Walk 4 - Liorac and Lamonzie Montastruc walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Face the mairie (the larger building at the rear of the parking area). On the right hand side is a barrier on a stony track. Open it and pass, pedestrians are admitted. Follow the track heading for a prominent water tower (‘château d’eau’) and continue straight on past some houses. The roadway soon looses its surface for a short distance. Pass a timber bungalow; the views to the right are over the Louyre valley. As after a few houses a road joins from the left, turn right to take a grassy track, along the fence of a house, which descends into the valley between fields. Enter woodland, passing a little pond on the right. Well into the valley bottom, cross a concrete bridge over the Louyre stream

1) Just before reaching the trees on the far side of the valley, turn left on a grassy agricultural track curving between fields. Carry on by the lower edge of woodland to a junction. Turn left, then immediately fork right into woodland. Follow it, keeping the valley bottom with young poplar tree plantations at your left. After 500 m you pass, slightly rising, under power lines. After about 100 m fork left to walk on grass along the bottom edge of the woodland, bearing gradually to the right. Keep to the right at a junction, there are exposed rock faces on the right, and a bit further also abandoned small stone quarries. Go left at a fork, to continue on the level through poplar plantations.

2) Join a very minor road, turning right to walk by the roadside for about 1½ km (1 mile) towards Lamonzie. Below to the left us a series of large ponds with dams; château Bellegarde is just visible among trees on the far side of the valley. Continue into Lamonzie, an old village with centrally sited church. Château de Montastruc is through the village, across the main D21.

3) Start the return by making a right turn at the crossroads in the village and walk along the street, with the church on the left, rising gently. In less than 200 m, fork right into a more minor road. Pass the cemetery, still rising, soon entering woodland. Pass a farm and a small château (Lescot) at which point the road loses its surface and the gradient levels out; you are now on an old Roman road that goes on fairly straight through light woodland. Ignore junctions and pass under power lines. On your right you see the Louyre valley you went through on the first leg, to the left there are glimpses of the Caudeau valley. After woods a farm becomes visible at your right, it is Le Pinier. Go still straight on ahead, pass the Pinier access drive, then in less than 300 m reach Le Sorbier, a farming hamlet.

4) Turn right here, opposite a track that leads to Laqueyrouse. In 50 m take the second right to descend the side of the Louyre valley on a fine broad agricultural track, partly in woodland. Close to the bottom, fork left to reach a junction within 20 m of the outward route at point 1. Turn left, pass a house to the left, and follow the valley bottom track as it turns sharp right, across the fields to join a minor road in a little more than half a mile. Turn right, cross the river and in 60m turn right to leave the road along a grass track, initially almost level, then rising as it wends its way to Liorac. Join the village street and turn right to return to the parking area.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.