From the Grotte aux Chèvres to the Font aux Pigeons

Park in the large car park at Vallon du Saut, located at the end of the old Route de Martigues which runs alongside the A55.

(S/E) Head east for a short climb towards a high-voltage pylon. 120 metres after the pylon, look for a wide grassy valley on the right.

(1) Head into this valley, which is littered with fallen trees. The path climbs quickly, sometimes steeply, between rocks and dead trees. You will come to a rocky outcrop (Pierre Vincent), which you will need to climb over using your hands to help you through a gap on the left. Continue left on the path that goes around the rocks. You will then come to the Grotte aux Chèvres. Be careful, as the cave opens out on the other side in the middle of the cliff.

(2) Head south-east at the foot of the rocks. The path passes by a small cave and then turns right towards a crack that joins the ridge.

(3) Turn left and follow a "goat path". Do not go down into the valley. After about 150 m, you will reach a track near an old installation (metal posts).

(4) Turn left onto this track, which winds downhill. Keep left at a Y-junction, then the track climbs again. You will arrive at the ridge.

(5) Move slightly to the left to spot a path opposite. See the practical information section. The descent becomes very steep in the scree. Be careful not to slip. You will arrive near the A55 motorway. The path then levels out as it turns right. You will arrive at a Y-junction.

(6) See the practical information section. Join the path that runs alongside the A55 motorway fence. You will arrive above a tunnel that crosses the motorway at an elevation of 73 metres.

(7) Turn right and join a wide, wooded valley. You will arrive at a Y-junction.

(8) Turn left for a steep climb followed by a gentler descent that leads to a passage carved into the rocks (old Châteauneuf-les-Martigues path).

(9) Turn left for a return trip to Font aux Pigeons. Admire the landscape.

(9) Turn left and pass by the Baume du Figuier. See the practical information section. Then continue southwards along a narrow passage (old steps carved into the rock).

(10) Just after a junction with a path on the left, turn right for a round trip to the old Puits de Barbes, easily spotted in the distance.

(10) Return to the previous junction and turn right towards the east. Move onto an esplanade to admire the landscape. You will come to a Y-junction.

(11) Turn right and continue straight ahead for 50 metres. You will come to a T-junction near the quarry (earth embankment).

(12) Turn left onto the overgrown path that follows a power line. See the practical information section. You will come out onto a stony path directly below a telephone line.

(13) Turn right then immediately left into a hollow valley, still under the power line. You will come to a junction with a path coming from the quarry at an elevation of 130 metres. Keep left and, surrounded by beautiful rock formations, follow the wide path that approaches the A55 motorway and arrives at a pumping station. Further on, there is a picnic area with tables.

(14) Turn right at the tables and keep right for a sometimes difficult climb over rocks. Turn right at a Y-junction at elevation 169 and arrive next to a high-voltage pylon. Keep to the right and follow the path between two quarries. On the left is a disused quarry and on the right is a working quarry enclosed by a fence. You will arrive near the tarmac road leading to the quarry.

(15) Go through an opening in the fence specially designed for crossing the road. Be careful of the many lorries travelling at high speed. Head towards Forêt Communale Le Canton, indicated by a large sign. Follow the long track that goes around the quarry on the left. The track passes between two large rocks before turning left at elevation 190. Admire the landscape of the Etang de Berre.

(16) Turn right for a descent due north through beautiful rock formations. On the right, in the middle of the cliff, you will see the entrance to the Grotte aux Chèvres, and further to the left, the Fortin du Saut. After a slippery descent over scree, you will arrive near the Vallon du Saut track.

(17) Turn left into the grassy valley of Fortin du Saut. When the path narrows, look for a path on the left leading up into the forest and a small cairn.

(18) Follow this path to the foot of Fortin du Saut. Stay at the foot of the cliff to discover the Grotte de Debaussadou on the west side, which is not accessible from here. Follow a path that leads back to the valley.

(18) Return to the beginning of the valley you passed through earlier and the Vallon du Saut trail. Turn right onto this trail and return to the starting point of this hike (S/E).

As a guide, the author took 4 hours to complete this route (excluding breaks).

This hike is classified as difficult due to numerous steep paths in scree and passages cluttered with stones and dead trees (old fire). Take great care.

At WP (5), do not be tempted to follow the ridge on the right or to head down into the valley below. This will lead nowhere.

After the steep descent at WP (5), there are two options at WP (6): continue on the right along the path that leads into the forest. However, be careful on the last 60 metres, which are on a slippery, steeply sloping slab. Alternatively , turn left at WP (6) to join the path that runs alongside the motorway fence (much easier).

A GPS is essential.

Obey the prohibition signs near the quarry. Danger, blasting. At WP(12), do not turn right to shorten the distance and avoid going around the quarry. This leads to a restricted area.

La Baume du Figuier is temporarily closed due to the risk of rockfalls.

There are many wild goats along the route.