Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal walks

This hike forms a loop with a 360° view at the highest point, offering a magnificent panorama of the sea, the Carroux plateau and all the mountains to the north and east of this remarkable dome: Mont Marcou. The climb is quite demanding with steep slopes where you sometimes have to use your hands to climb rocky passages. The descent also has some fairly steep sections. This hike may therefore be difficult for some. However, the first 45 minutes allow you to warm up before tackling the tough climb to the antennas. A beautiful route.

This route passes through the ridges of the Serre de More, which overlooks the Mare and Casselouvre valleys. It crosses the Portail de Roquandouire, a surprising natural gateway.

On the second day, you can return to Colombières sur Orb from the summit of Espinouse via the Héric gorges.

This circuit is very elegant and very sporty, going around the valley formed by the Provères stream. For most of the route, you will enjoy distant views in almost every direction. At the end of the route, the gorges formed by the Bouissescure stream are very wild and have exuberant vegetation.

This is the first circuit in a "pentalogy" of routes along the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. The loop starts from the hamlet of La Fage and follows the upper part of the Colombières Gorges, before heading horizontally below the Caroux plateau, at the foot of the climbing cliffs. The climb back up to the plateau is near the orientation table, before returning via the south-eastern edge of the plateau.

Walk on the Caroux plateau, which offers magnificent views of the Orb valley, the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees.

A variation on the classic Caroux plateau hike, allowing you to discover the diversity of the Haut Languedoc's flora and fauna at an altitude of 1,000 metres: deciduous and coniferous forests, streams, peat bogs, and heathland covered in broom and heather. You can also take advantage of an orientation table and sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. During the second part of the hike, you will discover the mineral world of the north and west faces of the plateau, which are wilder and less frequented, near Roc Caroux and the mouflon populations.

This is the second day of the Haut Languedoc trip.Loop hike around the Montagne d'Aret.Depending on how much time you have, the hike can be shortened from (1) directly to (4). Updated by the author on 10 June 2025, as the OFB reports that after (6) it is a Caroux-Espinouse hunting and wildlife reserve. Unauthorised entry is a 4th class offence punishable by a €135 fine. The route and description have therefore been modified.

Access from the village of Douch to the plateau and Roc du Caroux, then a semi-climbing route and balconies around Roc de la Siejo, to go around the peaks and enjoy a 360° view of the Héric Gorges below. Return via the plateau to the village. ⚠️ Poor mobile phone reception in the rocks of the peaks. The circuit is challenging, so make sure you tell your loved ones about your route.

A bucolic circuit starting from Douch, passing through the Col de l'Airole and Col du Tirondel, offering beautiful views of the Gorges d'Héric and Gorges du Salis, and stunning panoramas of the hamlet and surrounding mountains (Roc Noir, Espinouse).

This very pleasant loop allows you to discover the work of our ancestors who, in order to communicate, cultivate and live, had created paths that hikers are now delighted to walk along. For our ancestors, sustainable development had not yet been imagined, they had simply created it. They were all a bit like Monsieur Jourdain.

In a varied landscape of rocks, broom, old farms and ruined hamlets. A discovery on the plateau: mouflon traps (not for hunting, but for monitoring populations).

This trail in the Forêt Domaniale des Écrivains Combattants allows you to discover megalithic tombs.

In a remote and uncrowded area, you will pass through valleys and ridges in the heart of the Monts-d'Orb national forest, renowned for its plantations of Laricio pines native to Corsica.

Starting from Bardou (a small but charming private hamlet), the route joins the Tour du Montahut, where the view is simply magnificent! It then passes by the little Chapelle Saint-Martin-du-Froid, which offers a sumptuous view, and ends with a descent with a view of the splendid Caroux massif and the Gorges d'Héric.

An exceptional circular walk above the torrent of Arles where you can discover a cave dwelling and a superb Cervennes collection in the hamlet of Fage.

A pleasant walk that climbs slightly at the start of this circuit through oak trees, leading to the small Notre-Dame de Capimont Sanctuary, a true haven of peace and coolness. Overlooking the Orb and Bitoulet valleys, you will be in the shade during hot weather and a panoramic view awaits you there.

A lovely walk through rolling countryside, among vineyards and cherry trees, accessible to most people.

Magnificent views that have to be earned. Trail through the Saint-Michel National Forest: oak forest with mixed species, along small paths that are quite steep in places.