Viaur Valley

Park your car at the La Roque picnic area.

(S/E) Follow the road towards the bridge, cross the Viaur and turn left. You will come across the^GRP® markings for the Gorges du Viaur.

(1) Follow the road for about 1 km.

(2) At a 90° bend, leave the road and continue to follow the^GRP® to the left. Take a hairpin bend along the path until you reach a Fork in the road.

(3) Carry on straight ahead, walking alongside the Viaur almost at river level. Take care as this section can be muddy depending on the season. After about 2 km, the^{GRP® trail} moves away from the river and climbs to the right, reaching the Clots campsite after a few hairpin bends. Take the road to the left for 200 m.

(4) Leave the road and turn left, following the signposts; pass the ruins of Auriol and continue for about 700 m.

(5) Keep to the right: the route of^{the GRP®} has been altered at this point. Continue to the hamlet of La Besse.

(6) Turn left and join the D905. Leave the^GRP® and take this road to the right for 200 m.

(7) Leave the road and take the wide path leading downhill to the left. Walk through the forest for 1.5 km until you reach a crossroads.

(8) Turn right onto a slightly uphill path. 100 m further on, at the fork in the road, turn right again to quickly reach the hamlet of Carrelié. When you reach the tarmac road, you’ll immediately see a Fork in the road marked with a cross on your right.

(9) Leave the road and take the path on the left. The route is relatively flat and you’ll soon catch sight of the village of Mirandol-Bourgnounac on the hilltop. Follow the path, which bends sharply to the left (90°), to the hamlet of La Bonneterie, where you’ll rejoin the road.

(10) Turn right and continue to the village.

(11) At the three-way junction, turn right and keep right at the next three junctions, following the D905.

(12) At the junction of four roads, carry on straight ahead and, 150 metres further on, leave the D905 and turn left. Just before the farm buildings, turn left again, heading towards the water tower, which is clearly visible.

(13) Once at the water tower, turn left towards the hamlet of Cazouls. Walk past the church to reach a small square. Look out for the path leading off to the right, just between two houses.

(14) Follow this path until you reach a road (Croix).

(15) Turn left. Pass through the two hamlets of La Galié and Le Puech. The road gives way to a path which winds down towards the Viaur after several bends.

(3) You’ll rejoin the^GRP® trail from the start. Turn left onto it and retrace your steps in the opposite direction, following the signposts to the Pont de La Roque. The picnic area where you started is very close by (S/E)

No special equipment required. Just a good pair of walking boots.
Take care when walking along the banks of the Viaur after (3). It can be very muddy, so you may need to take detours to the right or left of the path.
There are no water points on the route. However, you can quench your thirst at the café in Mirandol-Bourgnougnac.

Please note: The distance given for this walk does not include the section between point (3) and the starting point, which is the same as on the outward journey.