Torre de Batera from El Molinot

From Perpignan, head towards Le Boulou, Céret, Amélie-les-Bains and Arles-sur-Tech.
At the entrance to Arles-sur-Tech, you must go to the first roundabout (271 m), turn around and take the first road on the left towards ‘Les Molinots’.
No parking in the hamlet (new signs). Continue along the track and park after the first right-hand bend.

(S/E) From the car park, head north along the track, passing a concrete drinking water tank on your right. Continue uphill along the track, which curves to the right (408 m). You’ll reach the second bend on the left. Scattered yellow markings. New signs at the start of the path on the left.

(1) Leave the track. Turn left and head steeply uphill along a path through the forest. Yellow markings and an old signpost. You will reach a pile of scrap metal and old mining structures. Take care. Go round the ruins of a building with a metal frame still standing on your left.

(2) Jacouty station. Turn right and follow the^GR®10for 200 m, marked with red and white signs.
At the next fork, turn left, descending slightly along the^GR®10.
Do not take the track on the right which goes uphill. The path starts climbing again very quickly. You will reach an open area.

(3) Out-and-back junction. Junction of the circular hiking loop.
Leave the^GR®10. End of the red and white markings. Turn right towards the dolmen. There is a signpost. The path climbs steadily. Follow the yellow markings.

(4) Crossroads of track and path. Cross the track. Head straight ahead, following the marked path. Arrive at an open area.

(5) Dolmen, in perfect condition. End of the yellow markings. See practical information ¹.
Head slightly to the right towards the Yellow Cross. The path is very clearly marked on the ground. The numerous cairns and white boundary markers for state-owned land (shown as a thick green line on the IGN map) will help guide your way. You will emerge onto an abandoned pasture and a track.

(6) Fork in the track and path. Turn left onto the track. Pass under the high-voltage power line. Continue left, rounding a left-hand bend. The track ends. Turn right, heading uphill along a good path marked on the ground, almost perpendicular to the high-voltage power line.
You’ll come out onto an abandoned pasture and a grassy track that’s almost invisible on the right.

(7) Take care at this point. Continue on level ground across this abandoned area. The path resumes after 100m in the forest. The going is steep. Continue towards a rugged area littered with huge boulders. The path is a little steeper in this area.

(8) Rotllan cairn on the left. Caution: there is a fork in the path. Take the right-hand path, following the cairns. You will come across white boundary markers. You arrive in an open area cleared by hunters. There is a shooting post on the left, with a view of the wooded valley floor below. End of the dense forest.
Pay close attention to the description: a little further on, at the next fork, keep to the left of the wooded ridge, on a path clearly marked on the ground, which climbs steadily through low vegetation.
Do not turn right onto a path that climbs very steeply and drops down the other side.
The path continues to climb until it reaches an abandoned pasture.
On leaving the forest, veer slightly left across this grassy area. There is a cairn here. The path resumes after about 100 m and then turns due north up a very steep slope dotted with cairns that clearly indicate the direction to follow. There are steps of sorts in the grass. The entire route is in open terrain.
Head for a flat area due north.

(9) Coll Bufador. Crossroads of tracks and paths. Two cairns present. Take the second, wide, carriageway track on the left, which climbs gently, heading north-west.
Follow the^GRP® Ronde du Canigò, marked in red and yellow.
Pass the junction on the right for the same^GRP® trail heading towards Amélie-les-Bains.
Continue towards the tower, which stands out on a pass amidst this beautiful landscape.

(10) Torre de Batera. Make a round trip to the ruined tower. This spot is ideal for a break.
The 360° view shows that this mountain was heavily exploited by humans. Mining and pastoralism coexisted here.
Head left, due west along the wide track suitable for vehicles. Make your way towards a flat area. The track then turns due south to reach the pass. End of the red and yellow markings.

(11) Coll de la Descarga. Head left, due east, descending into the valley floor and now following the^GR®10,^GRP® Tour du Vallespir, marked in red and white.
The repaired D43 climbs to the right to the Refuge de Batère, and to the left descends towards Corsavy.
Descend along the right bank of the Còrrec del Small Pass. After 600m, the path turns due south.

(12) Crossroads: track and path. Cut across the track and head straight on, still following the^GR®10. Further on, follow a track, leaving the junction on your right. Continue the descent along the track towards an open, grassy area.
This is a “inhabited” area. Whatever you may think of this place, please respect the surroundings.

(13) Fork in the track. Turn left, staying on the track, and follow the^GR®10south-eastwards. The track then turns due north at Pla del Castellar. It then turns south-east.
Junction: track, path. Turn right, now onto a path, still on the^GR®10
Please note: although the signposting has been updated, it lacks clarity.

(14) Les Vigourats refuge. This refuge is a refuge in name only; it is merely a basic shelter. Continue down the^GR®10. The path is in very poor condition (792 m). Cut across a track. There is a signpost for a refuge called “els Vigorats de Baix”. The lodge is run by the “Altitude 750” association and is a 12-minute walk off^{the GR®10}(at 800 m).
Cross the Còrrec de les Llimpes. This is a grazing area still in use but abandoned by humans.

(15) Turn right, continuing along the track and following the^GR®10. Pass under the high-voltage power line. Continue down the track for 300 m.
Pass a flat track on your left which leads to the abandoned site of “Les Abadies”.

(16) Fork in the path. Turn right onto a path, following the^GR®10.
Please note: the signposting is faulty at this point.

(3) Outward/return junction. Junction of the circular hiking loop. Turn right onto the path in the opposite direction.

(2) Please note: leave the^GR®10and turn left onto the path you took on the way out; the markings are now yellow.

(1) Continue towards the car park (S/E).

¹ Please note: from (5) to (9), you must follow a path clearly marked on the ground that runs along the boundary of the Haut and Bas Vallespir state-owned forests. White-painted concrete markers, clearly visible and in very good condition, line this route. These markers and numerous cairns will lead you to Coll Bufador.
Hunting markings consisting of red paint dots can also help you find your way. But be careful at the junctions leading to the shooting posts.

(11) Drinking water is available from Coll de la Descarga, heading uphill to the right along the D43 to the Refuge de Batère.

(14) Shelter: Refuge des Vigourats.

This is a mid-mountain area. So, as you would expect, you will need: rain gear, water, a snack, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking boots, a walking stick.

(5) Dolmen, in perfect condition.
Batère Refuge
Mas Els Vigorats de Baix
Corsavy - Cortsaví
The Batère mines
The Batère Tower