From the D618 connecting Le Boulou to Argelès-sur-Mer, exit towards Montesquieu-des-Albères. Pass the new town hall and park in the school car park on the right. Two other car parks are available in this area.
(S/E) From the school car park, walk down Grand Rue for 50 metres and turn left into Rue de la Fontaine. Follow the sign.
Pass the fountain (drinking water) and the road bridge over the Còrrec de Sant Cristau. Turn left onto Rue des Albères and continue along this road until you reach the first crossroads of roads and tracks. Turn left onto Rue du Mas d'en Bay. Pay attention before you reach the last houses.
(1) Climb sharply to the right into the pine forest. There is a signpost for "Cami del Pertus".
Reach the end of the track at a drinking water reservoir. Go around it on the left and climb about thirty metres up a small path overlooking it.
Look for a cairn on the right before this path widens and climbs more steeply. This entire hillside has been completely cleared (April 2021). The path does not appear on any map. I have added a cairn. So head right and climb slightly up this grassy path through the undergrowth. This is followed by the Fount d'en Narcis and a series of steps made of wooden logs.
Come out onto the track and follow it to the right: directional signpost. You will reach a large crossroads of tracks and the fenced picnic area with its beautiful Fount dels Treze Vents (elevation 329). First possible break.
(2) Turn back a few metres and climb to the right between the two tracks via a very steep path next to an EDF pole. The start of the sustained climb is very steep, heading generally south-east-south.
At around 450 m, the gradient increases to around 35%. After the shooting range, at around 590 m, the path finally flattens out a little. Then reach a sharp bend in the track and leave a path that climbs to the left.
(3) Turn left onto this track and continue climbing. You will reach the Coll and the Fount de l'Espinassa (Espinàs). This is a very beautiful spot. A well-deserved break is in order.
(4) From this pass, turn back a few metres and then climb to the right along the track until you reach the next sharp right-hand bend.
(5) On the right, you will find a path that climbs steeply and serves as a shortcut before rejoining the track you just left.
Head left, south-east, along this track and enjoy the beautiful scenery. At around 795 m, ignore a path that descends to the left. Continue along the track to reach the large Coll de Llinàs pass at an altitude of 808 m. Pass two vaulted cavities on the left, climb three metres to the right and reach a flat grassy area: there is a concrete marker and a signpost.
Recentyellow markings. Observed in April 2021.
(6) Turn left onto the ridge towards Sant Cristau. Head south-east along a good path marked in yellow.
Reach the sharp bend in a small grassy track. Turn right onto this track. Pass two more vaulted cavities on the right and climb up opposite them. The rest of the marked path is clearly marked on the ground. Do not try to cut across. The path eventually curves to the right and joins a stony track. Follow it to the right. The yellow markings lead to Puig de Sant Cristau at an altitude of 1015 metres.
(7) A beautiful spot that is often windy and sometimes busy. A sheepfold-chapel provides shelter if needed.
Besure to close the door properly, otherwise the sheep will take over and wreck the place. The area is large enough to stop for a meal. 360° viewpoint. Continue down the other side. Follow the yellow markings carefully to reach Fount del Sant Cristau at an altitude of 905 metres.
(8) Turn left and follow the flat grassy track for 300 m until you reach a left-hand bend: the signpost has been destroyed, but I have marked the location (895 m). Descend to the right into the beech forest towards Montesquieu: old yellow markings. The descent is steep. In places, the view is magnificent. Feel free to take breaks when crossing tracks.
Reach a cistern 339 and a track. Continue straight ahead along the path: signpost (730 m).
You will arrive at a sharp bend in the same track. Continue straight ahead along the path: signpost (620 m). At an elevation of 530 m, pass an old mast with a Catalan flag made of steel lying on the ground and a kind of cairn, then further down, a painted steel cross. Beautiful view of the plain.
Pay attention at the next crossroads: ignore the firstpath on the left, which has recently been reopened, and the one that goes downhill, and look for the path on the right, which you must not miss. This will take you to a sharp bend in a track at around 435 m.
No markings
(9) Continue left on the track, descending for 1.3 km to reach the junction of a track on the right at around 360 m.
(10) Turn completely right onto this small grassy track for 400 m to find a marked path.
Old yellow markings are scattered along the way.
(11) At a destroyed signpost, around 345 m, leave the path that climbs to the right and continue on this track. Continue downhill until you reach a clearing at an elevation of 308 m.
Please note: I have marked the signpost and an old sign on the ground (14 April 2021).
Leave the track by turning left onto the beautiful, clearly visible path that descends and crosses the open area of the Mary Fort Gardens. This must have been a pleasant, humid place with terraces and beautiful stone staircases. Further on, you will reach a fork: signpost (195 m).
(12) Leave the equipped path that climbs to the left and head right towards the village. At the next fork, keep left above the road. Reach Rue Saint-Christophe and follow it to the left *.
No markings
After 40 m, turn right onto a path that is very well marked on the ground. When you reach the first houses, first turn right then left and go down Grand Rue towards the car park (S/E).