From Les Collets Rouges to Le Pouchon

On the D9, take the Les Pinchinades exit – exit 10 if coming from Aix-en-Provence or exit 11 if coming from Vitrolles. Follow signs for the Collets Rouges equestrian centre. Park in the Magenta car park to the left of the equestrian centre.

(S/E) Follow the signs for the DFCI track along the tarmac road heading down towards the north. After a sharp bend to the left, go through the barrier and head west. You’ll come to a Y-junction.

(1) Keep to the left and follow the wide track, which forms part of the^GR® de Pays 2013 Marseille Provence Métronome trail, heading west. You’ll reach an X-junction.

(2) Head north on track AR110. Pass to the left of a large water reservoir, then walk alongside the pink marble sand quarry. You’ll reach the tarmac road leading to the Vitrolles speed camera.

(3) Cross it and head towards the cliffs. Turn right and follow the path that runs alongside these cliffs. Take in the scenery.

(4) Turn right onto the path which joins a junction of tracks and a signpost at elevation 206. Head towards the Plateau du Grand Arbois, heading north-east. You’ll reach a junction of several tracks at elevation 192.

(5) Turn right onto the track running alongside the fence of the Domaine des Pradeaux. Further on, keep to the left to follow the track as it climbs. Pass elevation 196 and underground fire tank no. 78, then arrive at a Y-junction with some old wooden signposts.

(6) Head left towards the hunting car park sign no. 18. Reach the top of the track at elevation 232, where there is a gate and a large information board about the area. Follow the track heading eastwards until you reach a Y-junction.

(7) Turn right onto the stony, then sandy path which descends steadily. You’ll reach a triangular junction with a small patch of vegetation in the centre.

(8) Turn left, then you’ll come across the^first rocks sculpted by erosion. Further on, on the left, you’ll notice a ruin. Just after that, you’ll reach a Y-junction.

(9) Turn left onto the narrow, overgrown path. Climb a rocky mound on the left, then follow the path as it branches off towards the south-west and then south. Further on, you’ll reach a large, bare hillock with sand and ochre-coloured rocks. Cross it on the left. Below the hill, head right and follow the path that runs at the base of the rocks. Admire the shape of these rocks. Further down, you’ll come to a junction of several tracks (alt. 195 m).

(10) Below the hillock, turn right and follow the path which runs to the left of the rocks. Admire the shape of these rocks. Further down on the right, join a wide track and turn left to follow the path which runs alongside a power line. You’ll spot a large water reservoir. You’ll reach a Y-junction at elevation 163.

(11) Turn left. You’ll reach a Y-junction

(12) Turn left and head down to the foot of the red ochre hills. Turn right at the bottom of the Bayle valley and follow the track which, further down, joins the tarmac road leading to the Collets Rouges equestrian centre. Turn right onto this road and walk for about a hundred metres.

(13) Cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside it and leads back to the starting point (S/E).

For reference: the author’s time for this route was 2 hours 50 minutes, excluding a lunch break.