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Park at the Nordic ski resort car park.
(D:A) Head right towards the Croix du Rocher. Turn left onto the Chemin de Combes, which runs along the right bank of the Vence.
(1) Keep to the left without crossing the stream.
(2) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the left, on a very stony path that climbs more steeply until you reach a path branching off to the left, marked by a signpost.
(3) Turn left. From here, you begin the traverse above the village of Le Sappey. Further up, the path crosses the track leading up to Les Émeindras and then joins the path leading to Le Habert de Chamechaude, which you follow downhill for about 200 m.
(4) Turn right onto a path which then becomes a track, passes above the hamlet of Churut, and joins a junction at the edge of the forest.
(5) Continue in the same direction to reach the path leading up to the Col de Porte.
(6) Turn right, then left onto the path towards the Col de Palaquit until you reach the Col de Porte road at the junction leading to Sarcenas.
(7) Carefully descend a few metres along this road and take a south-facing path to the right below.
(8) When you reach the 1191m mark, ignore the signpost suggesting you turn left and continue straight on along a barely visible path that leads to the Col de Bens.
(9) From this point, head due south along the path which leads up a steep climb to L’Écoutoux.
(10) Stunning 360° views. Take a break for lunch if you wish, then return to the Col de Bens.
(8) Take the path on the right leading to the hamlet of Bens.
(11) Walk down the road for a few metres and leave it when it turns right, taking the path opposite which joins the road a little further down. Continue, negotiating a hairpin bend to the right, then walking alongside the peatland.
(12) At the junction, follow the road to the right for 200 m and turn left at the leisure park. Pass the tennis courts, emerge into a car park opposite the church and join the D512 (Route du Col de Porte).
(13) Cross at the pedestrian crossing to join Route de la Charmette opposite and return to the starting car park (S/E).
A pleasant walk out of the sun, but with a few tricky sections: at point four there’s a landslide; at number six, a sign prohibiting public access; logging work has destroyed the path over a large section due to timber hauling; follow the VISO route carefully to find your way, though it’s hard to spot; similarly at point seven, there’s logging work with a sign prohibiting access. Didn’t go up to L’Écoutoux (couldn’t be bothered); the rest was fine. Saw two other hikers on the route.
Visorando Member
Difficult 
