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From the N116, bypassing Prades, turn right towards Catllar on the D619. In Catllar, at the roundabout, turn right towards Eus (D24). Park on the right-hand side of the road or a little further on near the church.
(S/E) From the car park along the road, continue towards Eus (D24), heading east. Cross the road bridge over the Castellane. After a right-hand bend, in the left-hand bend, look for a tarmac road that climbs steeply to the left.
(1) Go up this Chemin de Saint-Jacques de Calahons, which becomes a concrete street. Cross a small canal (often dry).
(2) Do not follow: Chemin St Jacques, which climbs to the right.
Continue straight ahead, leaving the canal on your left. The path quickly moves away from the canal and climbs northwards. After a few bends, you will reach a crossroads at an elevation of 525 metres. There are beautiful views of Canigou and the valley. There is a signpost on the left: Sentier des Cabanes (31-12-2023).
(3) Take the left-hand path (Sentier des Cabanes) for about 250 m until you reach a left turn in the forest (yellow markings). Pass a superb cabin and arrive at a fork in the track.
(4) Follow the track to the left for about 60 m and look for a path on the right, clearly marked by two right turns (yellow markings).
(5) Turn right, north-east, onto this path which descends slightly until you reach another fork at an altitude of 530 m (direction sign on the ground: 31-12-2023).
(6) Turn left, heading due north. Along this route, you will see many restored orris (sheepfolds). This will take you to a junction with a cross-country track.
Note: if you follow the yellow markings, you will arrive at the track: turn left onto it for 50 m to find the continuation of the marked path on the right).
(7) Cross this firebreak and follow the small path opposite. You will come to a group of ruined buildings, pass some old stone terraces and reach another track.
(8) Follow it to the left, climbing for about 350 m, and look for a path on the right, indicated by a right turn (yellow markings).
(9) Follow it to the right, heading north-northwest. View of the Saint-Jacques Chapel to the south.
Continue climbing until you reach a road (D619).
(10) Cross it and continue opposite, heading north-west, climbing up to a track. (No directional sign 31-12-2023).
(11) At Cortal d'en Raurel, take this track on the left, leaving a path climbing to the right a little further on. Continue for another hundred metres until you reach a cattle grid.
(12) Immediately turn left, south, onto the barely marked path that runs along the fence and leads to a gate. Turn left towards a tower (Dolmen and Tomb of Arca de Calahons III).
(13) Caution: the descent that follows is quite steep and slippery on the rocks. You will come back down to the D619.
(14) Cross it by first turn left then right. Signposted "Sentier des Cabanes". Join another track.
(15) Follow it to the left, south-east, and further down you will come to the crossroads you passed on the way up.
(7) Continue straight ahead on the track for 150 metres. Turn right, south-east, onto the access track to the restored Saint-Jacques de Calahons Chapel, which is guarded by a hermit. Inside, you can admire beautiful altarpieces.
(16) Leaving the chapel, follow the Sentier St Jacques trail to the left, heading south. This trail runs alongside the chapel and is marked with scallop shells.
Please note: the descent that follows is quite steep and slippery on the stones. This will take you to the crossroads you passed on the way there (elevation 525).
(3) Continue along the Sentier St Jacques trail to the left, heading south, which leads to the canal you passed at the start of the hike. The descent is also very stony.
(2) Continue opposite, following the same route as on the way there, and return to the Route d'Eus car park (S/E).
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