Above the Infernets and Coutronne-les Encanaux ravines

Description

In Auriol, take the D45A which later joins the D2, leading to La Coutronne and Plan d'Aups. Pass in front of the Maison du Légionnaire. As the road heads up, take the small road down towards "les Encanaux" on the left. Park in the car park on the left before the little bridge.

(D) Pass a gate and take the track (1) to the right with blue waymarks, leading up into the forest. A few yards further on, you come across an old ice-house. There is a board explaining the history and function of ice-houses, which are very common in the area, especially in Mazaugues.

Continue uphill. Where the path levels out and slopes down slightly you get to a crossing with a small, poorly maintained path which, to the right heads up a steep hill at a right angle to the initial path. (2). Take this path to the right, thus leaving the blue waymarks. Stay on this path as it leads south, climbing steeply among the brush and trees.

At the top (3), you come across a large rock and a large cairn. Take the path heading left below the rock. On the way down, go past the Abri du Figuier, then the Grotte des Infernets, which appears to be a deeper cave. Since we unfortunately did not have torches, we did not try to get as far as the end. Push on to the Grotte des Morts and continue through hillside, passing over sections of ridges amid the Provencal vegetation. The views are superb.

The path leads to a ford (4) and an intersection: take the right-hand path which leads up towards La Coutronne, with yellow waymarks. Stay on this path until you approach the D2.

About 50 m before the road, take a track heading left (5), leaving the yellow waymarks. It goes alongside a fence and past a smallholding. Walk along the top of the Coutronne ravine, enjoying spectacular views. Opposite, you can see the track rising to Lare Pass (Col de la Lare), which you'll climb shortly.

Continue straight on, passing a ford across a dry seasonal river, then pass through a cedar forest.

When you reach a wide firefighting access track (6), follow it to the left and climb up to Lare Pass (Col de la Lare) (7). From the top of the pass, there is a remarkable view of the Coutronne ravine, the Sainte-Baume range and the Pic de Bertagne. Follow this track heading north-west.

At a cistern and junction (8), take the track heading left towards Encanaux Bridge (Pont des Encanaux which is signed). Follow the track down towards Encanaux Bridge. To the north, you will see Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Mont Olympe and Mont Aurélien.

In a bend at highpoint 430 (9), leave the track, bear right and catch up with the same track further down. Continue left at the next junction and push on to Encanaux Bridge and the fitness trail (10).

At the bridge, take the right-hand track to return to the car park.