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Moderator's note added on 05/08/2020: Please note! Several reviews of this hike indicate that a GPS device may be useful on certain sections (reviews dated 29/06 and 05/08 2020).
The starting point is the village of Beauregard, in the commune of Beauregard-Baret, which can be reached from exits 7 or 8 of the A48 motorway. Park at the picnic area on the right at the entrance to the village.
(S/E) From the car park, head south towards the old quarry. When you reach it, leave the marked path on the right, cross a chain and immediately turn left and follow a path up to a sign (watch out for falling rocks!). Take the path opposite, which climbs through the box trees on a slope that becomes very steep (old handrails to hold on to) before leading to a platform overlooking the Portail gorges.
(1) Head south to climb the slope. The path goes around the rocky peaks on the right and, after a short traverse, climbs up to the ridge behind the rocks.
It then follows the ridge, sometimes on the eastern edge, to a small rocky outcrop on the left, which you pass to discover the Croix de Saint-Gervais.
(2) The path descends to a pass and then climbs up the ridge opposite. It is much less steep and tends to become a real path that is straighter and level. Join the marked path climbing up to the right.
(3) Follow this easy path to the left, which gradually descends to the Col de Sonnaize and its shelter in the forest.
(4) Continue straight ahead on the marked path that leads to Pas du Loup, an easy passage over a rocky ridge in the forest.
(5) Do not descend to the right towards the Éperon des Ussets, but veer left to stay on level ground. After 60 metres, a path branches off to the left and climbs a few metres to the Grotte des Ussets.
Back on the trail, 30 metres further on, below Montagne des Ussets, ignore a new trail branching off to the right down towards Éperon des Ussets and continue on level ground. The trail climbs a little before descending to the meadows of Col des Terniers.
(6) Take the path opposite, which climbs to the right of the fences. It joins a path to follow on the right before leaving it to climb to the right to the Source de Font Pourcel. Then turn left onto a pastoral path that leads to the Font Pourcel crossroads.
(7) Climb the wide path on the right, then after 100m leave it to climb left up the steep Pas de la Pierre path: first straight up the slope on the grassy ridge, then crossing upwards to the left into the forest. Areas that may be slippery are equipped with wooden log steps.
As you approach the cliff, the path becomes steeper and rockier: it then winds its way up to the Pas de la Pierre gap.
(8) Do not descend opposite, but turn left onto a marked path, which climbs to a first peak (1165m).
The rest of the route is a long traverse with ascents and descents, often over rough terrain but easy to follow. The route passes through Pas de l'Aulanier, then reaches Rocher de Chantemerle, home to a TV relay station (fenced off).
(9) At the junction with the access road, descend a few hundred metres to the right and then climb back up to the left along the marked path, which is less uneven in the forest. Descend again to a low point on the ridge and climb back up to the highest point of Montagne de Musan (1,295 m) before descending slightly to reach Pas Pourceau.
(10) Turn left to enter the forest and come out at the top of Pré de Cinq Sous, which you should descend straight down.
(11) Continue straight ahead, heading north-west, along the cliff on your left in the sparse forest of Pré des Fourmis, then the path turns right and descends straight into a coniferous forest. Further down, after a few bends, the forest path passes Col des Cordeliers, at the top of a narrow meadow.
(12) Turn right to descend a little for 100 metres, then turn right at a right angle to climb up a wooded ridge before descending to Pré des Marchands and then Col des Marchands.
(13) Turn left, go through the barrier and begin the long descent of the Combins ravine via the dirt pastoral road, which is badly damaged in places due to major forestry work.
Descend the hairpin bends (some can be cut if the ground is dry) then follow the road, which becomes straighter, to the Passage du Tour. (It is no longer possible to cut directly across the Combe, as the areas are fenced off for livestock farming).
(14) Follow the tarmac road on the right, which passes the Combe farm, crosses the Portail pass and enters the village. After the church, turn left to pass by the tennis court: a footbridge leads directly back to the car park at the start. (S/E)
Visorando member
Moderate 
Tourism professional
Easy 
