Grand Duc route in Mandelieu

de fr

A short family hike, 2 hours and 6 km, accessible to all. The route consists of dirt tracks and a few forest trails. No particular difficulty, slight elevation gain. However, watch out for roots and stones on the trails.
Most of the mimosa forest is located on the first part of the walk, up to the picnic area.
This circular takes about 2 hours, but you can adapt it to suit your preferences or abilities by taking another track.

Details

n°45645721
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 206 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 202 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 400 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 251 m
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Photos

Mimosas
Mimosas
Point 8
Forest

Description of the walk

Coming from Mandelieu, heading towards Tanneron on the D92, the small car park is on the right, along the road.

(S/E) Cross the road, then continue along the Barbossi Trail, also known as the Grand Duc Trail. Follow the red and white markings ofthe GR®51to reach the picnic area.

(1) Leave theGR®51trail and turn right onto the yellow-marked Route du Grand Duc trail. There are a few steps to climb, then continue along the Sentier Découverte trail. Begin a short descent to cross the Grand Duc DFCI trail.

(2) Cross this Grand Duc trail and continue on the footpath; there is a double wooden barrier. Descend to cross another trail.

(3) Follow this track downhill again to reach the Piste des Fenouillers crossroads.

(4) Turn left onto this track and walk downhill until you reach the junction with the Barbossi du Grand Duc firebreak track.

(5) Turn left onto this track and head uphill to reach a small plateau where there are beehives. Be careful of the bees here.

(6) Take the hairpin bend to the left, still on the route and the Barbossi track, and you will soon reach a crossroads.

(7) Leave the track and continue along the footpath on the left, continuing through the forest until you reach the plateau with the picnic area.

(1) Retrace your steps to return to the car park at marker 470 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 285 m - Car park marker 470 on the D92
  2. 1 : km 1.23 - alt. 349 m - Picnic area marker 475
  3. 2 : km 1.82 - alt. 399 m - DFCI du Grand Duc
  4. 3 : km 2.43 - alt. 337 m - Fenouillers trail
  5. 4 : km 2.74 - alt. 315 m - Marker 472
  6. 5 : km 3.48 - alt. 255 m - Marker 473
  7. 6 : km 4.14 - alt. 297 m - Marker 474
  8. 7 : km 4.46 - alt. 318 m - Walking trail
  9. S/E : km 6.36 - alt. 285 m - Car park marker 470 on the D92

Notes

Hike taken in mid-February, the mimosas were in full bloom. Route not suitable for pushchairs.
(1) Developed area, marker 475: Picnic tables.
(3) Here, you can turn left and climb up to the plateau (1) to shorten the hike.
(7) Watch out for beehives at marker 474.

Worth a visit

From (S/E) to (1) The trail climbs a little but is not particularly difficult. When the mimosas are in bloom, the hillside is a beautiful yellow and gives off a pleasant scent. As you climb, there are magnificent views of the Bay of Cannes, the Gulf of La Napoule and the Lérins Islands.
Between (4) and (5) There are few mimosas on this side of the walk, which is mainly lined with beautiful cork oaks.
Between (7) and (3) Views of the Bay of Cannes, the Lérins Islands, the Gulf of La Napoule and Mont Vinaigre.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 29 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 28845599

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, easy and very pleasant walk.

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User 27046322

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We were a bit worried when we arrived because the car park was full and there were lots of cars parked at the side of the road. But it turned out fine in the end. (It was the school holidays, mid-afternoon.) There were quite a few people on the first section up to the picnic tables, but very few along the rest of the route
We even got to take home a little bouquet of mimosas as a bonus

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mmg84
mmg84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Not very busy in the morning, but quite crowded when we finished our hike at around midday. What's more, the sun had come back out.

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Nathalie06
Nathalie06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk during mimosa season, though naturally very busy at this time of year.
Highly recommended.

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User 21855466

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

All of Provence gathered within a few kilometres: mimosas, pines, oaks, magnificent views whether on the sea side or the forest side.
As a bonus: the snow-capped peaks of Corsica on the horizon.
Very busy on the wide dirt tracks, a little less so on the forest paths...

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MARYSE45
MARYSE45
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I was in Tanneron for the day, for the mimosa, but I was hesitating between two hikes, so this is what I decided to do, and honestly, I had a blast 💛.

I arrived at 9:30 a.m. at the car park for the first hike (D92 - No. 45645721 Route du Grand Duc - Mandelieu) and there were only a few cars there (it was packed and full of cars on the side of the road when I left at 11:30 a.m.).
On this short 6 km circular loop, I can confirm that the mimosa is very beautiful:
- on the track leading to the picnic area (S/E --> 1)
- between points 6 and 7.

For the second circular loop (No. 18672082 - Les crêtes du Tanneron au temps du mimosa), not wanting to do the whole loop, I took the opposite direction, S/E --> 7 (13 km round trip), alone in the world, with a good part of it in the mimosa 👍.
In this direction, there is a short climb on a ravined path cluttered with branches on both sides in the mimosa tunnel (points 8 to 7 in this direction), but the effort is rewarded 💛.
Don't hesitate to go as far as Pégomas 🚘 from Tanneron, with mimosa all along the D309.
I'm surprised to read that some people were disappointed, but perhaps it all depends on the year and the flowering date. After all, Tanneron is renowned as the area with the most mimosa flowers in France!

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yorgeeff
yorgeeff

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Nice route, but unfortunately a victim of its own success... An impressive crowd, tearing off mimosa branches as souvenirs... Cars parked anywhere... No interest for nature lovers seeking peace and beauty 😔

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klem77
klem77

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Right from the start, the scent of mimosa puts us in the mood!
The trees were still bright yellow in mid-February, which was gorgeous!
Not to mention the view of Cannes Bay and the islands
We did the route in the morning, so it was relatively quiet.

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schatot
schatot

Impossible to stop at this point on the hike. It was absolutely packed on Sunday 1 February at 10 o'clock in the morning!

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NELLY J
NELLY J

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

When we set off from the Barbossi trail, we had never seen so many vehicles parked for miles along the roadside, ready to set off on the hike. The trails are accessible to everyone, even pushchairs (with all-terrain wheels). A beautiful hike, enhanced by splendid mimosas along the entire route. Avoid weekends and the February holidays.

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User 11877858

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Hike takes too many busy trails. Beautiful views of the coast.

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randoféline
randoféline

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I arrived early and there were no parking spaces left.
I parked along the road and walked an extra 50 metres (which was exhausting for me), but there were cars parked for over a kilometre, with the danger of vehicles driving up.

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jgauch
jgauch

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

OK

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User 28431972

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk at this time of year, the mimosa flowers are magnificent!

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User 3260422

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful, easy hike to discover a magnificent place with dazzling mimosas!
But it gets very crowded at this time of year, so come in the morning.

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