Circular route on the hills above Cabris

Park on Allée Albert Camus at the entrance to the village of Cabris (between the tennis courts and the cemetery).

(S/E) Walk back to the roundabout and turn right. Pass the Sainte-Marguerite Chapel, then take the first street on the left uphill. After about 1 km on this tarmac Chemin de Pourcieux, you will reach No. 421, clearly signposted at the entrance to the property on the left.

(1) Take the path on the right. Follow a wire fence on the right. After about 500 m (elevation 615 m), turn left onto a path that passes between two remnants of wrought-iron gates. Continue along this path, which becomes a trail, somewhat steep in its final section, before reaching a good track (GR®) at elevation 663 m.

(2) Opposite is a cistern. Continue to the right until you reach the large crossroads at Croix de Cabris (marker 42).

(3) Turn onto the second track on the left (GR®) and continue to the road.

(4) Cross it and, after about 100 m, leave the GR® and take a well-marked path on the right. After about 500 m, you’ll reach a fork in the path.

(5) Head left, cross the valley floor, then veer right. Please note: in this area there are numerous unmarked paths, and some shown on the map are no longer visible on the ground.A GPS navigator or at least a compass and good navigation skills are highly recommended!
Stay on the best-defined paths, heading first north-north-west, then veering due west. Once you reach the high point, follow a track on the left (there are many) to head towards the summit south of the path (elevation 707).

(6) The dolmen is situated at the top of the hill, in a very rocky area. Return to the path and follow it to the left. You will come to a track; follow it to the right.

(7) You’ll reach a crossroads of tracks: take the one straight ahead (to the left, in the background, there’s a long trough and a well). Cross over onto a very good track (elevation 682) to follow the path straight ahead, arriving at a large mushroom-shaped rock.

(8) From the Druidic Stone, take a track heading south-west to reach a path heading due south. You will reach a crossroads (marker 45): take the main path on the right, which first turns right at a fork, then left at a crossroads (elevation 691) before reaching the point directly beneath a high-voltage power line (elevation 607).

(9) At the fork beneath the power line, take the path on the left (south). 100 m further on, cross a track and continue down the zigzagging path. At the bottom, you’ll come to a PR® (marked in yellow). Follow it straight ahead (i.e. to the left). Pass under the high-voltage power line again, then, after a right-hand bend, under another high-voltage power line. You will reach a junction of two PR® paths (marker 28).

(10) Take the PR® on the right. Pass under the high-voltage power line again. You’ll reach a wetland with a lovely drystone shelter on the left. Continue for 100 m until you reach a gate: leave the track and take the path on the left up to the military ridge.
Didn’t see the Colbas Dolmen (hidden in the vegetation?) but a beautiful rock formation offering a stunning view.

(11) Continue along this path, which veers off to run alongside the high-voltage power line. You’ll come to a good track just below this power line.

(12) Take the track on the left (GR® signposted). Arrive at Col de Cabris (elevation 594m). Signpost 52.

(13) Take the third track on the left, which descends gently and becomes a road, then arrives at Cabris. 

(14) Explore the old village, passing by the superb viewpoint next to the church. Go round the church, cross the car park, and rejoin Allée Albert Camus (S/E).

Food and other amenities are available in the village of Cabris.

Some sections (see description) feature a large number of paths, which can be confusing. The use of a GPS navigator is highly recommended; otherwise, a compass and the necessary skills are required.

There are no technical sections, so standard hiking boots are perfectly adequate.