The banks of the Orb river

Sometimes calm, sometimes tumultuous, discover the Orb on this walk. Many international canoe/kayak competitions take place in the Réals basin. A basin with a reputation for being highly technical.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.75 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 76 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 81 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 68 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 26 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: The starting point for this hike is the car park in front of the fire station. On the boulodrome, you can see the remains of the chimney of the old roof-tile factory.

(S/E) Opposite the fire station, take the chemin de la Tuilerie to the right.

(1) Take Rue de la Capelette and continue straight ahead along the old railway line to the Réals picnic area. Cross the picnic area to the canoe-kayak centre.

(2) Cross the D36 (take care) and continue along the old railway line. Pass under a tunnel and continue along the track towards the hamlet of Réals.

(3) At the Auberge de Réals, cross the Réals suspension bridge.

(4) At the end of the bridge, take the path on the left. Go past the tennis court to a small bridge.

(5) Once you've crossed the bridge, turn left immediately onto the path leading up into the pine forest (log staircase). Follow the banks of the Orb with magnificent views of the Réals rapids.

(6) At the ruins of an old mill, continue along the wide track.

(7) At the fork, bear left. At the intersection of the two paths, turn left. Pass a cross and the houses of Varaillac.

(8) At the houses, turn right and continue straight ahead. The road winds through vineyards, with the Orb on your left. Pass the Domaine de Viranel and continue straight on until you reach the D136 road.

(9) At the D136, turn left and take the first track on the left, which leads to two one hundred-year-old plane trees.

(10) At the plane trees, turn right and continue to the Cessenon suspension bridge.

(11) Turn left, cross the suspension bridge and turn left onto Boulevard de l'Orb to reach the starting point. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 54 m - Fire station car park
  2. 1 : km 0.35 - alt. 53 m - Rue de la Capelette
  3. 2 : km 3.29 - alt. 44 m - Canoe-kayak centre - Orb (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 4.28 - alt. 47 m - Auberge de Réals
  5. 4 : km 4.57 - alt. 43 m - Turn left at the end of the bridge
  6. 5 : km 5.02 - alt. 37 m - Turn left, path climbing into a pine forest
  7. 6 : km 6.13 - alt. 48 m - Old mill
  8. 7 : km 6.81 - alt. 60 m - Turn left
  9. 8 : km 7.19 - alt. 48 m - Hamlet of Varaillac
  10. 9 : km 10.43 - alt. 59 m - D136 road, turn left
  11. 10 : km 10.68 - alt. 53 m - Plane trees, turn right
  12. 11 : km 11.04 - alt. 54 m - Suspension bridge
  13. S/E : km 11.75 - alt. 54 m - Fire station car park

Practical information

Start: The starting point for this hike is the car park in front of the fire station. On the boulodrome, you can see the remains of the chimney of the old roof-tile factory.

Note: Hike to be avoided in very hot weather. Take care when crossing the D36 at the Réals canoe centre and on the suspension bridge. Vehicles arrive quite quickly.

Facilities: You can picnic at the bassin de Réals.
Please note that swimming is prohibited from the picnic area to the Réals suspension bridge.

In the nearby area

Domaine de Viranel.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.