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Discovering and going for a walk

the Ladders path

Sentier des Échelles (the Ladders path) 

 

In the past, Combalou plateau was a place where the herd of ewes from Mas de Roquefort farm pastured. They spent there a large part of the year and reached the plateau by a 5km -3.1mi- long damaged path. Everyday, a worker from the farm brought to the shepherd his meal. He took a shortcut through the rock slide, along the side of the cliff, where two ladders stood. That is why it is called the Ladders Path.

 

 

1 – In front of the car park Tourism Information Office, walk up on a path along the cemetery. When you reach a tarmac road, turn on the right then on the left following the switchback road (pass the “Le Vieux Berger” business on the right). After 300m -984ft-, turn on the left to reach a house and a waterspout of drinking water.

2 – Take the little path going up on the right (on the left if you come from Tournemire) to the Combalou plateau. On the right, you can see the rock slide. Turn on the left and follow the path going up to the spring of the Aucelos (name of birds). Go on straight ahead to the Combalou plateau, and climb up the two ladders. When you reach the plateau, go between the sheepfold and the edge of the plateau. Go along the cliff and take the path in the pine forest. Then, go on following the marking. Turn on the left and start to go down.

3 – At the col des Aiguières (pass of the Aiguières), follow the direction to Roquefort going on straight ahead to the « Sotch de Balhols » (big fault), and go down to chapelle Saint-Pierre. You can go up the stairs on the left to the 
viewpoint indicator. At the pass, you can join Tournemire crossing the road: see option n°1 of the Trompette path. Go down the street of Créance to the Baragnaudes plaza. Go on in the street of the Baragnaudes which go up in front, and follow the direction of the Quilles (vertical monolith) of Baragnaudes. Pass in front of the Quilles, go along the cliff, and go down the stairs.

4 - Down the stairs, turn on the right, and immediately on the left to pass under a porch. You get the Avenue de Lauras which will lead you to your starting point:  the Tourist Information Office.

 

Time: 2h30
the Menhir path

Sentier du Menhir (the Menhir path)

The summer hottest day will be the best day to have this walk, because it will lead you to the bank of the Soulzon through a labyrinth of luxuriant vegetation. At the bank of the beck, you will have a pleasant and restful moment thanks to the coolness of the waters.
Soulzon’s menhir is stuck on the bank of the beck, and proves that man was present at the Neolithic Period. Thanks to its dimension (around 3.50m -11.5 ft- height), it commands respect. You will find notice boards about the landscape and the wildlife all along the walk. So, have a good walk with your family! 

 

When you go out from the Tourism Information Office, turn on the right and go along the Conteynes’ wood to the waterspout of drinking water. Turn on the right and take a little path. Then, cross the housing estate by following the tarmac road. Go on straight ahead to a big white and green building. Leave it on your right, and take on the left a shadowed path, behind the workshop of the municipality. At the end of this path, go down on the left to the crossroad with a larger path, and turn on the left to the double bends. Before crossing the river using the footbridge, you can go back and forth to the menhir downstream. Go along the river on the bank opposite to the menhir to join the second footbridge. Cross again the river. After 300m -984ft- and a little ascent, turn on the left to get to the road. Cross it to take a path going up to the Tourism Information Office and throughout the Conteynes' wood.

 

Time: 1h30
the Trumpet path

Sentier de Trompette (the Trumpet path)

The name of this path comes from the ancient rail activity. The legend tells that an employee of the railway station lived on this steep route. When someone needed his help, all he had to do was to sound the trumpet. This path will offer you an outstanding sight on the Tournemire cirque, Larzac plateau and the village of Roquefort.

 

Starting from Tournemire railway station, go to the tennis court. Cross « the Soulzon » beck and turn on the right. You can follow the marked track. Turn on the left after the wastewater treatment plant, then on the right before the small house. After 50m -164ft-, on the left, leave the uphill path, and follow the direction to Roquefort by the Bousquet farm. After having crossed the wood, you can go to the deserted Bousquet Bas farm (ancient reinforced farm). Then, go back on the initial track. Reach the D93 road and go up over around 300m -984ft-. From this point, two possibilities:

Option 1: back to Tournemire. On the left, go into a box-tree forest to go down to the village of Tournemire. When you arrive down below, turn on the right to reach the railway station.

Option 2: the Ladders Path and back to Tournemire. Across the road, on the right, walk up on a twisting path over 200m -656ft- to the Ladders Path. Then, see paragraph 3 of the “Ladders Path” description. After the quilles (vertical monolith) of Baragnaudes, turn on the left to go up the stairs to the waterspout of drinking water. Then see paragraph 2 of the “Ladders Path” description. Then reach the D93 road and see the option n°1 of the Trumpet path description.

 

Time: 1h30

The good hiker advice

 

INFORM SOMEBODY BEFORE LEAVING

Do not forget to inform somebody when you decide to go for a walk. Tell the person where you want to go and what time you plan to come back. Make sure weather conditions are favourable.

 

HAVE A GOOD EQUIPEMENT

Put on appropriate shoes. Your shoes must support your ankles to ovoid sprains. Take warm clothes with you; you might be surprised by the fresh evening air, even in summer!

 

RESPECT THE PLACE

Do not step back from the marked track when you cross private properties. Do not build fire, do not throw waste and do not camp out. Please respect wildlife, animals and cultures. Thank you… and have a good walk!

 

Learn More

Plan_des_sentiers.pdf

Hiking paths

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