VTT in Langedoc

By Nick

Exploring the trails of Langedoc on VTT, embracing the rugged beauty of the landscape.

This is less of a daring deed and more of a heads up for a great area of France.

Last week I found myself in the Montagne Noir in the Languedoc area of SW france. I had never been to this area and I really liked it. In September it was quiet, hot enough at 20-30c and steeped in history. On many holidays you find yourself battling against the needs of the family and the urge to get out and do something when you in such amazing location. Fortunately my girlfriend likes to lie in when she's on holiday.

This gives me some time in the morning and depending on how early I get up, I can normally sneek 3/4 hours in before breakfast. Getting up early was almost essential as it heated up pretty quickly, heat and pushing a single speed don't always work well together.

As a first little tour then you couldn't to wrong following this one.The caunes-minervois.Once you have a feel for the area, there are lots of smaller steeper paths that are amazing.

Queue amazing singletrack videoYou could go down this perfectly angled track as slow or as fast you dare. Beware the square edged blocs.

There is some good info here.

We stayed at quite short notice nr Caune-Minervois in the foothills of the Montagne Noir / Langudeoc at Aupontromain.aupontromain@wanadoo.fr

Andy and Sue are great hosts - they have some great wine contacts and if your lucky you might just get some yellow figs to devour.

As a MTB/VTT destination then you would be be well placed to have some great days out, although later in the year would probably be more comfortable. A number of trail centers are close by with hundreds of kilometres of trails, offering circuits upto 120k.

More the centre of trails than a trail center Quillian - 780km of trails

There was also some great climbing, lots of kayaking and rafting. But more than anything some amazing and dramatic mountain landscapes that I can't believe I missed over the years, I highly recommened just putting a pin on the map and going somewhere as sometimes you can be surprised what you find.

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