Departure: In front of the Prats-de-Mollo La Preste tourist office: cross the bowling alley square (Cap Ouest), then head left towards the Col d'Ares.
290 m: At the roundabout, start to climb the Col d'Ares road (left side of the road).
100 meters further, take the path on the left marked “Camí de la Retirada” which runs below this road (Cap 130).
695 m: At the crossroads of several paths, choose the one that goes up the side of the stream (Cap 190).
1,05 km: Crossing the Oz'Arbres estate (tree houses and unusual accommodation) and its service track (Cap 230).
1,25 km: Turn left (path with red arrows / “Retirada” sign).
1,50 km: Cross the road, then 100 meters further, take the path on the right at a fork (Cap 160).
2,70 km: Take a forest path (Cap 120).
3,20 km: Leave this path to climb steeply to the left (Cap Sud).
4,85 km: Continue walking in the forest (towards the right) with the road located nearby, just above the path on the left side (Cap 240).
5,85 km: Tarmac link (left side of the road / Cap 190).
6,25 km: Leave this roadside at a hairpin bend and head left (Cap 240).
6,90 km: Arrival of the hike at Coll d'Ares: go back down to Prats-de-Mollo by the same route as on the way there (This is also the original direction of the Retirada.
Ranking & labels
- Danger of controlled burning site
- Itinerary registered in the Departmental Plan of Walking and Hiking Routes of the Pyrénées-Orientales.
- This route is part of the 1000 km of GR® and GR®P in the Department of Pyrénées-Orientales. GR® and GR®P are trademarks registered by the French Federation of Hiking and the marking of this route is carried out by the volunteers of the Departmental Committee of the French Federation of Hiking of the Pyrénées-Orientales.
