Carnoux via Le Vieux and the Old Cassis Path to Aubagne

Park in the car park on the Vieux Chemin de Cassis.

(S/E) Go through the forest gate in the car park and you’ll soon reach a junction.

(1) Take the track on the left, passing the 197 water tank. Then a mark on the ground indicates a left turn. Take the path. Another mark, a little further on a post, confirms the route to take, which descends steeply. Facing a mountain range, reach the gently curving dirt track.

(2) At the bottom of the descent, follow the yellow and red markings which indicate a left turn. When the markings indicate a right turn, stay on the path that goes straight ahead and reach a forest gate and the tarmac road. Turn left onto it, following the yellow and red markings. Pass under the railway line and very soon, at an electricity pylon on the right-hand side of the road, a yellow and red sign indicates that you should leave the Chemin de Carpiagne.

(3) Take this small junction on the right-hand side of the road. It climbs through the undergrowth to reach a junction. Take the path on the right to reach a fork almost at the bend. Look for a forest gate with a Yellow Cross. Turn left, just before the forest gate on the right. Follow this small path as it climbs. Very soon, a few metres further on, you will see yellow markings on the left and a cairn on the right. Keep to the path marked in yellow on the right, at the cairn. This section is a little technical and follows the yellow markings over rocky ground. At the junction with another path, take the path on the left, continuing to follow the yellow markings uphill.

(4) At the cairn, take the path on the left towards an electricity pylon.

(5) When you reach the foot of the pylon, turn right onto a small, Y-shaped path that feels as though you are retracing your steps. Head towards the village of Carnoux, which you can see on the left

(6) At the crossroads, turn left and head down towards Carnoux. You’ll cross a path branching off to the right. Stay on the main path to the left, which climbs slightly and is very green.

(7) At the fork, turn right onto the path leading down towards a fence visible on the right, still following the yellow markings. You’ll reach a forest gate which you must go through to reach the tarmac road. Take this to the right, then at the roundabout turn left, still following the yellow markings. Turn right at the first street, heading down Avenue Jean Philippe Rameau to reach a stop sign.

(8) Turn right onto Avenue Jean-Claude Debussy to reach a large junction and continue straight ahead. Pass a DELKO garage, continue straight ahead and, at the end of the street, turn right towards the cultural centre.

(9) Then, immediately after the boules court, take a very narrow path branching off to the left, marked in yellow. Follow this path. Climb the steps until you reach a sky-blue marker (on the steps). Three steps further up, take a path that branches off diagonally to the left. Follow it to reach a wider path. Follow this uphill, following the yellow markings.

(10) At the junction, turn left and head uphill. You’ll cross a path on the left, but carry on until you reach a very wide path, still going uphill and following the yellow markings.

(11) Turn left to reach a fork. Follow the path leading off to the right (the widest path) to reach a signpost pointing left towards “le panorama de la croix”. This is a path that climbs steeply to reach the Croix de Carnoux

(12) Retrace your steps back to the car park (S/E).

Suggested by: A.M.I.S Rando Aubagne