La Ciotat Bay seen from above via the Carrière du Loin

Park on Chemin de Sainte-Croix, but there is only one or two spaces. It is possible to park a little further back on the verges of the access road or on neighbouring roads.

(S/E) Start the walk from Chemin de Sainte-Croix, just before a forest barrier on the right. Take the path on the right, following the yellow markings. After about ten metres, look for a yellow marker on a tree on the left. Take the path on the left, which runs parallel to Chemin de Sainte-Croix. Keep to the left on the main path as it climbs.

(1) At the Grande Tête junction, take the path on the right which descends slightly in the opposite direction, offering a beautiful view of La Ciotat. Continue along the path until you reach the Route des Crêtes. Head up to the left until you come to a forest barrier with a cable on the right. Take the path behind the barrier.

(2) Take the hairpin bend to the right. Stay on the descending path until you reach a cistern.

(3) Leave the main path and take a small path branching off to the left, opposite the cistern, until you reach the Chemin des Jonquières, a tarmac road. First turn right then left near a rock at the side of the road.

(4) At the junction, take a track on the left for about twenty metres. A little further on, at the crossroads, take a path descending to the right until you cross the Chemin de la Roche Redonne, which you should follow to the right to see a quarry and reach a road.

(5) Find a path on the left that goes downhill. Follow this path until you see a sort of ruin, a photo of which is attached.

(6) Return to the road.

(5) Follow it to the right until it ends at ‘la Carrière du Loin’. Take a path to the right of the quarry, then go to the left of the green fence. There is a path that climbs quite steeply. Take this path. It passes over the quarry via a winding track

(7) At the tiny junction on the left, take the path that climbs a little more steeply to go over the quarry, with an old fence on the left running alongside the path.

(8) At the junction with several branches, take the one that goes straight ahead (slightly to the right) until you reach Route Des Crêtes. Turn left onto it. After the forest gate, go straight on, crossing the road at the first hairpin bend (small parking area). Just behind this, you will see a metal ramp on a path marked in yellow leading up to the ridge.

(9) Retrace your steps and continue along the Route des Crêtes to the right.

(10) Look out for a dirt track on the right and take it. It runs almost parallel to the Route des Crêtes and soon reaches a forest gate. Cross the Route des Crêtes again, then go through another forest gate directly opposite, behind the sign for La Ciotat. Follow this track almost straight on until you reach the junction from the outward journey.

(1) Return to the starting point by following the route in reverse, taking the return path on the right (S/E).

Suggested by: A.M.I.S Rando Aubagne and its team