Les Moulins, circuit n°5 autour de Najac
Route details
Description
It is also possible to leave from the holiday village.
Your itinerary
Stage 1: Departure from Najac
Possibility of parking in the Sol del Barry parking lot where the postal agency is located.
Departure from Place du Faubourg in Najac.
Walk along the Place du Faubourg, pass in front of the Tourist Office and continue to the grocery store 50 meters further on the left. Go around the grocery store on the left, go down the steps and walk past the houses and gardens along the magnificent “Roc de Cabusse” walkway.
(EXCEPTIONAL CLOSURE FOR A FEW WEEKS OF THE ROUND PATH – TAKE RUE DU BARRIOU TO RUE DU BOURGUET).
Go down to rue de la Loge, then turn right. At the intersection, turn left into rue du Bourguet, then a little further on again (at the parking spaces) turn left into the small street which goes down rue de la Portète to join rue Basse des Comtes de Toulouse.
Then turn left onto rue du Portail de Maffre.
Leave the fountain on your left, arriving on a road which is avenue de la gare.
Step 2: Gabanel bridge and fountain
Cross this road, the D39 (be careful of traffic, no pedestrian crossing). Just opposite take the path on the left which goes down towards the Gabanel fountain.
When you arrive at the bottom, cross the pretty stone bridge which spans the Vernhe stream and take the path opposite which goes up.
Do not take the path which goes down to the right along the stream.
The climb is quite steep. In a bend you will be able to observe an old barn. Continue this fairly steep climb and do not take the 1st path which goes on your right but take the 2nd path on your right after passing a few fir trees.
Continue to climb until the intersection of 3 paths (1 track opposite, 1 track on the left and 1 path on the right).
Step 3: Point of view on Najac
[Possible junction with circuit No. 4 “Les Fontaines” by taking the path that goes to the left]
Turn right. The path passes below the holiday village. Take the first small path on your right, a small right turn and a small left turn and this small path will take you to a magnificent view point over Najac.
Step 4: Puech Calm
Leave the viewpoint on your right and continue straight towards the asphalt road inside the holiday village. After 150 meters on this road, turn right onto a path. Walk 10 meters then at this point, 2 possibilities either to the left towards the hamlet of Cassagnes, or to the right.
[Junction with circuit n°6 “Les Châtaigneraies” possible by continuing the path opposite instead of turning right]
Choose the path on the right. Walk along a fence to reach an arid area where only a few small shrubs remain. Look around you, no sign of civilization, you are alone in the world!
Step 5: The Aveyron Gorges
Go down into this area and zigzag between the vegetation until you arrive on a wide path along the banks of the Aveyron river. Then turn right. You will come across a first mill in ruins (Ferragut mill) then 500 meters further that of Auribal, which is very well preserved.
Observe the marks on the mill door. The very abrasive sandstone made it possible to sharpen the tools needed to sharpen the millstones.
Step 6: Old cobbled coast
[Possible variation:
Continue for 300 meters to the top of the small hill. Possibility of shortening by taking the variant immediately to the right to the Gabanel fountain. It is a pleasant and shaded path which runs along the Vernhe stream. On your left, take the small stone bridge then turn left to go up towards the village. Arrival at avenue de la gare. ]
Otherwise continue straight on the small asphalt road. 50 meters before the intersection with the D594 turn right to go up to Najac via the old paved hill. This trail is also marked in white and red, marks of the GR36, Chemin de Compostela on the route from Conques to Toulouse.
At the end of the path, cross the D39 road, take the road opposite which leads to the church. On the church square, go down to the right and pass in front of the old presbytery to reach the lower rue des Comtes de Toulouse. This street goes back towards the village and allows you to get back to rue de la Portette.
Step 7: End of the circuit
At the end of this street, turn right, rue du Bourguet, then go up rue du Barriou which goes directly to Place du Faubourg, your starting point.