From Peypin to La Destrousse via the Col du Marseillais

The start point is at the “Halte routière” bus stop in Peypin (line 17). Parking nearby.

Markings: yellow, then yellow and red

(S) Head west towards the roundabout. There, head towards Pichauris on the D46a. Follow a path that climbs up the embankment on the left. You’ll come across a track; take it to the left as you climb. At the junction, take the first path on the right. Further on, turn right again, heading downhill towards the cemetery.
At the small hut on the left, turn left immediately afterwards and take the path leading downwards. At the bottom of the valley, avoid a false trail that heads straight on and take the one climbing up to the left.
After crossing the bed of a dry stream, carved out with magnificent little natural pools, leave the path leading uphill on your left and continue following the yellow markings.

(1) You’ll come to a gate. Follow the track climbing up to the left until you reach another gate; go through it and head down the track.

(2) At the crossroads, turn onto the track furthest to the right. Further on, on the left, there’s a lovely view of Sainte-Victoire. Pass a path on the right. You’ll reach a clearing with a house on the left; turn right opposite it.
Turn right in front of a water tank marked 305 and turn left just past it. The path climbs and passes some concrete picnic tables.

(3) At the pass with a ruined house, turn immediately right onto the path climbing to the right. Join a track at a hairpin bend. Take it to the right as it climbs. Pass through a gate and under a high-voltage power line. Ignore a track climbing up from the right.

Unmarked

(4) At a fork in the road, turn left. Stunning view of Sainte Victoire. Stay on the track.

Yellow markings, then yellow and red

(5) At the Col du Marseillais, panoramic views of Roquevaire and the Huveaune valley to the south-west. Further on, pass by a water tank marked 73. At the Fork in the road, turn right.

(6) Further on, in a right-hand bend, there is a small cairn on the left, marked ‘Vallon de Pieresca’. Take the path leading down to the left. At the crossroads, turn right. At the next junction, turn right again onto a steep, slippery descent over scree. You’ll reach a hairpin bend; follow it down to the left.

(7) When you reach a point where a track climbs up to the right towards Roquevaire, leave it and continue towards La Destrousse. A little further on, on the left, you’ll see a chain and a track leading down; leave this and continue straight on.

Blue markings

(8) At a right-hand bend, take a path leading down to the left. Further on, take the track on the right, then follow the track opposite. At the junction, turn right and pass a dead-end track on the right. Turn left at the next junction onto the road that climbs steeply.

Yellow markings

(9) At the top of the hill, turn right, then turn right at the junction.

No markings

(10) A little further on, turn left onto Rue Le Deven until you reach the D7. Turn right. The bus stop for Peypin is on the left a few dozen metres away. The bus stop for Souque Nègre is a little further down, after the roundabout.

(E) Le Panorama bus stop (La Destrousse).
Car park nearby.

From 1 June to 30 September, access to the woodland areas is restricted. Please check the Prefecture’s website: (https://www.bouches-du-rhone.gouv.fr/Act...).
No water along the route.
Beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire.
The descent can be steep and slippery in places. Please take care.