Tours of Cabrenç from Serralongue

From Le Boulou, take the D115 towards Céret, Amélie-les-Bains and Arles-sur-Tech. Then, just before reaching the hamlet of Le Tech, at a small car-sharing area, turn sharply left onto the D44 towards Serralongue. Park in the second car park on the left, the town hall car park, on Rue Pierre Talrich.
A first car park is available on the right at the entrance to the village.

Sparse yellow markings and recent signposting: Tour de Cabrenç (observed on 14 May 2023).

(S/E) Walk back up from the car park, opposite the village bistro, and turn left onto Rue Abdon Poggi. Pass the town hall on your left and turn left onto Rue Saint-Antoine, heading due south-south-west, until the road curves sharply to the right. Leave the road and head up the street opposite, Rue de Cabrenç, keeping the same south-south-westerly direction. You will eventually reach the end of the tarmac road.

(1) Continue to the right between the last houses. Look out for the two recent wooden signposts indicating: Tour de Cabrenç. Further up, you’ll come to a track; turn left onto it, pass a first hairpin bend to the left, a few bends, then, after the second hairpin bend to the left, look out for a gate and a yellow ‘turn right’ sign on the right. This marked path cuts across the next bend. Further up, rejoin the track and, here too, follow the route. Directional signs.

(2) Pass the sign for Les Tours-car park on your left. Leave the track and head up into the forest along a path towards Mas-Fornells. Follow the signposts in place (as observed in 2023). But don’t panic – the path runs parallel to the track. Much further up, you’ll reach a junction next to the track in question.

(3) Without joining the track, head completely to the right, northwards, along a path. A little further on, turn south-west. Much higher up, near Puig Ballador, you’ll reach a cross-track and the GRP^®.
Signposts and various signage.

Yellow and red markings for^{the GRP®®} Volta del Canigó (Tour of Canigou) / Tour du Vallespir.

(4) Head due east along this path and, 300 m further on, reach a fork.

(5) Continue to the right, heading due south on the^GRP®®. You will soon reach a small path on the right with the tower clearly visible at the top right. Arrive at the Cabrenç Tower (signposted). A very beautiful spot, with tables and benches. A curiosity worth seeing. Unobstructed view behind the tower. Directional posts and various signposts.

(6) Pay attention to the markings. Head due south, still on the^GRP®®, and you’ll reach a fork.
Two options:
- easier and shorter: continue to the right along the^GRP®® to reach the foot of the castle.
- wooden sign: Keep. Climb up to it, following the marked path.

(7) A very beautiful spot. 360° view. Continue southwards at a leisurely pace, descending the rough but safe path.
Return to the^GRP®® and continue due south. You’ll reach a flat area. Vast landscapes. Ruins of the castle.
Option: look out for cables on the left that allow you to climb up to the castle ruins.
Turn left, following the route marked by the cables (a gentle and safe climb).
You’ll reach the grassy spur. A vast area. 360° view. Orientation table.

(8) Turn back carefully, return to the^GRP®® and continue a few metres to the left.
Make sure you spot the markings slightly higher up on the left.
Under no circumstances attempt to descend straight down the slope opposite. From the small, higher flat area, look for the next set of markings on the left, leading down into the forest, due south-east.
Caution: from this point there is a steep and treacherous descent, rough in places.
At the very bottom, you’ll reach a grassy area and the ruins of a farmhouse. At the corner of the remaining wall, look for the signposting and continue left along the^GRP®® to Pla del Castell. Directional signpost.

(9) Look out for the markings. Continue on the^GRP®®, heading south-east along a grassy track. After 200 m, you’ll reach a misleading fork. Take care. The signposts do not help you understand which way to go.

(10) Head towards: St-Laurent-de-Cerdans, due east.
To do this: leave the track and head left into the forest, still following the GRP^®. You will soon enter the striking red earths of La Mouga. Follow the signposts and, after a climb through this strange, red landscape, you will reach a level area.
There are two options here:
- continue along the^GRP®® to Pla de Muga.
- head slightly to the right for a very short detour to see the memorial stone, following the suggested route.
It’s a lovely spot for a well-deserved lunch break.

(11) No need to turn back. Carry on a little further, look out for cairns, head down to the left, and you’ll immediately rejoin the^GRP®®; follow it to the right. You’ll come to a fork. There’s a signpost.
Option (which I strongly recommend): head up to the right and, after a few metres, at the next fork, turn left to reach a magnificent viewpoint over the Muga Valley. Take care, however, around what remains of the wooden railing.

(12) Turn back and, once back on the^GRP®, continue to the right. Take care: turn immediately left, heading due north or north-east, climbing through the forest for a few dozen metres. Then continue along the right bank above the Còrrec del Pla de la Muga, on a slight descent, along a track ravaged by logging. You’ll reach a large open area at a major junction and a DFCI track.

Off the marked trail

(13) Leave the^GRP®. Turn left onto this track and follow it for 4 km to (17), ignoring the track descending to the right and the one ascending to the left. You will then reach a wide 90° bend to the left; look out for a poorly marked path opposite which heads due north along a ridge.

(14) There are a few paint marks at the start of the path. Climb the rocky outcrop and ascend the first rock on the left to take in the beautiful wooded landscape of the Vallespir.

(15) Turn back.

(14) Continue to the right along the track. Pass two tight bends on this track, which then heads generally west. Take care. After a series of minor bends, before the track turns left (south-west) and crosses the Ribera del Castell, look out for a cairn on the right and other cairns further down.

Cairns, old yellow markings, traces of blue and red paint

(16) At this point, if in doubt or if the path is impassable: a possible alternative is to follow the track. See practical information.

Head down to the right, due north, through the forest along a well-marked, winding path lined with stones on both sides. You must spot one of the markings indicated above.
** Cross two fords on the Ribera del Castell. Then cross two fords on the Còrrec (thalweg), followed by the Ribera del Castell twice more. Finally, rejoin a very pretty and good path through the forest. After a few sections under and over trees across the path, reach a track and a footbridge on the left.

(17) Cross it and continue along the track on the left bank of the Ribera del Castell (River of the Castle). At the end of the track, you’ll reach the start of a road at Can Pelat (Pelat’s place). Take care: do not follow the road.

(18) Head straight up to the left, into the forest, along the very pretty and steep path. You’ll reach a road/track. Continue along this, passing Cal Cassou (lodges, a very beautiful spot), and carry on for another fifty metres or so. Please note: do not follow the road.

(19) Turn left onto a small path running parallel to, and above, this road/track to reach the first junction of the circular route.

(1) Carry on to the right, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, and head back to the car park (S/E). Check if the bistro-bar-small grocery shop is open; it’s worth a visit at the end of the walk *.

• Various shorter route options.

1) From (5), after a return trip to the Signal Tower (6), head down to the left towards Can Toni via the (challenging) ridge path of Solana de les Torres and rejoin the (3).
2) From (9), head down to the left, along the left bank of the Ribera del Castell. Join a track and follow it to the left, staying on the left bank all the way to Can Toni, and rejoin the (3).
3) Do not climb up to either the keep (7) or the castle (8); stay on the GRP®^®.
4) Do not go to the various viewpoints (12) and (15).

** Note on 15 June 2023: high water levels at all fords. Take care.
(16) If you do not wish to risk the fords: continue along the track, passing the Can Toni car park. At (3) descend to Serralongue via the opposite route to the outward journey.

This is a mid-mountain area. You will need: rain and windproof clothing, water, snacks, GPX track, route description, map, camera, walking shoes, a walking stick.

Drinking water available at Serralongue. Water from streams must be filtered or disinfected (no livestock), no permanent human settlement.

Serralongue Town Hall

• Chez Fleur L'Hostal de Cabrenç

Other hikes from Serralongue from the town hall website.
Association for the Preservation of the Castle and Towers of Cabrenç