De Laroque au Pic Néoulous et au Col de l'Ouillat
Discovery of the highest point of the Albères Massif: Pic Néoulous, between France and Spain.
Departure: join the Church in the old village. Facing the gate, take Rue de l'Eglise, which turns into a path.
Go up to a fork and go to the right. At the level of the basin, continue straight along the irrigation canal until you hear the river below.
At the crossroads, go left on the path that climbs through the vegetation. At the next fork, turn right.
New intersection: go left to join the track. Go up it and after the old ruined farmhouse, take the path on the left. At the next intersection, continue to the left and at the next intersection take the path opposite. Arriving at the next fork, turn left.
A little further on, observe the “Balma del Moro” dolmen on the left (50 meters away). Continue the ascent towards Pic Néoulous. The path leads to a forest track. Cross it and continue to climb opposite on the path which leads off the side. Join a new forest track.
Follow it to the right for about 600 meters.
Take the path on the left towards the Pic Néulous (1256 meters).
The summit of Albères is marked by “the Manel Tower”, made of stones. Go back down towards the west following the GR10 full ridge.
On the left, a small gate provides access to a snow well (200 meters away). Continue the descent towards the Col de l'Ouillat.
At the pass, turn right on the paved road and proceed to the “Reina de les Fonts” fountain. Turn left on the path which descends rapidly under beeches and chestnut trees. He crosses the track several times.
Arriving at around 450 meters above sea level, ford the Laroque river then, 200 meters further, pass near an ice well.
Continue downhill and ford another stream.
Arrive at the outward fork, continue straight ahead and take the path in the opposite direction.