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In Cournols, park in the small car park by the cemetery. See the Practical Information section for some tips.
Unmarked
(S/E) Pass the cemetery entrance and take the small road on the left. The tarmac disappears further on, then reappears at an intersection with a path on the left, which you should ignore, then disappears for good.
(1) At an intersection, take the path on the right. You will come to a T-junction and continue to the left.
(2) After about 400 m, shortly after passing through a gate, follow the path down to the right. You will reach the village of Randol.
(3) At the entrance to the village, at the watering trough fed by a well, go up the path on the left just after the well. Before going up, we recommend taking a stroll through this pretty village of traditional houses restored by the abbey (lodges). At the top, you will come to a four-way crossroads.
Yellow markings
(4) Continue straight ahead. Ignore a path on the right further on. The path turns into a trail further on. Pass through two gates. At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead.
(5) At the next crossroads, turn right. Ignore a path on the right (not shown on the map), then another further on.
No markings
(6) At the next intersection, continue straight ahead, leaving the yellow markings on the left. Arrive at a street in Saint-Saturnin and continue straight ahead. Further on, cross a busier street and head straight ahead towards the church and castle. Arrive at Place d'Issac.
(7) Turn left onto Route d'Aydat and, when the street curves to the left, continue right onto Rue du Potoux. At the crossroads with a red bench, turn right onto Rue de la Font Grande, then take the first street on the left. You will arrive at Place du 8 Mai (town hall).
Continue in the same direction to take Rue des Farges, which climbs towards the church and castle. At the end of the street, ignore the direction of the castle on your right and pass under the archway opposite, slightly to the left, to follow Rue de la Boucherie. Climb the stairs on the right, then walk along the church wall to the left to find the entrance to the church, then a square with the Chapelle de la Madeleine. Continue around the church and continue along the street to arrive in front of the château at a square with a beautiful circular fountain.
(8) For a round trip, follow the path that branches off to the left, marked Sentier des Lavoirs. It passes below the castle, along the enormous basalt block supporting it. Pass two paths leading off to the left (the second one goes to the bridge over the Monne, about 60 metres away) and arrive at a beautiful wash house fed by a spring flowing from the basalt rock. A pleasant place to take a break.
(9) Retrace your steps back to the square with the fountain. Look out for yellow markings.
Yellow markings
(8) Turn left, walk past the castle on your left and continue straight on Rue de la Chantelle. Continue straight on past the small chapel and the war memorial. At the intersection with the bus stop, turn left onto Chemin du Bec. At the fork in the road, keep right on Chemin du Bec, then ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead as the tarmac disappears. You will come to a road.
(10) Cross carefully and follow the small road slightly to the left towards Abbaye de Randol. Ignore a path on the right, then take the first path on the left. Ignore a path on the left. Further on, join the road at a statue of a monk.
(11) Follow it to the left to soon reach the entrance to the abbey car park. Follow the signs carefully to cross the site. At the first intersection, ignore the path on the left and follow the road furthest to the right. At the next fork, follow the road furthest to the right again, then shortly afterwards take the path that branches off to the left, clearly marked by a small PR®® sign. Then keep to the right and leave the abbey site. Further on, ignore a path leading down to the left and you will soon come to a crossroads you passed on the way there.
No markings
(4) Leave the yellow markings and continue straight ahead. Pass through a gate at a small cross shortly afterwards. On the left, you will find the path you took on the way there to descend to the village of Randol.
(2) Continue straight ahead on the reverse route of the outward journey, then ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead. You will come to another path.
(12) Follow it to the right and continue further along the tarmac road. Ignore a road coming from the left with theGR®®30and arrive at the intersection with another small road on the left.
(13) For a round trip, follow this road to the site of the Allée Couverte de la Grotte, which is now just a dolmen since one of the two tables was destroyed by lightning.
(14) Retrace your steps back to the intersection.
(13) Turn left towards the village of Cournols. Ignore a path on the left, then turn right at the crossroads to quickly reach the cemetery (S/E).
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