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By train: get off at Menton-Garavan station and walk along the seafront towards the nearby Italian border.
By car: cross the France-Italy border along the coast and after 100 metres, just before the tunnel (which you do not take), turn right and park in the car park under the pine trees.
(S/E) Cross the car park towards the hotel, go through the pedestrian barrier and continue straight ahead along the seafront. The tarmac road turns into a path. Pass the prehistoric museums (the new and the old) overlooked by red rocks and reach a small paradise beach surrounded by agaves and Mediterranean plants. Follow the path for about a hundred metres called Via della Costa, which runs between the cliff and the beach.
(1) At the house, continue straight ahead and cross the railway bridge. At this point, leave Via della Costa and continue straight ahead on the path, which climbs quite steeply through greenhouses and offers beautiful views of the coastline.
(2) At this bend in the concrete road, continue straight ahead on the path that leads to a tarmac road. Turn left to join Corso Mentone (Vintimille road). Be careful of traffic. At this point, turn right for about 30 metres and then climb the steps on the left. These steps turn into a path that winds through terraced fields of local crops to the village of Grimaldi Superiore, which can be seen above.
(3) The path arrives at Piazza Angeli Custodi in front of the church of Grimaldi Superiore (altitude 220 m). It's time for a break. Below the village, Grimaldi Inferiore consists of a few houses. Take the time to enjoy the view of the Italian and Monegasque coastline and visit the church, where a holy shroud sits behind the altar. Continue west and follow Via Woronoff (spelled "Voronoff" on Italian signs).
(4) Metal signposting GR®52. Leave Via Woronoff, which passes under a village house, and turn right onto the dead-end road that goes uphill. The trail starts at the end of this dead-end road on the right. From there, the trail is marked in white and red.
(5) The trail passes through a group of ruined houses connected by two stone arches: ignore the inscriptions painted on the walls. Turn right at the corner of the last ruined house. The trail winds upwards to reach a dirt road. Turn left and follow this dirt road for a few dozen metres until you reach the cemented Via Case Gina. Continue straight ahead, heading north. From number 29 onwards, this track is no longer cemented. Continue along this track, which is now stony and ascending, with ruts of varying depths depending on the season, ignoring any track junctions.
White and red GR®52 markings
(6) Turn left at this junction of tracks. Wooden sign "direction passo del Coma". This track passes in front of the entrance to a property. At this point, the track becomes a stony path descending for a few metres. Continue along this path which goes around the property and close the gate behind you (presence of livestock).
(7) Take the left-hand path at this junction: yellow metal sign. Follow the GR®52 direction. This pleasant path runs parallel to the ridge of Mont Carpano, which can be seen on your left.
(8) First turn right then left at this crossroads: landmark on the left is the ruin of a circular irrigation basin and a cairn. Turn right onto a small wet section, then immediately turn left onto this path which climbs steeply for a few metres.
Continue along the path that winds along the mountainside, following the red and white markings. These markings disappear for a few metres at a long scree slope about 100 metres long. Keep to the left of the scree slope to find the markings again at the top. At the metal sign, follow the GR®52 direction. As you approach the pass, turn left; the vegetation makes it a little difficult to progress, but the path is clearly visible.
(9) At the pass, a grassy area provides a pleasant place to rest and enjoy the magnificent views of the coastline. A south-east facing path leads to the summit of Mont Carpano. Return to the pass and continue along the path descending westwards to the crossroads at marker 412.
Turn left towards Menton. A long descent begins on this stony path. At marker 413, continue straight ahead on the descending path, still towards Menton. At the junction of the path and the Giraude track (marker 424), continue straight ahead towards Menton.
(10) Marker 423: end of the trail and junction with the paved road called Chemin Bella Vista. Follow the road to the next junction about a hundred metres further down. Turn left and follow Route de Super Garavan to number 2279.
(11) Turn right into a passageway that quickly becomes a long staircase leading down to Menton. At the small tarmac road, continue straight ahead and go to the end of the stairs.
(12) Turn left onto Chemin des Guillons to enter the town of Menton. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Boulevard de Garavan and follow it until you see the sign for "Sentier des Pâquerettes". At this point, turn right and take the cement path, which is a kind of alleyway: on the IGN map, the entrance to this path is marked 100 metres further on, but ignore this.
Turn right at this sign. Continue along the alleyway which leads to Menton-Garavan station on the left. Walk along the station on Rue Webb Elis (named after the creator of rugby, who is buried in Menton). Turn right onto Avenue Katherine Mansfield to return to the seafront. Turn left, head towards the border and then the car park (S/E).
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