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Head to Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle, cross the village from east to west via the D619. After the Motrio garage on the outskirts of the village, turn left at the small roundabout, towards Avenue des Cévennes – DFCI – AUE 1 and Cimetière Neuf. At thefirst exit, turn right onto the Prade track heading west, drive for approximately 750 m, ignoring all turn-offs, following the telephone line and the fields. At the first three-way junction, park the vehicle on the left in the lay-by, on the left-hand side of the track. Please note: keep the passage clear.
Important note
This route passes through numerous paths and tracks. Using a GPS or mobile app will make navigation easier.
(S/E) Take the Chemin de la Prade, heading west for 150 m. At the fork, turn left onto a winding uphill path, heading south-west, with several hairpin bends. Avoid all turn-offs.
(1) At the edge of the woodland, turn right and cross the Bois de Mascla via a shaded uphill path. Continue to the crossroads with paths leading in two directions.
(2) Turn left onto the stony path heading uphill, facing north-east. Cross, on the right-hand side, the summit area of Combe Cabrières at elevation 272. Descend to a three-way junction, keep right and join a track. Continue right along the DFCI track. Ignore a path branching off to the right. Reach a three-way junction.
(3) Leave the track, turn left, cross a slope, and follow an ascending path heading north-east. In the summit area, cross elevations 254 and 267, keeping to the right of Le Cougnet and La Fraysse. Cross the summit area: the Boscas, marked by a cross, at elevation 238 (Croix de la Gardie) on the left. Reach a junction.
(4) At the cairn, turn left, follow the path, and reach the 238-metre peak, Croix de la Gardie. Return in the opposite direction.
At the cairn, turn left. Continue down a steep, gullied slope heading south-east. Keep left, descending, on the stony path. Through a series of bends, continue heading east, then north-west and north, until you reach the road. Turn left, cross the Coulazou bridge, and continue along the road through a series of bends. Reach a junction.
(5) Turn left, walk past two plane trees on your left, along the edge of a kerb. Turn left into a driveway at the junction of the path, which is obscured by deciduous trees and a barrier (not shown on the IGN map). Cross a stream. Continue right up a steep slope, joining the Chemin de la Tour d'Arthus whilst passing gardens and houses on your right. Reach a fork.
(6) Turn left at a cairn, heading south-west (landmark: stone set 50 m to the left), continue straight up a barely visible path; follow the trail carefully; no particular difficulty. Cairns mark the path. Reach the summit; view of the ruins of the Tour d’Arthus.
Return the way you came. Resume the route, turning left and heading north-west. Walk past the ruins of the Tour d'Arthus on your left, which overlook the area 200 m above. Then turn left, fording the Ruisseau du Coulazou, cross a slope, and emerge onto a path along an old railway line, heading west. Return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
