Change to the route at the start due to a private property issue. Description adapted up to WP1.
In Talairan, leave the D613 and follow the D323 towards Jonquières. Pass the "Le Razès" sign and then the Verdoul dairy farm. After about 200 metres, at the entrance to a wide right-hand bend, leave the road and take a track on the left. Drive carefully to the ford on the Nielle on the left and continue for about 100 metres to reach an area that can easily accommodate five to six vehicles.
No signposts
(S/E) Continue along the track on the right bank of the Nielle. Turn right with the track to move away from it, keep right at the first three-way junction and then turn left at the next intersection.
(1) Follow the wide stony path on the left, which first climbs a series of small hills and then levels out sharply before reaching the plateau at an intersection (elevation 283).
(2) Turn left to reach, a few dozen metres away, a lovely viewpoint over the valley covered with vineyards. Turn back.
(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring a wide, partially grassy path on the left (only visible on the map when zoomed in). Pass a ruined sheepfold on the left and then reach a large crossroads marked by a beautiful solitary pine tree framed by two cypress trees.
Yellow and green markings
(3) Turn left onto a wide path that begins a gentle descent and passes in front of an old sheepfold in good condition. Pass a beautiful restored dairy farm nestled on the left in the hollow of a valley with the Roca Dansaïra towering above a wooded gorge in the background.
Just after a small oratory on the left, ignore the access road to the dairy farm and then a wide path on the right. Continue to a wooden sign on the left, slightly higher up, bearing the inscription "Sentier Pédestre" (footpath).
YellowPR® markings
(4) Leave the track by climbing up the embankment, pass the sign and then turn left at another larger sign: "Parcours de découverte - Roca Dansaïra - Table d'Orientation" (Discovery trail - Roca Dansaïra - Orientation table). You are now on the botanical trail, where numerous Mediterranean species are listed and described on small concrete information panels on the ground.
This pretty trail follows the ridge of Pech Musié and offers beautiful views of the plain and the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse on the right. You will come to a junction with two signs: on the left, "Roca Daïnsara" and on the right, "Table d'Orientation".
(5) Turn left to reach Roca Dansaïra, perched above a wild gorge planted with pine trees.
(6) Enjoy the site and soak up the local legend which says that on 24 December each year, this split rock descends into the gorge to bathe and quench its thirst, then climbs back up to its place to dance, hence its name. The elders will tell you that it's not really a legend... Return to the previous crossroads.
(5) Continue straight ahead and you will soon reach the orientation table, which offers a magnificent 360° panorama. To the north, you can see Montagne d'Alaric and Pic de Nore. To the north-east, you can see Caroux. To the south, you can see the Pyrenees with Canigou and Pech de Bugarach, among others.
Follow the narrow path that begins a very steep descent where, fortunately, log steps have been installed, allowing you to negotiate the slope without difficulty. Reach an intersection and turn right at a 90° angle to walk almost along the contour line to the track you left earlier.
YellowPR® markings + yellow and green markings
(7) Follow it to the left, ignoring the wide grassy path, also on the left, which ends in a cul-de-sac. Continue to the tarmac road.
No markings
Turn right at the hairpin bend onto a wide stony path, despite the double yellow and yellow-green crosses. You will come to a new fork at the corner of a vineyard and turn right. Continue until you reach a wooden sign marking the start of a narrow path on the left.
YellowPR® markings
(8) Follow it to enter a beautiful pine forest, walk along some stone retaining walls and, after a short steep climb, join a wide track.
__No markings_
Leave thePR® trail on your right and turn left onto this track, the sides of which have been damaged by forestry work. Pass the ruins of an old sheepfold on your left and, after a steady climb, you will come to another fork.
(9) Turn right and, after about 500 metres, you will reach an intersection. Leave the wide path you have been following and take another narrower path that climbs up opposite and joins it higher up. Continue straight ahead, alternating between ascents and descents.
(10) Pass a wide path on the left and then another on the right, about a hundred metres further on.
Yellow and green markings
(11) At the next crossroads (wooden sign "Saint-Laurent"), go straight ahead and do the same at the fork about 400 metres further on.
No markings
(12) About thirty metres further on (hunting post), turn right, leaving the yellow and green markings.
As the path begins to descend, enjoy the magnificent view of the Pyrenees in the distance. After two hairpin bends, cross the Ruisseau des Bugades (dry) on a concrete footbridge and join the D323.
(13) Turn right onto this very quiet road. Follow it along the grassy verge until you reach the track on the right, which you take to get back to the car park.
(14) Follow this track to return to the starting point (S/E).