Le Plo de Canac

The village of Canac (Tarn) stretches out in a long, narrow strip on both sides of the D162.
Park in the small square in the centre of the village.

Yellow signposts for “Plo de Canac”

(S/E) From the centre of the village, head north until you reach the Ruisseau d’Espeyres and cross it.
Leave the village and pass the entry and exit signs. A few dozen metres past the exit sign, you’ll find a small path leading uphill to the left.

(1) Follow the path. This rocky, steeply sloping track passes through a chestnut grove, then a boxwood grove. Climb up to the ruins of Canac Castle.

(2) Take a short detour to explore the ruins, which offer a fine view of Canac. Retrace your steps and resume the steep climb. The slope levels off after the 871 mark and joins a flat track.

(3) Turn right onto this track, follow the hairpin bend, then walk through a fir forest until you reach a Y-junction leading to the Plo de Canac.

(4) Head off to the right for a round trip to the rocky outcrop overlooking the valley.

(5) The Plo de Canac (945 m) is marked by a large cairn at the summit. Hikers are treated to a lovely view over the Dourdou valley. Retrace your steps.

(4) Continue to the right along a wide track, ignoring the small side paths. Cross the Ruisseau du Fangas and reach the road at the 878-metre mark. The Merdelou wind turbines stand out on the right.

(6) Turn left, then head towards and pass Lardénas. Walk 200 metres past the last house. Take the path on the left.
At the Y-junction, head right. A few dozen metres further on, turn right into the edge of the woodland. Halfway up the slope, go through a fence. Find a path on the right, at the bottom of the slope.

(7) Turn right, then left onto a grassy clearing. Head due north along the path leading to Catonières. At the tarmac road, keep right. After the bend and the last house, take the path and cross the stream. Climb up to reach the D169.

(8) Turn left to enter the hamlet of Massié. Take the first road on the left. The road becomes a concrete track. The descent is just as challenging as the climb. Follow the yellow markings to reach Pante.

(9) Cross the hamlet, then the stream. Head downwards, keeping a south-easterly direction. At a three-way junction, keep left. After a left-hand bend, you’ll come to a Y-junction.

(10) Turn left, join a path below and follow it to the right. Continue the descent along the wide track which runs alongside the Ruisseau d’Espeyres, high above it. At the final three-way junction, take the left-hand path. The path winds its way down, always on a more or less steep descent, and reaches a T-junction near the Ruisseau de Poux.

(11) Turn left and cross the stream. The path curves to the left, passes beneath some ruins and descends to the D162, near a wrought-iron wayside cross.
Continue straight ahead along the road to reach the small clearing (S/E).

There are no water points or toilets.

Please note: the signposting in place suggests this route be walked in the opposite direction to that described here
I am suggesting this route because that is how I walked it at the time.
It is better to tackle the steep climb at the start of the route than to descend it at the end of the day when you are tired.
Although the 12 km distance would classify this route as of moderate difficulty, the actual effort required is greater due to the elevation gain and the steep sections.

The author has completed this walk on several occasions, most recently on 1 November 2017.

Lacaune and its famous local charcuterie.
Its Spinning Mill Museum
La Peyro Clabado, the largest menhir statue in Europe.