The great outdoors

Accompanied by the sound of water flowing from the Novis fountain, this gentle climb to La Devèze offers a 360° panorama of the Grands Causses, the blue line of the Cévennes and the Languedoc mountains

The drinking troughs of Novis, a village of character, and the vaulted fountain of Argeliès, where water flows as it did in the days of the washerwomen, are the two focal points of this family outing on the Causse de Sauveterre. On the crest of the Devèze de Novis, an orientation table guides you through the breathtaking parade of landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see

Details

292977
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 174 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 176 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 951 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 821 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Hamlet of Novis, at the top of the village - At the entrance to Novis, in the bend of the D 94, take the small road and descend into the village, keeping to the right.

(1) At the iron cross, take the track on the left, then at the drinking troughs, continue straight ahead along the communal road towards Samonta for 800 m. Pass the stone cross and continue for 100 m.

(2) Turn right to climb up to the Devèze (pastureland) and follow the ridge. Reach the pylon (panoramic view: to the south and south-east, the rugged landscape of the Tarn gorges; to the east, the foothills of Lévezou and Pic du Pal, at 1,155 m; to the north-west, Sévérac Castle rising from the valley; to the north, the Aubrac mountains). Descend towards the west, then take the dirt track on the left.

(3) At the first intersection, turn right and continue for 600 m.

(4) Take the first hairpin bend to the right. It descends along the hillside then climbs back up, still along the hillside, to Argeliès. At the entrance to the village, climb to the right for 100 m to reach a crossroads.

You can turn left to visit the Argeliès fountain (15 mins round trip; signposted "route des fontaines voûtées").

(5) Take the dirt track on the right, then take the D 94 on the right to reach Novis. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 911 m
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 890 m
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 896 m
  4. 3 : km 2.94 - alt. 908 m
  5. 4 : km 3.57 - alt. 896 m
  6. 5 : km 5.21 - alt. 869 m
  7. S/E : km 7.24 - alt. 911 m

Notes

Access:
Novis, 30km north of Millau via the A75, take exit 44 then the D94

Public transport:
- Search for or offer a carpool on: www.covoiturage-aveyron.fr
 

Parking:
At the top of the village

Worth a visit

Novis information board
In Novis, come and contemplate... the great outdoors! First, discover the village, perched on the limestone plateau with its remarkable architecture and 360° panorama. An interpretation table will help you read and understand the landscapes around you: the Tarn gorges, Pic du Pal, Sévérac Castle, the Aubrac mountains...

The source of the Aveyron
The River Aveyron: it rises in the heights of the Causse de Sévérac-le-Château. It then flows straight south-west to its confluence with the Tarn, 290 kilometres downstream, near Montauban. 
Follow its valley, passing through Laissac, Rodez, Belcastel and Villefranche-de-Rouergue, and you will enter the history of a river characteristic of the southern Massif Central, which flows high in winter and dries up in summer. 
Upstream, the Aveyron flows through very agricultural areas before becoming wilder once past Rodez. 
Further on, once in the Tarn-et-Garonne, the Aveyron was made navigable as far as Montricoux in 1747 for the exploitation of the Grésigne forest, which thus found its outlet to the Garonne. 
However, the completely crazy project to make the Aveyron navigable as far as Villefranche-de-Rouergue, or even Rodez, never saw the light of day. 
In his illustrated book on the valley (published by Loubatières), Michel Lombard explains how the Aveyron bears witness to the history of Rouergue through its various stages: traces of prehistory in Gaillac and Roquemissou (near Gages), successive occupations (Celtic, Roman, Crusades, the Hundred Years' War, etc.), and agricultural and industrial development (in the Bertholène area and the Villefranche-de-Rouergue fault). 

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
YannB68
YannB68

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Long section on cycle path at the end of the ride to the Espiguette car park... rather disappointing.
The wilder section along the coast was rather beautiful.
Visit to the lighthouse for €9.50... not worth it.
Best to do this hike early in the summer.

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hilaire.vachon
hilaire.vachon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful views. For those with allergies, best avoided during hay season.

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Freddie22!
Freddie22!

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

An excellent walk starting from Car Park in Grassington. Very varied and lovely views. Burnsell had nice tea shop (as well as the Red Lion Inn) and pleasant walk back by the river.

The outward part via Thorpe did have about 25 styles which got to be a bit tedious with the dog.

MSTAPLETON164
MSTAPLETON164

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Really enjoyed this walk along the river, we made a little detour to visit the Church at Linton

Part combined with the Grassington and Hebden walk

sandrawalch
sandrawalch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a lovely walk, my favourite this year, aongside the River Wharfe and across the lower Dales.
We extended it so that we could walk directly from Masons campsite where we were staying. The walk is mainly flat and pleasant underfoot as it is mainly a grassy path next to the river or over fields, and there are plenty of lovely viewpoints. There's a nice suspension bridge to cross too!

Great places to stop in Burnsall for a reviving drink. Highly recommended!

Erica
Erica

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice walk from the beautiful village of Linton through fields to Thorpe and on through more fields with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside to Burnsall. Burnsall is a busy little place with a very old bridge spanning the river. There is a lovely pub with lots of outdoor seating and two cafes.
The walk continues along the river on the Dales Way all the way to Linton church which can be accessed via stepping stones if the river isn't too high, or continue round through fields to the falls. Linton is not much further after that and a the pub overlooking the picturesque village green is open for refreshments.

Leedsblade
Leedsblade

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent walk in beautiful scenery

Whatham
Whatham
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great morning walk with friends. It seems a popular walk so parking could be difficult. There are two lots of stepping stones which I could not do but the first had a bridge the second, we kept walking to the falls.
I would definitely recommend this as they were brilliant.*

Ajs2018
Ajs2018

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Fabulous walk, tea and curd cake in Burnsall tea room half way and a pint and sandwich at the Fountaine Inn in Linton at the end.

Thoroughly recommend.

Sarita J
Sarita J

Thank you for your feedback. Please feel free to post photos of the walk if you have any!

Bendover310
Bendover310

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This really is a beautiful walk through the countryside. We stopped in burnsall for a pint next to the bridge before carrying on along the river. Easy to follow directions on here together with signs along the route make this a gem.

Margaret21
Margaret21

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a walk full of charm and interest. It would make an ideal day out for a family, or for a group including less experienced walkers, as there's little climbing, few stiles, and the chance to have a coffee or lunch stop at Burnsall.

Sheila253
Sheila253

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely, varied walk through fields, picturesque villages and along the riverside. There’s a bit of road walking, but these are very quiet and we didn’t see any cars. Great pub lunch in Burnsall.

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