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From Rians, follow the Route des Espargades, cross the hamlet and, at the end of the tarmac road, park your car in the fork between the two dirt roads.
(S/E) Take the dirt road on the right and pass the houses on your right. When you reach a right-hand bend (iron sign), look for the return path on the left.
(1) Turn right, cross the ford of a small stream and continue along this track which climbs up the hill. After two hairpin bends, you will arrive at a flat area with a cistern.
(2) Just after the cistern, take the path on the left that is blocked by a metal gate.
This track climbs gently and then descends slowly to a small flat, grassy area at the bottom of the valley. Stay on the track heading north and climb for 400 metres, then continue on a gentle slope for 500 metres followed by a second climb. Remember to turn around occasionally to enjoy the view.
(3) At the top of the climb, you will arrive at a flat section with a small S-bend (left-right). This is the first time you will see the watchtower on Vautubiere Mountain.
In the right-hand bend of this small S-bend, take a small south-south-east path through the scrubland, on the left in the bend.
It would be a shame to miss this 600-metre detour, as you will be rewarded with a beautiful view.
This path seems to disappear into the scrub but ends up at an ancient pile of stones forming a large circle (an ancient Celto-Ligurian oppidum, 200 BC).
(4) Walk along this circle of stones, starting on the right. Once you have walked halfway around the circle, at the southern tip of the pile, leave it and continue 30 metres south-east through cades and scrub (easy) to reach the tip of a small rocky spur from where you will have a completely unobstructed view. Below, the Langouste farmhouse, surrounded by crops, will be on your way back. Then retrace your steps to the main track.
(3) Head left to continue the walk, which will remain flat, then descend steeply towards a pass at the level of a track. Take a few steps to the left until the next crossroads.
(5) In the pass, take the steep track heading towards the Montagne de Vautubiere lookout point (it's quite a steep climb). At the second left turn, cut right across the summit meadows to reach the lookout tower (very easy and less strenuous than the main track).
(6) Enjoy the summit, then head back to the right towards the western tip of the mountain along the ridge. Turn around to return to the lookout tower, then descend to the pass via the same route.
(5) At the pass, leave the main track and take the path that descends to the right, marked by a metal sign and a wooden barrier (just before the path you came from). This path descends steeply into a wooded valley. At the bottom of the valley, the track curves left and climbs.
(7) At the top of this climb, you will reach a pass. At the fork, take the track on the left that descends. Follow the track along the fields below, and it will curve to the left.
(8) Head east (right) on the path that runs alongside the large wheat fields (do not cross the chain blocking access to the private property of Mas de Langouste).
Leave the wheat fields on your left and continue eastwards.
(9) After the cistern, take the dirt track heading east (right) to the car, following the fields (S/E).
Visorando member
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