Cayla Trail

Set against a backdrop of rolling hills, stretching from the Martrin ridges to the Gos Valley, this walk offers a wealth of local heritage, dominated by the wine-coloured Romanesque church of Cayla

The superb village of Martrin welcomes you for a long hike to the hamlet of Le Cayla, perched on a rock overlooking the Gos Valley. From the Hospital Tower in Martrin to the paved slanting streets of Le Cayla, via the magnificent site of Saint-Exupère and the dry-stone walls, a hidden heritage unfolds before your eyes

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.55 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,375 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,381 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,008 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 955 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Car park in the village of Martrin

(1) From the square, go round the back of the cross and take the road between the two houses. Above the sports ground, head towards the housing estate. At the top of the village, turn left. Then follow the ridge path on the left until you reach the road linking Coupiac to Martrin.

(2) At the junction by the Amandier cross, carry on straight ahead along the tarmac road, then take a dirt track to the right. At the bottom of the track, on the left, take the path lined with low walls towards Monteillet.

(3) Walk through the hamlet and take the path lined with boxwood trees at the cross. At Saint-Exupère Church, join the road and turn left towards the bridge.

(4) When the water level is low, do not cross the bridge; instead, follow the road for 350 metres and turn right towards Pouillé. Walk through the hamlet (old mill). Follow the track for over 1 km. Walk alongside a field running parallel to the stream. Ford the stream and join the D106.

(5) Alternative route: during periods of high water or if you’d rather not get your feet wet, cross the bridge and follow the road to the left.

(6) Head towards Le Cayla via the road. Take the narrow streets towards the church. Turn left and take the tarmac track on the right. Take the dirt track on the left, then cross the stream. Further on, cross another stream just before a path on the right; follow this path to the fields.

(7) Turn left, then left again, and walk past the Livignac farm. Shortly afterwards, follow the path on the left which runs alongside the sheepfold. As you emerge from the forest, continue along a field and join a dirt track on the left leading to the tarmac road.

(8) At the large chestnut tree, turn right onto the road to Martrin, then turn off towards La Parenque. Walk behind the buildings and head back up towards Martrin along a sunken path. Cross the village road to reach the village square (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,795 ft
  2. 1 : mi 0.05 - alt. 1,814 ft
  3. 2 : mi 0.83 - alt. 1,929 ft
  4. 3 : mi 2.46 - alt. 1,476 ft
  5. 4 : mi 3.15 - alt. 968 ft
  6. 5 : mi 3.22 - alt. 958 ft
  7. 6 : mi 4.18 - alt. 1,033 ft
  8. 7 : mi 6.64 - alt. 1,719 ft
  9. 8 : mi 7.74 - alt. 1,716 ft
  10. S/E : mi 8.55 - alt. 1,795 ft

Notes

How to get there:
From Millau: D992 and D999; from Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier, via the A75, exit 46 then the D999; from Toulouse/Albi via the D999. Follow the D999 towards Combret. Turn right onto the D90 towards Coupiac / Martrin / St-Juéry

Public transport:
Travelling by bus or train: https://lio.laregion.fr/
Carpooling: BlaBlaCar, Rézo Pouce, Mobicoop, Idvroom, LaRoueVerte, Roulez malin

Car park:
Car park in the village of Martrin

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.