Côteau de la Meynière and Brancouï from Saint-Jean

Parking in Saint-Jean-de-Durefort, in a square on the edge of the D943.

(S/E) From the car park, head to the village centre. Take the signposted route opposite towards Sainte-Marguerite. Turn right into Rue des Cèdres, then left into Rue des Près de La Caille.

(1) At the Sainte-Marguerite crossroads (metal cross), turn right onto the tarmac road towards La Balate: view of Mont Ventoux. Follow this road downhill for 800 metres until you come to a track on the right at the entrance to a left-hand bend.

(2) Follow this track for about 500 m. After a long right-hand bend, turn onto the small track going up to the right, which gradually turns into a path. Pass a small ruined building on the right of the path, almost at the top of Brancouï, then descend on the other side of this hill: you can see the ruined Tour de Durefort on the ridge opposite.

(3) Follow the path that curves to the left to run along the top of a valley. Pass a charcoal kiln on a small terrace and gradually descend to the right to the bottom of the valley.

(4) Turn right and climb back up the thalweg. Further on, turn sharply left to leave the valley and come out onto the D943 (small car park).

(5) Cross the road carefully and continue uphill on the path opposite. 200 m further on, in a right-hand bend, leave this path and follow a grassy strip between the trees on the left, then pass a small wall on the right to join a horizontal track.

(6) Take it to the left and then quickly turn right. (Note: if you continue along the path without following the grassy strip, you will also reach the horizontal track, but a little further on.) At the next crossroads, take the track going up to the right.

(7) 250 m further on, turn left onto the track and descend about 15 metres. Pass the 844 m mark and then continue climbing in the valley above La Bouquette. 600 m further on, pass the platform of a charcoal kiln located on the left, slightly above the track. After about 90 m, you will find the start of a small path marked by a cairn on the left.

(8) Take this path (not shown on the IGN map) and immediately cross a charcoal kiln. Follow this path uphill to another charcoal kiln located on a terrace after a small scree slope. Continue almost horizontally along the hillside. Pass by the ruins of a shelter that was probably used by charcoal burners. Then pass other charcoal kilns: views of Monieux, Ventoux and, further to the right, Sault. After a good kilometre, you will arrive at a hunter's lookout. Continue past the lookout, join a track opposite, then, after a descent, you will find a slightly larger track marked GR®.

(9) Follow this track opposite, heading south, and walk along the top of the Coteau de la Meynière.

(10) At the Coteau de la Meynière signpost, take the track on the right towards the Tour de Durefort. Walk along the fence of the Domaine la Tour and arrive at the La Tour de Durefort signpost.

(11) Turn right towards Fontaine de Durefort. Descend into the woods on this PR® marked trail: a little further on, enjoy views of Ventoux, the Nesque plain and Belair Castle. Join the D943 at the Fontaine de Durefort signpost.

(12) Follow the road to the right. At the end of the bend, at the Le Ribas signpost, turn left towards Saint-Jean-de-Durefort. Follow this PR® marked route until you reach the car park (S/E).

During the summer, consult the mountain access restriction website.