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(S/E) On disembarking, take the lane leading uphill next to the post office, then turn left towards “La Palud via Les Crêtes”. Walk round Fort du Moulin and take the steps on the left, signposted “Sentier de Découverte”.
(1) At the cemetery, follow the path on the left. Walk overlooking the sea until you reach a Fork in the road just below Fort de l’Estissac.
(2) At the fork in the road, take the path on the left and, after a few metres, ignore the path branching off to the left. Head downhill (be careful – the path is quite challenging) until you reach La Palud beach.
(3) Cross the beach and take the stairs leading uphill opposite. After a steep climb, the path continues gently through the woodland to a crossroads with a cistern. Turn left towards “La Galère”. Reach the headland and enjoy the stunning view.
(4) Head down to the right over the scree and follow the path to Port Man beach.
(5) Take care: you’ll come to a crossroads with a ruin on the left. Do not go straight on (sign for “Retour Village”) but go round the ruin and head down to the beach. Cross the entire beach and climb the steps opposite to join a track. There’s no need to turn left towards Fort de Port Man, as the area is fenced off. Before the ruin, turn sharply right onto a track and climb up to a small sign marked “Les Tufs”.
(6) Turn left and head down to the “Tufs” or “Baignoires”: it takes 10 minutes to go down and a quarter of an hour to climb back up the 70-metre elevation gain. Walk along the lower section of the “Baignoires” to the end, where there’s a cliff, then return via the upper section. This superb natural feature is well worth the effort of going down and back up again.
(6) Back on the track, turn left and continue uphill to La Sardinière, ignoring the path junctions on the right.
(7) At this lovely, shaded spot with ruins, turn left onto a very narrow path marked ‘La Vigie, les Crêtes’ (not shown on the map).
(8) At Fortin de la Vigie, there is a magnificent view of Île du Levant. Walk down the tarmac road for 200 metres, then continue along the track heading south-west to the heliport. Retrace your steps slightly and head west towards “Les Crêtes”.
(9) Continue westwards to the viewpoint overlooking Île de la Gabinière below (large viewing platform). Retrace your steps.
(9) Take the path leading down to the left marked “Retour Village”. Follow the stream down to the bottom, into the picturesque Vallon de La Solitude. You’ll reach a water retention basin and a large crossroads.
(10) Turn left, then immediately right to walk alongside the reservoir. Follow the track on the left bank of the stream. Walk past the Hôtel du Manoir, then along a path lined with Provençal reeds. Once at the harbour of Port Cros, turn right, walk up to the chapel and head for the landing stage (S/E).
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