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The hike starts from the car park at the Candolle Cemetery.
(S/E) Take the dead-end road that runs along the cemetery fence on the left. Opposite the entrance and at the end, take the concrete path on the left marked "Accès à la Forêt Communale" (Access to the Communal Forest). At the end of this short path, continue along the fence until you see a signpost indicating the blue route. Follow this blue route to the right along the track. The track descends steeply and then climbs again immediately. You will come to a fork in the tracks
(1). For a change, leave the blue trail (you will take it on the way back) and take the track on the right which climbs and then becomes steeper (concrete section). The track climbs less steeply.
(2) After 50 m, turn onto an unmarked but clearly visible path on the right. You will reach a cistern (at an altitude of about 235 m), which you go around on the right. Two routes start from here but both lead to the same place, where they join the yellow route from La Candolle. You will quickly reach the pass between Candolle-Escourtines (260 m) where the trail forks.
(3) Leave the path that climbs south on your left and turn right (west) to descend into the Escourtines valley. After a steep rocky section (use your hands), descend the path and after a slightly unstable scree slope, you will reach a fork.
(4) Take the left (south). The route is no longer marked, but the trail is still clearly visible. Climb up a shady valley (southwest) which widens and ends with a steep scree slope. The path is less visible but cairns guide you to a track. Continue right on this track and you will reach a promontory overlooking the Escourtines valley. Descend as best you can on the left towards the south (it's always passable). You will return to the start of the Quarres valley.
(5) Resume the climb south on a stony path with old yellow markings. At the end (boundary marker), you will reach the eastern pre-summit of Mont Lantin (504 m), the highest point of the hike, which overlooks the Carpiagne military camp. From here, there is a superb view of Cassis, Cap Canaille and the Var coast.
The yellow trail continues towards Mont Lantin, but access to this part is restricted due to the military camp.
(6) Descend via the same path, keeping to the left. After a few minutes, you will come to a cairn indicating the start of the path that leads through the Escourtines valley.
(5) This unmarked trail heads south-east, along a ledge, before descending north-west. The descent is mainly in the valley and remains in the shade in the morning. The trail heads north and passes two rocky obstacles without much difficulty. The trail heads northeast and the valley narrows before coming to a fork where you will find a yellow marker.
(7) Take the left, heading due west, over easy rocks. The yellow trail climbs quite steeply then heads north and becomes less steep. You will reach the Limite pass, the crossing point between the Escourtines and Luinant valleys. Leave the yellow markings, which descend into the Luinant valley, and take the blue trail on the right, which climbs up the rocks and reaches the Escourtines balcony (marker 432m - not named on the maps). The descent is on the eastern slope, which is steep at first and then reaches a fork. To the left (north), the trail descends towards La Millière. Continue east, following a ridge overlooking the Escourtines valley. The trail heads north, descends in switchbacks under the pine trees and ends with a passage through the rocks (easy). You will reach the road (car park). Head south (yellow trail) up the Escourtines valley. In this section, the valley is very steep and densely wooded. You will reach another fork in the yellow trail. Take the left path up steep slopes and over rocks (sometimes slippery) until you reach the fork you passed on the way up.
(4) The climb to the pass follows the same route, then you reach the Citerne.
(8) For a change, you can take the same route up, then descend directly via a path that crosses the track and reaches another cistern:
:9::. Then follow the blue route back to the starting point.
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