers: here, the Garrigas or El Garrolar.
All these ancient places were once frequented by the inhabitants of Les Horts when the village was still inhabited. The slopes of the Garrigas and the Pla dels Horts were home to herds of goats and sheep.
Today, most of the trails are in poor condition and many others have even disappeared.

This hike takes place in the heart of nature in a rather rugged environment: steep slopes, rocky outcrops, escarpments, thorny bushes, no signposts and, in some places, no visible trail... It is therefore reserved for experienced hikers with a good sense of direction. A GPS device may also be very useful.
The IGN paper map does not show any trails between (4) and (7).
I have classified this hike as "Difficult" due to the difficulties described above and particularly the numerous unmarked sections. This route is not suitable for families. It is not recommended for children under 15 and is completely impossible for people with reduced mobility.

There are several rivers along the route where you can cool off, but depending on the season, they may be completely dry.
The shepherd's hut in the village of Les Horts can be used as a shelter in case of bad weather.
For the second part of the circuit, below the Pic de Coves escarpment, there is a 20m² ibex shelter that can be used for shelter if necessary.
You will need good walking shoes and, depending on the weather, rainwear and/or warm clothing.

In the village of Les Horts, you can look back nostalgically at these abandoned buildings from centuries past. Only one shepherd's hut is well preserved. You can go inside, as the metal door has been knocked down.
The highlight of my hike was seeing dozens of chamois during the ascent of Roc del Canals. I saw two, then four, then dozens on the eastern slope of the Ravin d'Ayrolle, then four on the southern slope of Roc del Canals, just a few metres away from me.
The massif must be very densely populated because the terrain was heavily marked by their passage and I found numerous fresh droppings (if I can call them that...) throughout the hike.