The hike starts from the village of Gourdon. There is a large car park at the foot of the village (but it can fill up quickly during the tourist season).
(S/E) From the car park, walk past the Auberge de Gourdon, turn right at the roundabout along the Route de Caussol and join a small path at the end of the bend on the right-hand side of the road (sign at the entrance to the path).
(1) Take this path, which quickly joins Chemin du Colombier coming from the right (this is the return route). Turn left and join the road (D12) to cross it (pedestrian crossing) and find marker 8.
(2) Follow the path below the Caussols road (Chemin de Naouq) towards Embarnier. Ignore a path that climbs to the right, continue along the small road and arrive at a crossroads after a right-hand bend.
(3) At marker 14, continue straight ahead due west, climbing alongside the stream. At the fork, keep to the right, still heading west. The climb gradually becomes a little steeper until you reach Embarnier.
(4) From Embarnier, continue north to reach a concrete track and marker 38. Follow this track, which becomes steeper, until you cross the rocky ridge that leads to the Caussols plateau. Continue to a small car park (paragliding launch site) and marker 37.
(5) Continue straight ahead on the plateau in a north-westerly direction until you reach a small car park on a right-hand bend in the track.
(6) Continue straight ahead, keeping north-northwest, until you reach another small car park. Cross this car park. Follow the signs for "Voie Romaine" and continue along the road until you reach a bend on the right. Cross the road and find a path at marker 43.
(7) Follow the path through the woods heading north-northwest. This path will quickly become a well-preserved ancient Roman road. Continue until you reach a junction with the D12 road.
(8) Cross the road at marker 44 and take the tarmac road that branches off to the right, turning north, then west and then north again to reach a junction near a large willow tree. Turn right and, after about 20 metres, you will see a beautiful stone fountain surrounded by rocks on your left.
(9) Just after the fountain, take a barely visible path on the left. The slope gradually becomes steeper. The path joins a track. Follow it to the left, then leave it at a fork and take the path opposite until you cross the rocky ridge that gives access to the Calern plateau when you reach the crest.
(10) At marker 47, turn right heading due east, following the ridge to reach the highest point of the route (Colle de Rougiès). Continue along the ridge heading south-east and reach marker 46.
(11) Continue straight ahead, following the ridge towards the Cavillore plateau. You will arrive at a T-junction and marker 163.
(12) At marker 163, join theGR®51. Turn right towards Gourdon. This section ofthe GR®51is also an ancient Roman road.
(13) At marker 11, follow theGR®51to the left towards the Col Est de Cavillore and marker 10.
(14) At marker 10, begin the winding descent and head south-west to Colle Basse. The trail turns left and reaches the junction with Chemin de la Carraire and marker 9.
(15) At marker 9, at the junction, turn right towards Gourdon. Continue downhill towards the village to find the small path you took on the way up, which, in the opposite direction, will take you back to the starting point (S/E).