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Park in the car park after the Allauch riding centre.
(S/E) Head up the Chemin du Garlaban then continue along the DFCI track, keeping in the same direction. Keep left at the Duché houses then left again after the cistern to reach the junction of the Col de Cante-Perdrix tracks.
(1) Turn right towards Grande Tête Rouge (sign on a rock). At the signpost, keep left towards Le Taoumé. At the next signpost, turn right towards Pas dei Menoun, following the blue markings.
(2) At Pas dei Menoun, before starting the descent to the left, climb up a large rocky step on the right and follow it along to discover, a few metres further on, some engravings made by ancient shepherds. These engravings are no longer very visible; you have to look carefully for them. Turn back and rejoin the blue-marked trail.
(3) After a cairn, head down to the right towards the Grotte de l’Étoile and visit it. Turn back and rejoin the path which leads further down to the Source du Chien (signpost). Rock carvings are visible on the left a few metres above the spring and behind a pine tree.
(4) At the signpost, keep left to head up the Vallon des Escaouprés amidst water-filled potholes and streams. Further on, join a path.
(5) Leave the path and keep to the right as you continue up the valley.
(6) Turn right at a cairn, heading east then south-east as you climb through the vegetation. Cross a few rocky outcrops and arrive near the Grotte du Grosibou and a signpost. Visit the cave, turn back, then turn right to climb the Pic du Taoumé. On the other side, descend through a rocky gap and rejoin the path.
(7) Turn left onto the path, then keep to the right to follow it, heading north-east.
(8) Turn right, then rejoin the wide DFCI track further down. Turn left and stay on the track, which curves sharply to the left and heads west-south-west. Ignore the various paths on either side.
(9) Leave the track and turn right onto the path that descends towards the old bauxite mining sites.
(10) From this point, on the left, there are four caves closed off by gates. Another cave is further on to the left in the bushes. Continue along the path, keeping straight on, until you reach a large clearing with red earth. On the right, a cave closed off by gates.
(11) Keep to the left. The red trail then joins a tarmac road and some houses. Follow this road and, at the junction, turn right onto Chemin du Garlaban to reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
