Saint-Vallier loop via Cabris and Saint-Cézaire

Departure from the centre of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, from the car park along the large meadow. Accessible by bus from Nice (bus 51) or Grasse (bus 51, bus 40, bus A).

(S/E) Departure from the wash house. To avoid the village and the main road, you can go through the Grand Pré, heading east-southeast, and enjoy the view of the mountains. Then continue through the car park and the stadium to avoid the main street. However, you will need to reach the roundabout on the right, but immediately turn left onto Chemin de Praredon, which runs parallel to the main street. When you finally reach the main road, turn left.

(1) In front of the old petrol station, now a bakery, take the old Chemin de Cabris (which you will follow until Cabris). Follow the small road, then a very stony path from marker 41. The forest of small oak trees offers little cover, but wildlife can be seen in the morning or evening, and sometimes flocks of sheep.

(2) From the Croix de Cabris, begin the descent towards Cabris on a section of the GR®51. You can see the sea as you climb higher. The descent is not difficult and the road through the pine trees leads to the village, following the GR® markings.

(3) As you approach the village of Cabris, you will cross a very steep residential area. Be sure to follow the GR® markings carefully. You will need to cross the road with poor visibility (caution) to follow the footpath at marker 50. Descend to marker 51.

(4) From there, you can go around the village as shown on the map and go to the Belvédère de Cabris (or go directly to Saint-Cézaire).

(5) The Belvédère de Cabris is known for its view of the Bay of Cannes. There is a fountain and shade. Turn back to the village.

(4) Back at marker 51, turn left and start the journey to Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne via the Chemin de Saint-Jean.

(6) Pass the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Chapel. Continue along the path, ignoring all the access roads on the left.

(7) At the Col de Cabris, take care to follow the GR® markings to take the old Chemin de Cabris towards Saint-Cézaire. You will reach marker 19.

(8) Leave the GR® and continue straight ahead to reach marker 30, passing by a bare hillside that bears the marks of the 2017 fire.

(9) Descend straight down towards the village. Cross a recently developed industrial area where factories stand alongside a tumulus (historic monument). Cross the Route des Grottes and pass through residential neighbourhoods until you reach marker 31.

(10) You can continue along the marked path or, as for this route, follow the much more direct road that enters the village. From the road, you can turn left onto Rue de la Paix and enjoy the cool air at the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Sardaigne. You can also admire the village's curious parallel urban layout.

(11) From the chapel, turn right onto Rue de l'Égalité towards the village. The village of Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne is the last stop before entering the gorges and climbing towards Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey.

(12) Place du 8 mai 1945: viewpoint. Follow the D5, known as the Route de Saint-Vallier, to marker 21, leaving the paths that descend towards the Siagne and the Canal de la Siagne on your left.

(13) Marker 21 marks the start of the old Chemin de Mons. From here, the hike follows the GR®510 towards Escragnolles until marker 80. First, go straight ahead until marker 22.

(14) Then turn right to leave the old Chemin de Mons. The difficult climb to the top of the gorges begins. Turn left at marker 23 and continue climbing towards the Bassins.

(15) The pools feed a power station below via forced pipes. The site is inaccessible, but there is a path around it to the north-east. Be careful to stay on the path above the pools and don't take any wrong turns. The pathbecomes steep.

Once past the basins, the hike continues for 4 km on relatively flat ground along the side of the cliff, passing under climbing spots and sometimes disturbing wild goats in their lairs. Below marker 76, you can see the confluence of the Siagne and the Siagne de la Pare. You can also see the vertiginous technical bridge of the Bellatrud Canal, which collects drinking water. This bridge is accessible on foot via a descent from marker 77, depending on how tired you are.

(16) Turn left at marker 77, still heading towards Escragnolles. Walk on the slabs of the drinking water canal. The path is easy to follow until marker 81, so it will be easy to find your way to the last difficult part of the hike. The Siagne is accessible via several paths leading downhill, but this is not recommended at this stage of the hike.

(17) When you reach marker 78, turn left and cross the small steep valley, following the direction of the canal pipe. Pass marker 79 and you will arrive at marker 80.

(18) On the right, follow a very steep, partially exposed climb towards Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey to reach marker 81. (A detour via marker 82 is possible for a less intense climb, which will significantly lengthen the end of the hike.) After the climb, you will arrive at the car park and marker 81.

(19) The hike ends, heading east, on a flat, south-facing, uncovered section of the Chemin de la Siagne until you reach the village of Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey. Be careful of cars, which are quite frequent on this small road.

(20) Cross the ford, which is usually dry, and you will find the village opposite the large meadow (S/E).

The wash house fountain provides fresh water, and the mini-market opens at 6.30 a.m. so you can stock up and set off early.

There are water points in each of the village centres (S) (7) (12), as well as shops and bistros. Outside the villages, there is nothing.

Bring protection from the sun, as half of the hike is south-facing. Walking shoes are essential for the rocky sections and the gorge, which is used more by animals than hikers.

I have always done this hike in a single day, but it should be possible to stop overnight at a lodge in St-Cézaire-sur-Siagne. This would allow you to take the time to visit the remarkable sites of the Siagne Gorges and be fresher for the climb back up.

A brief visit to the villages you pass through is possible, but the most interesting sights, such as the caves, the Siagne river, the Ponadieu, the dolmens and the numerous megaliths, would be complicated detours on this long hike.