3/15/2020 - Simon Worrall

Walked March 2020. Very enjoyable circuit that took us 6 hours and 30 mins with lunch, photography and water stops. Saw some excellent wildlife and geology along the way - vultures circling overhead, a snake and a pair of mongoose between WP 20 and 21. Very interesting limestone geology as you head from WP8 to 9. We did however have some navigation issues noted below. GENERAL - the WP's can be viewed on the Walking World app map download but there is no actual base map to view. However being able to navigate towards the WP proved invaluable during the walk :-) GENERAL - WP1 - the main square has undergone a face lift and the parking is for 'authorised vehicles' only (which the locals ignore!). There's plenty of street parking as you come into the village, before the road narrows, or, if you drive through the main square and up towards WP2 on the concrete road (but this involves passing through some very narrow streets.) NAVIGATION - WP4 - there is now no gate (certainly not one we could find) in the wire fence to the right of the main (locked) metal gate across the track. Replaced with unbroken barbed wire fencing which we had to climb over. After hopping over the fence ignore the track and gate you can see downhill in front and head 45 degrees left and you will pick up the track mentioned that leads down though the oak trees. NAVIGATION - WP13 - there is now a wire fence running from the wall, across the stream and along the bank of the stream towards the well. A small wire gate, to the right of the obvious crossing point, in the wire fence allows you to cross over the stream but it's not obvious unless you are looking for it! NAVIGATION - WP 14 - got hopelessly lost here as access to the farm is now blocked. However as you walk up towards the farmhouse on the clear track from WP14 you will come to a chain across the track that blocks vehicle access. Just after passing around the chain look for a wooden signpost off to the right marked faintly for Montejacque that heads off uphill into a small wood - the path is obvious and after crossing a dry stream bed you will pick up the gate described at WP16. (If you walk past the wooden sign for Montejacque further up the track you will arrive at a padlocked metal gate with security fence to either side that blocks the route any further.) NAVIGATION - WP23 - at the time of walking the olive grove had been freshly ploughed but thankfully was dry - had it been wet this would have been even more of a challenge! No problem whilst you are walking on the path that sits on a terrace above the lower section of the olive grove but as it levels and enters the ploughed area there is no obvious path, terrace or cairns to guide you to the head of the dry stream. However as the clear path runs out and you enter the ploughed area bear to the right trying to maintain your height as if walking on the same level as the previous stoney terrace and you will eventually find the head of the dry stream bed. After passing the head of the stream bed head 45 degrees to your left towards the top of the ridge and you pick up the path that leads to WP24.