Route details
Description
This circuit is marked with yellow PR type signs by FFRP volunteers and is also known as “Les Châtaigneraies” in Najac.
Your itinerary
Stage 1: Departure from the Place du Forail in Najac
Possibility of parking in the Sol del Barry parking lot where the postal agency is located.
Departure from Sol del Barry square in Najac.
Leaving the car park, go down the D39 on your left for 200 meters. In the hairpin bend turn left towards Saint André de Najac and after a few meters immediately right the 1st path on your right, path which goes down.
Stage 2: Panorama of Najac
A little further to your right, you will have a magnificent view of the village of Najac. The path passes over the Vernhe stream. Go back up the paved path. At a small spring (on your left), do not take the path to the right, continue straight ahead on the path that climbs steeply opposite. When you reach the wide grassy path, turn right and continue to the crossroads. At this intersection, do not take the track that climbs to the left, do not take the path to the right but continue straight ahead. The path passes below the VVF.
Step 3: Viewpoint over Najac and towards the banks of the Aveyron
Take the first small path on your right, turn right then left. Arrive at a viewpoint over Najac. Leave it on your right, continue straight towards the road inside the VVF. After 1m, turn right onto a path. Walk 150m then at this point, 10 possibilities either left towards the hamlet of Cassagnes or right (Circuit Les Moulins). Choose the small path on the left which goes down. At the road, turn right towards Cassagnes. Turn right onto the path, follow the fields and go down towards the Aveyron gorges.
Stage 4: On the banks of the Aveyron
Pass right under the Grèzes SNCF bridge and follow the river for 6 km along a beautiful shaded path. Further on, you will discover a first ruined mill: Ferragut, then the Auribal mill, still in good condition. The path runs alongside the railway line with magnificent works of art (Monteils – Laguépie section). After this mill, the path becomes a road that joins another road. Turn left, cross the St Blaise bridge. Turn right onto the road that runs alongside the river. Before the swimming pool, turn right to follow the river.
Stage 5: Ascent to the village
The small path leads to the Frégère bridge. Take it on your right to cross the river, then turn left to climb the old medieval hill. (EXCEPTIONAL CLOSURE FOR A FEW WEEKS OF THE TRAIL ALONG THE RIVER - TAKE THE ROAD TO BYPASS THE POOL ON THE LEFT AND NOT ON THE RIGHT AND GO TO THE BRIDGE). At the crossroads, turn right. When you reach the alley, turn left onto Place St Barthélémy to pass in front of the Sainte Famille chapel, then straight ahead, Rue du Bourguet and Rue du Barriou. Reach Place du Faubourg. Cross the road. The departure car park, Place du Sol del Barry, is opposite.
