Puig de Coma Negra from Lamanère

On leaving the village, the road makes a wide right turn to cross the Còrrec de l'Assalador via the road bridge. Park immediately on the right in the large car park.

(S/E) With your back to the còrrec and the village, head right west on the small road. Pass the^first road on the right. Pass a track on the left. Cross the Ribera de la Menera via the road bridge. You can see the wide, beautiful riverbed. Pass the track on the right and continue a few metres further on this road.

(1) Look for the red and white markings on the right. Climb up the path parallel to the road (altitude 819).

(2) Cross the small road and climb up opposite, still following the red and white markings of^{the GR®} T83. The path levels out as you approach the pass in an open, pastured area (altitude 1131). End of markings.

(3) At Coll de Malrens, a fence and signposts physically mark the French-Spanish border. Do not cross this obstacle and let the^GR® T continue on to Spain.
Please note that there are three visible paths in this border area.
Do not climb along the fence and do not stay level in the forest.
Note: July 2024 forestry work with damaged path.

Head due east. Two cairns indicate where to turn. From here, follow a very good path that will take you to the border ridge (altitude 1185 IGN Spain).

(4) At Collada Fonda, the area is clear. Head right for a few metres and then immediately head due east. The good path then turns north-east. Pay attention at around 1240 m.

(5) Turn right, heading south-east, climbing steeply, crossing a barrier and passing into Spain for about a hundred metres.

(6) The path, which is clearly marked on the ground, turns left again, heading due north-east, to rejoin the border fence on your right. Pass altitudes 1322 and 1325 (IGN Spain). From this point, the excellent path follows the border ridge perfectly.
At Els Forquets (at an altitude of 1375), the path turns south-east, remaining almost level.

Then climb up to Cim de Bordellat (Bordellat peak) at an altitude of 1394. The path then descends to a grazing area (altitude 1327 IGN Spain).

(7) At Collada Fonda, continue to follow the border ridge, climbing steeply over small peaks.
The forest is on the left on the French side and the pastures are on the right on the Spanish side.
Note: it is possible to pass slightly lower on the Spanish side to avoid this area.
You will reach the summit where a concrete block and a geodetic marker indicate the highest altitude (altitude 1557 IGN Spain).
The view is magnificent and the location is ideal for a well-deserved break.

(8) At Coma Negra (black combe), it is now time to think about the return journey. Continue along the ridge due east. The well-marked path descends steeply to the edge of the forest. Then the magnificent landscape opens up, offering views of both the French and Spanish sides.

(9) Pla de la Serra (mountain plateau) is located at this point. (The IGN map is not accurate). The path heads south-east for the last time, away from the forest, into Spain.

At around 1,375 metres, you will find cairns on the left-hand side. Descend on the French side, keeping completely to the left.
Caution: the descent into the forest on the French side is difficult. It is essential to find a good path with cairns or very sparse yellow markings.
First, descend due north-west for about 500 m.
Note: July 2024 presence of two sheep guard dogs.

(10) Then the path, which is still well marked on the ground, turns completely to the right-north-east (at around 1250 m) and joins a stony track which you must follow until you reach another wider, vehicle-accessible track (at an altitude of 1140).

(11) Turn right onto this track and quickly turn left, descending along the track. Leave a faint path on your right that leads to Coll de les Falguères (elevation 1126) on the border.
Much further on (at around 1100 m), leave the track at a right-hand bend and continue straight ahead.
A well-marked path descends parallel to the track and avoids all the bends. You will arrive in a clear area on a track (altitude 976).

(12) Turn left and then immediately right at the bend, continuing along the track to the north-east. Pass Pla de la Llop (wolf's flat) with a house on your right. About 150 m further on, leave the track at a left-hand bend near some farm buildings on your right. Continue downhill opposite, passing altitude 943. You will come to a^{PR® trail}, which you should cross, heading towards the clearly visible chapel.

(13) The Capella Santa Cristina (St. Christine's Chapel), in perfect condition, is unfortunately closed. Turn left onto the^PR®, heading due west, following the very sparse yellow markings. The path then descends in a north-westerly direction. You will come out onto the road. The car park is on the right (S/E).

From Perpignan, head towards Le Boulou on the D900. Then take the D115 towards Céret, Amélie-les-Bains and Arles-sur-Tech. Continue and, before reaching Le Tech, turn left onto the D44. Please note that the road is very winding. Pass Serralongue and continue on the D44 to the end of the road at Lamanère.

This is a mid-mountain area. So, as you would expect, you will need: windproof clothing, water, snacks, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking shoes and a walking stick.

There are no water sources along the hike. A drinking water tap is available in the village.

(¹)^GR® T or Grande Randonnée Transfrontalière (Cross-Border Long-Distance Trail), marked in red and white.

From Lamanère (1) to Coll de Malrens (3): no difficulty. Then on to La Chapelle (13), the GPX track is necessary, bearing in mind that the route is clearly marked on the OSM map. The end of the hike to (S/E) is on a marked^{PR® trail}.
Please note two things: Observed in July 2024.
-^1st: path damaged after the Col de Malrens (3).
-^2nd: presence of two herd defence dogs after Puig de Coma Negra from (9)
=> It seems more sensible to make a return trip to Puig de Coma Negra from Lamanère.

Located in the Eastern Pyrenees, in Haut Vallespir, the village of La Menara (Lamanère, in French) is the southernmost village in mainland France and Northern Catalonia! At an altitude of some 800 m, in the Piedmont of Canigó (extract from the Lamanère Town Hall website).