From Allons station to Fugeret station

First section: from the station to the village of Allons

(S) Starting from Allons station: on the banks of the Verdon, do not cross the bridge; turn left, following the yellow and red markings of^{the GR®®} de Pays (GRPA: Grande Traversée des Préalpes), and follow the tarmac road through the gorges for a short while.

(1) Leave the road and turn left onto the^GRP®® as the valley widens. Walk past the Saint-Domnin chapel, which is situated slightly above the road. In the middle of farmland, turn left and head up through the fields along a stony farm track (the path is clearly marked).
When you come to an almost level path at the top of the fields, turn right (a farm is visible a little further on) and follow it to the hamlet of La Moutière, which you will pass through.

(2) Then follow the small tarmac road downhill for about 300 metres. Leave the road and turn left. This turn-off isn’t very clearly signposted at the moment: if you miss it, it’s easy to find your way back to the Ravin de Douane by taking the next track (an obvious track at a right angle on your left, 400 metres further on).

(3) Turn right onto the path which remains almost level all the way to the village of Allons (an old track). At the entrance to the village, there is a welcoming bench near an oratory by the first house.

Part Two: from the village of Allons to the Basse d’Annot.

(4) Walk downhill through the village, past the church and then past the ‘La Mar Salaou’ fountain, and leave the village on the left: cross the bridge and follow the track up to the left as far as the second bridge.

(5) Cross it and follow the track to the right, ignoring the yellow-marked^PR®® path which heads off to the left; follow the yellow and red GTPA markers.

(6) 250 metres further on, don’t miss the junction. Leave the track (cairn) and take the path on the left, which climbs up into the Champons ravine. You’ll come to another junction with the yellow^PR®® path (signpost for Les Peyrières).

(7) Continue to the right on the^GRP®® trail, which gradually becomes more wooded after passing through sections of marl and stony outcrops. The slope gradually becomes steeper as you reach the Col de la Basse d’Annot.

Part Three: from the ridge to Fugeret station

(8) Reach the next pass, which is very close by, by following the forest track to the left immediately after crossing over to the other side of the slope. (Alternative route available; see ‘Practical information’). In both cases, you’ll arrive at La Basse d’Allons (an information board marking a junction).

(9) Head down the path on the right (yellow^PR®® markings), which starts right at the sign. After a descent down a grassy slope, a series of steep hairpin bends through the forest will lead you to the Roncharel spring.

(10) Follow the yellow^PR®® path to the left and ignore the road leading off to the right from the spring. All that remains is to follow the^PR®® path to the village of Le Fugeret – a fairly long but straightforward walk. There are some beautiful ancient trees along the way. You’ll reach Le Fugeret.

(11) Cross the bridge. Just after the bridge, turn right; the station is at the other end of the village. Walk through the main square (café, town hall, etc.) then leave the main road as it curves to the right. Continue straight on along Avenue de la Gare and pass through a small estate of new detached houses. You’ll soon be walking alongside the railway line and will arrive at the station (E).

Don’t forget to wave to the train driver!

Water points in the village of Allons, at the Roncharel spring and in the village of Fugeret (as well as a bar-restaurant).
Standard walking kit, sturdy footwear, map, etc.

Alternative route to reach the Basse d’Allons.
(8) Follow the ridge to the left via the Colle d’Annot (10 mins) instead of taking the forest road.

This walk was undertaken by travelling by train to the starting point; the return journey was also by train, from Digne.
Provided you set off on the morning train, there is plenty of time for a leisurely walk. Do check the timetables, particularly for the return journey, and bear them in mind whilst allowing for a margin of error...
Full details of this narrow-gauge tourist train can be found via the following link: Train des Pignes

You can, of course, drive to the starting point, but you’ll still need to arrange some sort of shuttle, as this route isn’t circular and doesn’t return to the starting point via the trail.

Nevertheless, the journey itself on the “Train des Pignes” is a tourist attraction in its own right – it would be a shame to miss it!

If you decide to give it a go, bear in mind that the two stops, Allons-Argens and Le Fugeret, are not full-fledged stations but simply stops; you’ll need to ask the conductor to stop there on the outward journey and flag down the train driver to request a stop on the return journey.