Hiking with friends on the Cathar Trail

You’ll need to be physically fit to face this audacious challenge! Ideally, you'll already be used to hiking for several days in a row. Expect to walk for 3½ to 7 hours per day, covering a daily elevation gain of 500 to 1,000 metres.

If that hasn’t put you off, you’re ready for the first stage, which takes you and your group from Port-la-Nouvelle to the hillsides covered with vineyards, garrigue and rocky ridges.

Where to stay? The Habitation Occitania in the lovely medieval village of Durban-Corbières is a stopover gîte occupying an old winegrower’s house that dates back to 1840. Here you can book a table for your group, for both dinner and breakfast.

Prepare for a cheerful 7-hour hike and smiles all round, through the vineyards of Corbières. As you approach Tuchan, today’s destination, the Aguilar Castle ruins come into view. Time for a souvenir photo of the view over the plain!

Where to stay? L'Ancien Moulin à Huile, an intimate guesthouse that sleeps up to six people. The icing on the (big) cake? A lovely garden with a swimming pool.

Prepare to see the immense limestone rock faces of the village of Cucugnan (made famous by Alphonse Daudet) and Quéribus Castle. Perched 729 metres above sea level on the southern Corbières ridge, this castle is one of the best-preserved of all hilltop fortresses. So, who brought the saucisson?

Where to stay? L'Hostellerie du Vieux Moulin, a traditional stone dwelling located in the small medieval village of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse. 14 comfortable rooms with an authentic feel, to give your body a rest after the first three days of your adventure.

On today’s walk - which is shorter than the previous days - you absolutely must take the time to stroll around the citadel of Peyrepertuse. Not forgetting the Galamus Gorges, a truly stunning site. 500 metres below, the river Agly has carved its way through the limestone rock face. Not forgetting the Saint-Antoine Hermitage of Galamus. Your hamstrings will need a good stretch but with a bit of luck, someone in your group is a specialist.

Where to stay? At the gîte de la Bastide, an old Templar farmhouse built in the 13th century. Just five minutes from the Galamus Gorges, this restaurant serves healthy meals prepared with organic ingredients from the neighbouring farm and other local sources.

This morning you'll need a bit of motivation! This stage of your adventure will take you to the top of the Bugarach peak, the highest point of the Corbières region at 1,230 metres. This will get your leg muscles burning, but when you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Mont Canigou, the Pyrenees and the Montagne Noire and Corbières regions.

Where to stay? Le Presbytère at the foot of the superb Bugarach mountain. Five evenings a week, a full dinner is served, prepared from local produce and fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit, straight from the kitchen garden.

The distance to be covered increases again on this sixth day of your long-distance hike. You'll spend the night in Quillan after a 24-km walk across rolling terrain through woodlands and vineyards. A little team spirit will be needed to get everyone through this stage!

Where to stay? Take your pick from the range of  furnished holiday lets available in the village.

Leave the Mediterranean region and head through pine forests and beech woods, towards the Pyrenees. Don’t forget to visit Puivert Castle, a listed historical monument since 1907.

Where to stay? L'Oiseau Libre, a gîte occupying an old hotel, with a terrace offering a view of the castle. Some of the rooms have views of the Pyrenees of Aude. Half-board possible.

This eighth stage of 4½ hours is mainly through woodland. Make the most of the shade and observe the huge diversity of wildlife. Did anyone remember the binoculars?

Where to stay? The 100 Unique, a hotel and restaurant tucked in the heart of the Sault region. Authentic dishes to revive you before the final stage of your Cathar adventure.

The effort isn’t over for you and your friends, as you still have to cross the Sault plateau at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,300 metres. A chance to find out more about two of the region’s economic activities, livestock farming and forestry.

Where to stay? Spend the night at the gîte Le Presbytère. You’ll have dinner and breakfast here, and they can also provide you with a packed lunch if required. Expect good home cooking and local specialities!

In terms of walking time, this is the shortest of the 12 stages and a refreshing change. It includes a 3-km stretch in the Frau gorges, at a height of 300 to 400 metres above the river flowing through a natural canyon. The sublime Montségur Castle is a just reward for your day’s efforts. Climb to the castle and feast your eyes. You’ll appreciate the panoramic view stretching from the Tabe summits to the plains that extend to Carcassonne. A sight for you and your friends to marvel at...

Where to stay? There are lots of places to stay in the picturesque village of Montségur. Its mountain dwellings are arranged in a typical layout on the south side of the mountain, crammed together and facing the sun to receive as much warmth as possible.

You'll spend your last day treading the soils of the Olmes region. Stay overnight in Roquefixade, where you can visit a fortress perched on top of a cliff. It takes half an hour to reach it from the village centre.

Where to stay? The gîte d’étape de Roquefixade sleeps 25 guests and offers a 360° view of the Pyrenees of Ariège. Dinner and breakfast will be served and you can order a packed lunch.

Your 250-km hike ends in style with a view of the Pech de Montgaillard and a visit to Foix Castle. Stroll in the narrow streets of the charming town of Foix, which needs no introduction to holidaymakers. Well done, you did it! It was tough, but team spirit got you through!

Where to stay? The three-star Lons hotel located near the castle. For one last night of restful comfort.

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