From La Nègre to Pas de la Colle via Puits de Luques

From Château-Gombert, take the extended Chemin de Palama. Pass the quarry and park in a staggered formation just before the access gate to the Parc de la Nègre.

(S/E) Walk southwards down the road and, a few dozen metres further down, take the path on the right—barred by a gate—leading to the Vallon du Sauveur. Walk past a house, and about 300 m further on, look out for the start of a path on the left.

(1) Turn left onto this barely visible path, which winds its way uphill. Keep to the left, passing a ruin and a fire lookout post. You’ll reach an electricity pylon; follow the high-voltage power line which runs to the right of the ruins of the Grande Bergerie.

At the bottom of the bend, continue straight ahead on the path that follows the high-voltage power line. Further on, cross the Sentier de Découverte to continue following the high-voltage power line. Join a DFCI track and, just above it, join track ET111 of the Chemin de l’Étoile. Follow this track or take the path running alongside it on the right to reach underground cistern no. 361. After about 120 m, you’ll come to a bend to the left (elevation 416).

(2) Turn right onto the blue-marked path, heading north-east. Keep to the right. After a left-hand bend, the final 350 m are steep, leading up to the ridge on the Chemin de la Télévision. Turn right onto the road towards Le Pilon du Roi. Walk for about 250 m and follow the blue markings on the right, which pass beneath the cliffs of L’Étoile. Take in the panoramic view. You’ll reach the L’Étoile lookout point.

(3) Go round the back of the lookout and follow the blue markings which run along the cliff. Pass a large cairn and continue to the end of the path. Descend a rocky section on the right, then head into the forest towards the north and arrive at the Col des Ouides.

(4) Turn left at the signpost, following the sign for ‘Circular Col des Ouides’. The descent, which is steep to begin with, follows a gas pipeline (yellow posts), then levels out and becomes a pleasant walk alongside the Ruisseau des Mérentiers, which is completely overgrown. Pass by the Lucques well. After a long straight stretch, you’ll reach a Y-junction. Take the track on the right, heading north-east. Pass an abandoned house and a private track.

(5) Turn right onto the path that climbs towards the heavily wooded summit of l’Oasis. Keep to the left and you’ll reach an electricity pylon.

(6) Turn left at the pylon and descend the steep path which follows the high-voltage power line and joins a DFCI track. Turn right onto the track. You’ll reach a hunters’ car park. Ignore the paths to the left and right. Pass a hunting enclosure and continue along the stream bed.

(7) Carry on straight ahead past the abandoned fire tank. After a right-hand bend higher up, the path descends again and reaches a ruin and a crossroads.

(8) Carry on straight ahead, passing to the right of a 1944 war memorial. The terrain becomes sandy. Note the unusually shaped rocks characteristic of the Pilon du Roi area. The path becomes more rugged and steep. You’ll reach the ridge of the Pas de la Colle.

(9) Turn right along the ridge towards the Col des Ouides, signposted. You’ll reach a barren area with many dead trees. Look out for a gap between two rocks on the left.

(10) Pass through this gap and follow the path down into the Vallon de Mauvelle to join a DFCI track. Head right along the track to fire tank no. 600.

(11) Behind the tank, take the path which runs slightly below the summit of the Tête du Jacquot and descends towards the south. Cross the gas pipeline track (yellow posts).

(12) Turn right onto the track which leads to a Fork in the road. Take the track on the far right which descends. You’ll reach a wider area; look out for an opening on the left in the relatively dense vegetation – it’s hard to spot – heading south.

(13) Turn left through this opening and reach the bottom of the Vallon des Ouides with its limestone slabs and water-filled potholes. You’ll come to a junction; keep to the right onto the path that climbs and joins a DFCI track junction (red fire marker).

(14) Take the shortcut opposite, which joins the large open area of La Nègre further down at a bend. Head off to the right.

Go through a gate. After about 250 m on tarmac, go through a^second gate and you’ll reach the car park (S/E).

For reference: the author’s time for this route was 4 hours 40 minutes (excluding a lunch break).