Prades 'Two Canals' walk (English)

A pleasant but relatively short and easy walk, which connects paths on two irrigation canals to the south of Prades, below the Canigou massif in Conflent.

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www.walks-vernetlesbains-canigou.eu/wikiloc/Prades--two-canals--Eng.pdf

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www.walks-vernetlesbains-canigou.eu/wikiloc/Prades--two-canals--Eng--s.pdf

1 - START. Prades railway station. With the station behind us, we go to the left. With the railway line on our left, we walk up to a:

2 - Bridge which goes over the railway line. We go to the left, across the bridge. We go straight ahead, but slightly to the left, to the entrance to the Avenue des Cerisiers. We go straight ahead, along a path which has a small canal alongside it. We follow that path, which passes between gardens and houses, up to:

3 - The Prades canal ("canal branche ancienne"). This is the lower canal of two canals which we follow on this circuit. We turn to the left and we walk along a track which goes alongside the canal. We follow this canal for approximately two kilometres. Along the way, we pass houses, gardens and lanes on the southern edge of Prades... We cross a lane which goes up to the right (the Costa de Clara).

4 - Canal-lane crossing. We leave the canal, and we go to the right, up the Chemin des Brouils (this later becomes the Chemin de Fenouillix). There is usually very little traffic on this quiet lane, but we watch out for any vehicles which may be passing... The lane winds steadily uphill, and we ignore all secondary turnings. Along the way, there are views across fields and orchards to mountains on the slopes of the Canigou massif, and, northwards, to the village of Eus, on the other side of the Têt valley.

5 - Lane junction, with an orchard directly ahead. We go to the left. (The lane on the right is the Costa de Clara, which we crossed lower down). We follow our lane for a short distance up to an:

6 - Intersection with the D35 road (Route de Clara). We go straight across the road, onto a path which is alongside the Bohère canal. We follow the path, with the canal on our left. This is the upper canal of two canals which we follow on this circuit. We follow the Bohère canal for approximately two kilometres. The canal winds to the left and to the right, and, along the way, it crosses a number of streams on bridges. The canal is in woodland for most of the time, but we occasionally have views across more open ground to the north, to hills which lie beyond the Têt valley.

7 - Intersection, canal and track. The route of this circuit goes to the right, down the track (which becomes the Chemin de Nogarol).
But first, as an out-and-back optional extension which last about 45 minutes in total, we can continue straight ahead, alongside the canal, to the "siphon" (S). When water is flowing in the Bohère canal, which is usually from March to October, water spouts up in an impressive fountain at this location. The water arrives in an underground pipe which crosses the valley below, where the tower of Sant Michel de Cuxa abbey can be seen... We return to the canal-track crossing (7), and we turn left, down that track.
The track becomes a tarmacked lane, with villas on both sides.

8 - Lane intersection. We go to the right... The lane joins the Chemin de les Fourques, and the lane turns to the left... We descend the hillside...The lane enters the urban area of Prades. We continue straight ahead, as far as a:

9 - Street-canal crossing. We go to the right, alongside the canal. The stadium of the renowned rugby club of Prades is on the left... We meet the Chemin de Beausoleil, and we go straight ahead, along that street.

10 - Intersection with the Avenue Beausoleil. We go to the right, as far as the top of that avenue. We go to the right, and we follow the canal again. The canal goes to the left, over a small aqueduct, then the canal goes to the left again... The canal crosses the Route de Clara, where there is a cemetery directly opposite. We go to the left, down the Route de Clara...
We cross the bridge over the railway line (2); we turn to the right; and we follow our outward route back to the start of this circuit at Prades railway station.