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(S/E) From the top of the village, called "La Colle" (700m), take the path towards Col de Mairola, via markers 180 and 181.
To do this, start by heading south/south-east along the main road. Before the last houses in the village, take the street on the left that passes in front of the Ecomuseum. Then take the first street on the right that leads to the path and turn left.
This path crosses a first cross-country track.
(1) Marker 181. Continue, crossing the track several times and then following it.
(2) Leave the "Sentier du Facteur" on your left and take the track on your right, walking alongside the ruins of the forgotten hamlet of Les Fournès.
(3) The Villars à la Combe trail winds its way through isolated hamlets.
(4) Pass the renovated Mairola hut (marker 182) and you will come to the Col de Mairola (1,286 m, marker 183).
(5) Turn right and leave the track after a few metres to take the path on the left.
Although the climb has been gradual up to this point, it becomes steep as you head straight towards the Col de Barbenière (1,477m - marker 184).
(6) From the pass, climb to the summit of Montagne de Mairola (1596m) in 1 hour there and back via a path that branches off to the left.
(7) Retrace your steps back to the pass.
(6) Head opposite, towards the south-west.
(8) Return via theGR®510, following the ridge trail on the western edge of the Dina Plateau. Descend to join the Chemin de Saint-Julien (marker 170).
(9) Pass behind the La Chaise forest house and follow the track for 500 metres until you reach a distinctive hairpin bend (marker 171).
(10) Turn right onto the discovery trail.
(11) Leave this trail and take a fairly wide path along the ridge and descend to the village via the north-facing slope of Sainte-Catherine, in the Puget-Rostang national forest (marker 179), then return to the car park (S/E).
It was our first hike in the region. I really enjoyed it... the nature is varied, as is the level of effort required, with a magnificent view of Mairola Mountain. The icing on the cake: the multitude of butterflies and other insects, a small piece of unspoilt nature.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
