Dentelles Sarrasines and crossing of Rocher du Turk from Vacqueyras

Park in the village of Vacqueyras, there is parking in the Place de la Marie. Walk to the Tourist Information outlet; the directions start from here.

(S/E) From the Tourist Information Bureau, walk North (heading into the village and towards the boulangerie) then turn right onto the narrower Route de Montmirail. Follow this road (sometimes with a pavement) to where it bends to the right and there is a yellow signpost for Beaumes-de-Venise. Follow the road around right hand bend and follow it, ascending gently, with fields of vines on either side. Pass a second yellow signpost (Beaumes-de-Venise), and continue upwards towards a Mansard roof which emerges above the trees. The road bends right to pass the entrance to Villa Theophile then it bends left to bring you to a narrow road on the left. Turn left and follow this road a short way to a private chapel.

(1) From the Chapel walk back to the road, turn left and walk a short distance until you come to a farmer's track on the left. (best to use the GPS track to find this as there is no signpost)

(2) Despite the lack of signpost this track is the GRP des Dentelles de Montmirail (as marked on the map). Follow the track between the fields of vines to a bifurcation in the track.

(3) Take the right hand track continue along the GRP, but look out for a narrow path on the right marked with a VTT symbol and the number 345.

(4) At the sign turn right onto the narrow path which heads downwards. Note this path is narrow and is becoming a little overgrown at first. Expect some brambles and small tree branches in your way. At the bottom it widens and starts to ascend without the foliage, bringing you up to a junction with a wider track, just below a ruined tower. Follow the narrow path on the right uphill to the Tour Sarrasine and good views of the Dentelles and back over the plains.

(5) From the Tour Sarrasine, walk back down to the main track and turn left to follow the topmost wide track northwards, which leads to the Col d'Alsau, passing another yellow signpost as you arrive.

(6) At the Col d'Alsau there is an information board and just past this a wooden signpost pointing up hill to the Rocher du Turk. Turn right and follow the path which is steep in places. It is marked with blue paint flashes (at junctions in the path avoid blue X marks and follow the blue flashes or dots). The path leads up through shaded woods to the foot of the cliffs, which make up the Dentelles Sarrasines. At the top it undulates following the easiest path at the foot of the crags. Take care as this is a climbers path and some turnings lead you upwards; one in particular leads to a notch in the ridge from which the path down requires a scramble or backtracking on yourself to pick up a lower path. Eventually you will arrive at the large Brèche next to The Rocher du Turk.

(7) The descent has lots of small stones underfoot, so take care so as not to slip. At the bottom arrive at a level area next to a steep pillar of rock, which has bolt hangers in (used by climbers). Turn left and follow the narrow stony path West-North-West until there is a signpost (Col du Cayron), and you can turn right and follow the path downhill to the valley bottom.

(8) The Col du Cayron has picnic benches and an information board with interesting facts about the geology of the area. (This was once a popular picnic site at the parking place for climbers, but in recent years parking here has been banned due to erosion and the risk of fires from people with BBQ's), however it is a good half way spot to eat your lunch and have a drink or water. Turn left and take the upper of the two left hand tracks which ascends gently to a viewpoint, more picnic benches and an information board under the Rocher du Midi.

(9) Keep following the track, which now turns South-West and keep a look out for a narrow path on the right heading downhill. (Again the GPS track will help you identify the right place)

(10) Turn right and follow the path down to a T junction, turn right and walk down to a second junction, which is more of a crossroads.

(11) Turn right onto the wider track and follow this to a second crossroads, this time with a field of vines in front of you.

(12) Go straight over and onto a farmers track with vines on the left and woods on the right. Follow this until you enter the woods and the track becomes a narrow path lined with pine needles.

(13) Follow the narrow path around and down to a track/road. Be careful as the needles and small stones can make some of the down hill parts easy to slip over on.

(14) Turn right and follow the road, which improves as you descend, through vineyards to a sharp bend left and a junction.

(15) Turn left and follow the road to Petit Montmirail. At a junction turn sharp left and follow the curve in the road to descend between fields of vines back to the road you started on.

(16) Turn right and walk down the road and back to Vacqueyras.(S/E)

In the summer please use this website to check for fire risks and follow the instructions, there is a risk of fine if you do not and venture into the area when it is banned. https://www.risque-prevention-incendie.fr/vaucluse/

Climbers will be at least aware of this area and might be well versed in the many crags and routes available. It tends to be too hot in the summer months but hikers may well see climbers in the spring, autumn and winters months.

Wear boots, or at least good approach shoes. Long trousers with zip off legs are a god idea. You can wear them long for the section between (4) and (5) and have them as shorts for the rest of the walk.

Drink water before you set off and take water with you.

Wine tasting at Vacqueyras, there are two professionally run caves with a variety of local wines and many independent domains.

The local market at Beaumes-de-Venise is good, if you drive around the Dentelles then there are also good markets at Malaucene and Vaison-la-Romaine. The latter has some very interesting Roman ruins.

This area is also a paradise for cyclist too.