Les gorges de la Doulouze – Morlhon Le Haut
Route details
Description
A few kilometers from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, this beautiful hike takes you through the forest along the Doulouze gorges for a complete immersion in nature. It's a moderately challenging, shaded route that will allow you to discover the charming Périé bridge, the English castle, the stream, and the Doulouze valley. Avoid this hike in wet weather as the descents are slippery. Suitable for children aged 10 and up. The starting point is the Morlhon-le-Haut lake leisure center. This route has been marked with yellow PR (local hiking) signs by volunteers and the town hall. Morlhon-le-Haut.
Your itinerary
Step 1: Departure from the Morlhon le Haut lake car park
The start is from the base of Lake Morlhon-le-Haut. Follow the yellow markings for trail No. 1 La Doulouze, which begins in the field at the top next to the road. Take the path that goes up towards Morlhon-le-Haut for 30 m, then after the "Maison des chasseurs" premises, take the road on the left. Continue to the hamlet of Le Yal, cross it.
At the exit, do not take the path opposite, take a dirt path on the right going down to a road.
Step 2: In the shade of the woods
At the road, turn right for about 200 m and take the first road on the left towards Impasse du Pradou. Continue on this road for 30 m. When you reach a path, take this dirt road which leads towards the forest and the Doulouze stream until you reach the Périé bridge. Cross it and immediately take the path on the right. Cross a small stream, go up the path for about a hundred meters. Never take the paths which go up on the left. Take another forest track on the right.
Step 3: The freshness of Doulouze
Follow it almost entirely. Take a small single-track path on the right, descending a few wooden steps designed to make the descent easier. Join the Doulouze again. Stay on the left bank until you reach the footbridge (a small plank bridge) to cross to the other bank. Follow the forest path. Continue downhill until you reach the junction of two streams. Before the junction, there are two paths; take the one on the right; it goes back up towards Château des Anglais (Bishop's chair and viewpoint over the ruins of the keep). Be careful, watch out for the precipice!
Step 4: Return to Lake Morlhon le Haut
Go back up the path to a track. Turn left. At the next intersection, turn left. Find the road again, then at the next intersection in the hamlet, turn right. At the end, it's a single-track path marking the boundary between the communes (Morlhon and Villefranche). At the end, turn right onto the path for 300 m, then left onto the path that goes down to the road and back up towards the village. Then take the road on the right, continue straight ahead towards Durre, then left onto Chemin d'Espagne. At the bottom of this, turn left to return to the lake.
To discover nearby
