From Rognac to the small pass Redon

To the east of Rognac, follow the signs for Chemin des Malagas. Park at the junction between Chemin du Puits de Rognac and Chemin de Sarragousse, next to the tunnel under the A7 motorway: there are a few parking spaces available.

(S/E) Head east up Chemin de Sarragousse, then turn right onto Chemin de la Source. Follow the dirt track.

(1) Leave the track on the right and immediately spot the permanent spring on the right, well hidden in the vegetation (contour line 75). Then follow the path that climbs up the other side of the valley and joins a track. Turn right onto this track and, about 200 m further on, you will come to the Malaga waterfall cirque, characterised by a large limestone stalagmite formed by the water falling from the cliff. Take a look around. Be careful not to slip. Continue on your way until you reach a Y-junction.

(2) Turn left onto the stony track that climbs up to the top of the cliffs. Look for a trail on the left that runs along the top of the cliffs.

(3) Follow this trail, which sometimes skirts the edge of the cliffs. Be careful (see practical information section). After a tricky passage through bushes and dead trees (old fire), you will arrive above the Malaga waterfall. Visit the site.

(4) Head eastwards along the bed of the stream called Vabre de Malaga. Follow the path that climbs to the right, passing by a water reservoir for animals. Join the track you left earlier, cross it and follow the path that runs alongside the olive trees, passes through the stream bed and arrives at the Oule fountain. Continue on, join a track and turn left.

(5) Take a shortcut on the right, then rejoin the track, which is cemented over the last few metres of the climb. You will arrive at a crossroads with multiple paths at an elevation of 200 metres.

(6) Go through the gate and head north on the track. About 200 metres further on, you will come to a Y-junction. Turn right onto the path that crosses the Plaine de Maroc (private hunting ground). Join a track and continue to the right, heading east towards Jas d'Arbaud.

(7) Turn left and follow the path which further on joins the track that runs north alongside the Jas d'Arbaud facilities. Look out for the Arbois watchtower on the right on the hillside. Pass by a private property and then further on, a ruin at an elevation of 201 metres. Keep heading north-east. After another ruin and a hill, the track descends alongside terraces planted with olive trees. You will see the small pass of Redon on your left. You will arrive at a crossroads at an elevation of 216 metres.

(8) Continue straight ahead, then turn left about 50 metres further on onto track AR218, which is marked on a rock. You will come to a Y-junction.

(9) Leave the track on the left and descend into the valley. About 250 m further down, take a sharp left turn. After several hairpin bends and fords, you will come to a Y-junction.

(10) Turn left and you will come to a T-junction with a track. Turn left onto this uphill track which leads to the foot of the Collet Redon hill (see Practical Information section).

(11) Turn right onto the rough track marked with yellow posts (gas pipes), heading west. Go through a gate (AR105). You will arrive at an open area and a T-junction.

(12) Turn left, heading south: on the right, there is a ruin. You will arrive at a junction with a tarmac road. Turn right just after the road behind a metal post marked with two large blue and white arrows. You will arrive at a shed used by hunters and then a car park.

(13) Turn right, following a large blue arrow marked on a tree. You will come to a T-junction and a private property (sign) with a well and a fence. About 50 m further on, look for a path starting between the trees on the right (see photo).

(14) Take this path, which allows you to go around the left side of the private property. You will come to an X-shaped crossroads. Continue straight ahead on the path that veers to the left, heading south-west. You will come to a Y-shaped fork with a small path.

(15) Turn right onto this path and descend into the valley. Keep right at another fork and follow the stream bed. Pass some houses and then a ruin before arriving at a T-junction and more houses. Turn left onto the^GRP®® 2013 (AR101 trail). After a right turn, you will arrive at a small chapel and a stele.

(16) Turn right and follow the^GRP®® 2013 trail uphill to the Rognac plateau and an X-shaped crossroads.

(17) Turn left onto the GRP®2013 trail, heading south, which runs along the Rognac cliffs. Follow the trail as close to the cliffs as possible to admire the landscape (elevation 182). You will arrive at the Rognac cross.

(18) Continue along the path that runs along the cliffs. You will arrive at a Y-shaped crossroads.

(19) Keep to the right to reach a ridge with the remains of an ancient oppidum on the left and, further ahead, the ruins of Castellas Castle (wall and tower).

(20) Turn back.

(19) Keep right at the fork to reach a car park and a tarmac road (Chemin de Sarragousse). Turn right onto this road.

Pass by an oratory and continue straight on Chemin de Sarragousse to return to the starting point (S/E).

As a guide, the author took 5 hours to complete this route (excluding lunch break).

You can park in the car park of the fitness trail further south (+ 800 m round trip)

To admire the Fontaine de Rognac and the beauty of its waterfall, it is advisable to do this route just after heavy rain. On the other hand, some sections of this route may be very muddy.

You can avoid the cliffside section between (3) and (4) by continuing along the track that joins the 137 coastline.

You can also climb the hill of the small pass Redon.