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Coming from Logis Neuf, follow the D908. In the centre of the village of La Fève, just after the terminus of bus no. 142, turn right at the traffic lights onto the Chemin des Grands Louis, towards the Vallon de l’Oule, then left onto the Chemin des Maurins. Keep right at the junction just after this and park at the side of the road after the Fork in the road: there are five to six spaces available.
(S/E) Retrace your steps back to the Fork in the road and turn right onto the Ancien Chemin de Pichauris, which climbs alongside some houses. Pass a fire brigade access gate, go past a large water tank, then turn right onto the tarmac road which descends and leads to an open area with several paths.
(1) Follow the DFCI GB200 track. Head along the path flanked by cliffs until you reach a hairpin bend to the right.
(2) Leave the track and turn left onto the path that leads into the Oule valley, where you’ll need to go through a barrier and over a chain. Note the areas set aside for animals and the numerous ‘Traps’ signs hanging from the trees. The path then narrows before reaching a junction with an observation post (lookout) perched on a tree opposite.
(3) Keep to the right, heading south, then south-west. After a mirador on the right and an old well on the left, the path becomes steeper as it climbs to the Col de l’Amandier. Cross the pass’s clearing and take the path opposite, which descends steeply, running along the right-hand side of the Amandier valley. Walk for about 100 m until you see, on the left, the start of a very overgrown path (marked by a cairn) which descends towards the bottom of the valley.
(4) Take this path, using as a landmark on the right a large, isolated rock in the middle of the vegetation, which you’ll need to head towards in order to pass alongside it (see photo). The path then becomes pleasant and clear. Pass by a ruin and descend to the clearly visible bottom of the valley. Cross a few rocky sections and potholes without difficulty.
(5) Leave the valley floor on the right, returning to it further down. Then keep to the left at the Y-junction. Head towards the large rocky outcrops and keep to the left.
(6) Further down, rejoin the path that branches off to the right into a valley, heading west-north-west. You’ll come to a track.
(7) Turn right, go through the gate and follow the path which, after a bend to the left and another to the right, joins the top of the Amandier valley on the left.
(8) Turn left onto the path heading north-east, which alternates between shaded and stony sections. You’ll reach a crossroads.
(9) Turn left and walk for about 50 metres to reach a DFCI track opposite a ruin. Follow the track a few metres to the right, then turn left onto the yellow-marked path heading north. You’ll reach the Boude well, which has been restored by a hunters’ association. Continue northwards, with the Étoile range and the Pilon du Roi in your sights. Join the DFCI track again.
(10) Turn right onto the track.
(2) Carry on, negotiating the bend, and arrive at the open area with numerous path junctions.
(1) Turn left towards the west onto the main track, which passes by the Fenêtre des Maurins (a viewing point on the Canal de Provence) and then, after a barrier, joins the tarmac road of the Vallon de l’Oule. Follow this road straight on to return to the car park at the start (S/E).
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