On the Falgairas plateau

Hike in the hills between Neffies, Vailhan and Les Crozes (hamlet of Cabrières). Beautiful views at the start and end of the route over the plains of Languedoc Roussillon. We were lucky that day to have a wonderful view of the Mediterranean, Canigou and the Pyrenees.

Details

437530
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.27 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 249 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 349 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 159 m

Photos

Description of the walk

You can get there by car via the D15 north of Neffiès. At the junction of the D15 and the road to Vailhan, take the small road heading north which climbs up to the Falgairas plateau and park your car at the northern end of the last vineyard.

(S/E) Take the path westwards. At the first fork, take the right-hand path to reach a track suitable for vehicles: follow it to the right. You will come to a crossroads marked by a cross.

(1) Continue straight ahead in a west-southwest direction. When you reach a cistern (fire water tank), take the path to the west (magnificent view of the plain and, on a clear day, the Pyrenees and Canigou). At the third fork, turn right towards the north and head for the drystone shelter that can be seen at the top of the hill near a geodetic marker (elevation 343).

(2) Continue along the same path to reach the Col du Terme.

(3) Turn left towards the west. Continue until you reach a crossroads where there is a pigeon hunting hut. Go straight ahead towards the north. Ignore the path on the right that descends to Lauriol, a hamlet you will pass through later (this path is, however, a possible shortcut).
Continue along the path through the Bois des Arboussas under a canopy of arbutus trees, then come out on the heights of the hamlet of Les Crozes. Reach this hamlet by following the yellow PR® signs.

(4) Turn right to cross this hamlet, then take the D124E4 on the right towards Cabrières. Follow the departmental road downhill to the first big bend on the left.

(5) Take the forest track on the right, which heads west and then south. Follow this track along the Ruisseau des Crozes until you reach a fork, where you turn right towards Lauriol.

(6) Continue left to reach the ruins.

(7) Continue straight ahead and, when you reach a vineyard on your right, take a sharp right turn to go around it and continue until you reach a venerable holm oak tree that marks a crossroads.

(8) Turn left heading south to return to your vehicle (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 251 m - Parking
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 301 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.24 - alt. 330 m - Drystone shelter
  4. 3 : km 2.82 - alt. 310 m - On the left - Col du Terme (310m)
  5. 4 : km 6.71 - alt. 265 m - Les Crozes, on the right
  6. 5 : km 7.65 - alt. 255 m - Turn right onto the forest path
  7. 6 : km 9.75 - alt. 183 m - At the fork, turn left towards Lauriol
  8. 7 : km 10.59 - alt. 235 m - The Tibéret
  9. 8 : km 11.66 - alt. 255 m - Holm oak
  10. S/E : km 12.27 - alt. 251 m - Parking

Notes

The route is not particularly difficult, but remember to take water with you as you will only find drinking water in the hamlet of Les Crozes.

Walking through the Arboussas woods under a canopy of arbutus trees, we were able to enjoy ripe arbutus berries in December.

Worth a visit

Les Crozes: a must-see:

  • The church, which has been listed since 990. We celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1990.
  • The superbly restored bread oven.

The former Abbey of Tibéret: ruins and mills located below behind the Abbey. Three mills built one below the other.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Alaindecaux
Alaindecaux

Thank you very much.

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Thecla
Thecla

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike today under sunny skies. Magnificent landscapes, beautiful trails and, on Mother's Day, no other hikers in sight. However, be careful if you are not used to hiking regularly because, even though the elevation gain is not significant, you spend the whole day going up and down hills. Thank you to the author for sharing this beautiful walk!

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RPB
RPB

Hello
We parked at the side of the road and had enormous difficulty finding the starting point.
Beautiful walks under the arbutus trees. No major problems with the GPS.

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Falka34
Falka34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It wasn't easy to find the starting point for the hike. Even the GPS was unsure. Otherwise, the hike was easy. It's a shame we didn't have good weather, but at least it didn't rain. Fog accompanied us throughout the morning. We'll do it again when the weather is better

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RPB
RPB
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We wasted a bit of time finding the start of this walk, but otherwise it was a great trip
We parked the cars on the road, so the GPS got a bit confused and we had to feel our way

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georgevelyne@gmail ;com
georgevelyne@gmail ;com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We enjoyed this hike so much that we did it again, shortening the route.
About 500 metres after point 3, we turned right onto a yellow-marked trail that leads directly to point 6. This is a very pretty route that significantly reduces the hike from 14 km to 8.5 km.
Be careful to avoid this route after heavy rain, as it can be quite slippery.
Many thanks to the author.

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georgevelyne@gmail ;com
georgevelyne@gmail ;com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty and pleasant hike with beautiful views. We preferred to park our vehicle at the side of the road and walk the 800 metres to the starting point as the path is quite stony.
Highly recommended

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Pierre Lassalle
Pierre Lassalle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent views. Much of the walk is covered.

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joachim caral
joachim caral

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful and pleasant hike at this time of year. Lovely views and cool shade in the undergrowth.
Avoid following the signposts, but if you stick to the route, you will have no difficulty following your path

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Fernandez Benjamin
Fernandez Benjamin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant, interesting and easy route with little elevation gain. The mill is a beautiful sight.

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Legrandas
Legrandas

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike in lovely weather today. Quite easy. Beautiful photos taken in the stunning natural surroundings.
The paths and trails were very well maintained.

However, a lick of paint wouldn't go amiss. The paint is often very hard to read on trees and other surfaces.
A few additional signposts would be welcome at some of the numerous crossroads.

We used the Visorando app a few times.

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pascal.forbin
pascal.forbin

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful walk (outside of hot weather), but the directions are unclear.
In particular, after point 3, then at point 6 and finally after point 7: you need to turn right immediately (hairpin bend) and follow the vineyard on your left.

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alainn34
alainn34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that I am organising for the second time. However, we did it in reverse, which allowed us to turn right between points 4 and 3, where we came to a cairn and a red cross, onto a path that descended to the edge of Las des Olivettes. Once on the road, we turned left towards the dam. At one point on the left, there is a climb with a concrete start. Just opposite is a recess where you can park cars. At the end of this spot, a path descends to the lake where we had a picnic. We set off again via the concrete climb at the start and rejoined the circuit at point 3, continuing to the finish.

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Alaindecaux
Alaindecaux

Thank you very much for all the flowers. Our region is beautiful and there are countless hikes like this one.
Thanks again.
Alain

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jpdebartas34
jpdebartas34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was indeed a magnificent hike last Monday
It is varied, at the bottom of the valley, on a balcony, on a ridge,
Spring and the beautiful weather had brought nature to life
We were surprised to see a deer appear 5 metres in front of us
It was a memorable day, and when I tell you that I have been hiking all over France
for 35 years, you'll appreciate it even more
Well done to the first person who mapped out this loop

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