Col de Collebasse - Ramatuelle circular loop

A ridge path to Ramatuelle with views of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and Cavalaire Bay.

Details

21015990
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.17 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 255 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 267 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 115 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Col de Collebasse on the Collebasse road leading from La Croix-Valmer to Saint-Tropez.

(S/E) Take the track that climbs northwards , checking the "BO sign" beforehand for information on the risk of forest fires and any traffic restrictions in the event of severe drought.

(1) When the track turns sharply right towards the east, leave it and take a path on the left heading north, which leads to the Moulins de Paillas.

(2) At the mills, continue along the path for a few dozen metres, then follow the dead-end tarmac road opposite you, before turning onto a dirt track that slopes gently downwards towards the north.

(3) Quite quickly, leave the track and take a path on the right that winds steeply downhill towards the east-northeast. Follow the GPS track carefully as there are quite a few branches. Continue downhill to the Boulevard du 8 mai 1945 crossroads.

(4) Turn right and, after the car park with public toilets, go down the steps on the left towards the town. At the bottom of the steps, turn right onto Rue Georges Clémenceau, which will take you to the central square of L'Ormeau. Visit the old town in front of you or enjoy the many restaurants on Rue Victor Léon. From Place de l'Ormeau, go down Rue du Clocher behind the church.

(5) At the bottom of the street, turn right onto the very pretty Chemin du Moulin Roux. After a few hundred metres, it becomes Piste des Fanaux (with signposts at intervals). Follow the track, which climbs gently at first, then more steeply, heading south and then south-east, with bends and turns.

(6) Turn right, heading south-west, onto Chemin des Fanaux, not to be confused with Piste des Fanaux, which you were on before. This wide path resembles a poorly maintained track. It climbs steadily, gradually turning north-west to join Route des Moulins de Paillas. Take the road on your left.

(7) After about 100 metres uphill on the road, turn left onto the wide Piste de Collebasse. After a right-hand bend, it descends and joins an intersection you passed on the way there.

(1) Continue along the Piste de Collebasse, following the reverse route of the outward journey. Leave the Chemin de la Croix-Valmer, which branches off to your right towards the village of the same name, and continue along the track. Continue to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 131 m - Parking at - Col de Collebasse (131m)
  2. 1 : km 1.86 - alt. 204 m - Turn-off to the Paillas mills
  3. 2 : km 2.43 - alt. 267 m - Moulins de Paillas
  4. 3 : km 2.82 - alt. 257 m - Trail junction towards Ramatuelle
  5. 4 : km 3.32 - alt. 144 m - Boulevard du 8 Mai 1945 road junction
  6. 5 : km 3.77 - alt. 126 m - Departure from the Moulin Roux path
  7. 6 : km 4.98 - alt. 117 m - Junction of the Chemin des Fanaux
  8. 7 : km 5.98 - alt. 235 m - Junction of the Collebasse track
  9. S/E : km 8.17 - alt. 131 m - Col de Collebasse (car park)

Notes

There are numerous restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries in Ramatuelle.

Before setting off on this route, check the "BO sign" at Col de Collebasse for information on the risk of forest fires and any traffic restrictions in the event of severe drought.

You will need to follow the GPX track from (3) to (4).

Worth a visit

On Saturdays during the season, you can visit one of the three mills in Paillas.
We recommend visiting the old town of Ramatuelle and its southern streets.
For food lovers, the bakery offers the original recipe for tarte tropézienne.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great way to explore the village's surroundings, including cork oak trees and mills.
No problems tracking with GPX.
Note that 250 metres north-east of point 4 is the cemetery and the grave of Gérard Philipe.

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User 583638

I plan to do this hike, but I don't use GPS tracking. I am 75 years old and have always walked with a map and compass (and sometimes an altimeter). I find it too easy to say "follow the GPS track between points 3 and 4" rather than giving detailed directions (e.g. take the track on the right at the fork, ignore the two tracks on the left, etc.).
If I have an alternative, which one should I take?
I think you should require this and not publish if it is not done, which will not prevent those who walk with GPS from doing so.

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am.thoretton@orange.fr
am.thoretton@orange.fr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not too crowded, it's May!
We loved it, different paths, beautiful views, we recommend it!

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alain06/62
alain06/62

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike that is not very difficult... be careful after the Paillas mills, as the descent to Ramatuelle is complicated; mountain bikes have dug up the track considerably...

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Stefanch22
Stefanch22

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant, breezy trail. It's a shame that the centre of Ramatuelle was undergoing construction...

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buguet bernard
buguet bernard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Between waypoints 3 and 4, the very steep track is used as an enduro course by mountain bikers. The track is very slippery and can cause falls. Very good footwear is essential, and the use of walking sticks is strongly recommended.

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Simon1
Simon1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At point 2, go around the mill, which still has its sails, and immediately descend to the right along the path heading north-east.
Be careful on this very slippery descent with ruts created by mountain bikes. Pay close attention to your GPS.
A beautiful hike with stunning views, particularly from Ramatuelle, which is well worth taking the time to visit.

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3Omamédée
3Omamédée

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I followed part of this route: I went directly from point 5 to point 7. This significantly reduced the distance, which was still 11 km. I highly recommend this very pleasant hike, but check the distance according to your abilities. As for how busy it was, I didn't encounter any other hikers, perhaps because it was a weekday and there was a strong mistral wind.

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mamiemartine
mamiemartine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is very well marked, but it is essential to follow the GPS directions.
I would add a note to point 1: the path leading up to the Paillas mill is called Chemin de la Croix Valmer.
A very pleasant route.

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sst
sst

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short warm-up route. The descent to Ramatuelle after the windmills is a little slippery, but any good hiker with proper footwear and clothing should be able to manage it.
Today we set off from Ramatuelle, and at this time of year there are plenty of parking spaces.
Bring something to drink.

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