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Villardonnel is halfway between Carcassonne and Mazamet on the D118, slightly off the main road. The starting point is in the centre of the village in front of the post office.
(S/E) Take the street that runs alongside the war memorial and slightly below it. Continue along Rue des Pyrénées and Rue Bellevue. At the end of Rue Bellevue, turn right and then immediately left to go down Chemin des Cayres.
After about 200 metres, look for a path on the right, which will be the return route.
(1) Follow this road to the D118. Cross the road and take a path on the left that passes behind a transformer. Follow the road, cross the track that descends to L'Esquirol and continue to the road that leads to the cemetery, indicated by a small sign.
(2) Go around the cemetery on the right and cut diagonally across the field marked "Parking". Take the track that heads south-east and runs alongside the D118 at the top. Walk alongside an almond tree plantation.
(3) Immediately after the almond trees, turn right and follow this track all the way down. You will first be in the forest, then alongside vineyards on your right. After a long, stony descent, you will arrive at the Racaudy ford.
(4) Turn right and cross the ford, which is almost always dry except after heavy rain. Go up the road that leads to La Valouvière, passing in front of it in a large bend. Continue with a second bend, this time to the right, and you will arrive at a crossroads.
(5) Turn right and go straight ahead at the next junction. You are now on Chemin de la Plaine de la Bouiche. Leave the access road to Combe Grande on your left and continue.
(6) Further on, under the high-voltage power line, there is a drystone shelter to visit. Continue straight ahead, pass a permanent hunting hut and a funny sign showing a walker limited to 20 km/h. At the next crossroads, there is an electricity pole.
(7) Go down to the right along the very rough path. At the bottom of the path, take the tarmac road, pass in front of Capservy Abbey and go back up towards the D118 via a few large bends.
(8) As soon as the hedges disappear, turn right along the field. Then turn left at a 90° angle between two fields and cross the D118 to take the Route de Villardonnel (D811) opposite, which begins with two large hairpin bends. After the second bend, turn right onto a path that will take you to the road you took at the start.
(1) Go up to the left and continue to the village. At the next crossroads, keep left and then continue to the right. You are now at Place du Fort opposite the post office (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
Very difficult 
