Circular route around the three peaks of Conest

From Laffrey or La Motte d’Aveillans, head to the village of Notre-Dame de Vaulx and park in the small square by the church (surrounded by its cemetery), at the entrance to the village when coming from Laffrey.

(S/E) Leave the car park and return to the D113 road. Follow it to the right towards the village of Notre-Dame de Vaulx. Cross the village and, when the road takes a circular route to the left, continue straight on along Rue du Misi until you reach the square of the same name.

(1) Arrive at Place du Misi (signpost) and take the alleyway at a 90° right. This alleyway, tarmac-surfaced at the start, turns into a path and begins to climb gently. The path ends in a flight of log steps. Climb these to reach a hairpin bend on a tarmac road. Cross this bend and continue along the path directly opposite, which continues to climb and leads back onto the tarmac road a little further up. Follow this road to the left for about 600 m.

(2) The road widens into a small clearing leading to a cattle park on the right. Turn right and take the path that climbs between two fences. Do not take the track further to the right that enters the cattle park, even if the gate is open. Follow this fairly straight path uphill, heading north, ignoring all the tracks to the right or left. After about 1.5 to 2 kilometres, this path also joins the tarmac road. Follow it to the right, still climbing.

(3) You will reach the Chalet de l’As, which can serve as a shelter for a picnic (2 tables and a fireplace under the covered area). Go round it and continue along the road, which very quickly turns into a track. At the first fork in the tracks, take the left-hand track and arrive at the mountain pasture marked by a sign saying “Petit Lac”. Continue to the next sign (same inscription) located about 80 m further on.

(4) Take the path on the left towards La Peyrouse. From there, you can follow the route by sight, as the area is completely open and the target peaks are clearly visible. Furthermore, there are numerous paths, made either by people or by livestock, and none is to be preferred over the others (see Practical Information). Reach the summit of La Peyrouse (superb view).

(5) Head back, veering slightly to the left and heading towards the Grand Lac (artificial lake) visible a little further down. Reach it, go round it on the left and immediately start the ascent of the Trois Têtes.

(6) From the summit, turn back and, on the descent, veer left, heading due east then north-east to rejoin the route taken on the way up, this time following it northwards.

(4) Continue straight on, go round the Petit Lac (also artificial) on its left and start climbing to the summit of Beauregard via one of the many paths. At the summit, view from the orientation table.

(7) Turn back. On the descent, go round a small beech wood on the left, then cut across the grass to reach the track leading to the stone building known as the “Chalet Pastoral de Connexe”. Follow this track to the right.

(8) At a signpost, situated on a high embankment to the right, head down the path on the left, going round a tiny cairn on its right-hand side. Follow this path, which is easy to walk on and very well marked, up to the 1347m mark.

(9) At a white metal sign (blank), turn due south; the path on the right starts between two wooden posts. Follow it down to the next junction, ignoring all the tracks to the right or left.

(10) You’ll reach a junction of three wide, well-marked paths at elevation 1187. Take the one on the left, heading downhill, and follow it to the hamlet of Villaret

(11) You will arrive in the hamlet of Villaret. Go round the building housing a fountain and start heading down the main street (D113C). Take the second street on the left, then the first street on the right and continue straight down into the hamlet of Les Perrins.

(12) You’ll come to a three-way junction; take the road sloping slightly to the left. Follow it to the next crossroads.

(13) Take the road branching off to the left. It is tarmac for the first 150 metres, then becomes a dirt track. Follow it until you reach the D113 road. Cross the road and continue along the track opposite.

(14) About a hundred metres further on, turn off onto the lovely, passable track on the right and follow it, more or less in a straight line, heading south-west.

(15) You’ll reach a hairpin bend on the D113. Turn right, cross the bridge and head up towards the first houses of the village of Notre-Dame de Vaulx.

(16) Take the first street on the right. Follow it and you will come out, once again, onto the D113, which is the route taken on the way there.

(17) Turn right and follow the D113 to the car park at the end of the village (S/E).

There are at least two fountains in the village of Notre-Dame de Vaulx, including one in front of the town hall, and at least three in the hamlet of Villaret. In any case, there is no information regarding the potability of the water.
There are no other water sources along the route.

The trail markings (yellow, sometimes red) are quite old and rather faded, or even missing. Nevertheless, there are a few signposts along the route...

It is entirely possible to simplify this route:
- For example, by omitting the detour via the Trois Têtes (point (6)). In this case, from La Peyrouse, retrace your steps back to point (4)
- By omitting two of the three peaks and keeping, for example, only Beauregard (point (7)), from where there is already a very fine view and which is the only one equipped with a map marker.
- By simplifying the return journey from point (13). At this point, turn right and follow the D113C and D113 roads to arrive directly at the starting point (S/E).
- It is possible to drive up to the Chalet de l’As (3).

As mentioned above, the summit of Conest is a vast, undulating alpine meadow dotted with three main peaks (in fact, three rounded hillocks). It is impossible to get lost (except in thick fog) and you can very easily navigate by sight, going wherever you please and at your own pace.
Be careful, though: where there are pastures, there are also livestock, sheepdogs and fences during the summer season!

The Petit Train de la Mure. Information available at La Mure and La Motte d’Aveillans stations. Scheduled to open in 2021… in theory!

La Mine-Images in La Motte d'Aveillans: explore the anthracite (a very pure form of coal) mines of the Matheysin plateau. Link

A walk to the Pierre Percée in La Motte d'Aveillans, one of the seven wonders of the Dauphiné!

The lakes of Laffrey, Petichet and Pierre-Chatel for swimming and boating in summer.

Saint-Honoré 1500, a failed ski resort that is partly abandoned. The unfinished buildings serve as a canvas for graffiti artists.