Facing Mont Ventoux

A circular eight-shaped loop between forest and heath that allows you to admire Mont Ventoux and discover evidence of pastoral life in days gone by (rain water reservoirs carved into rock, drystone shelters, etc.).

Details

26336
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 445 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 441 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 812 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 401 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure (and parking available) from the picnic area on the D1 a few kilometres from Villes-sur-Auzon in the direction of Sault.

(S/E) Follow theGR® trail down towards Les Escampeaux.

(1) Just after the house, take the leftmost track, which follows the valley before climbing uphill.

(2) Shortly after a rain water reservoir carved into rock, join the wide Pas du Loup track, which you follow to the left for about 300 metres before reaching a fork 200 metres further on.

(3) Head towards La Gaillarde on the right.
This path crosses the plateau and joins the D1.

(4) Follow it for about 1 km to the left until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Keep left and you will find the Pas du Loup trail. Follow it until you reach thethird forkyou passed on the way there.

(3) Continue straight ahead on this track for 300 m until you reach thesecond fork you passed on the way there.

(2) Turn left onto the same north-west then south-west trail until you reach a crossroads at a modern cistern and an old rain water reservoir carved into rock.

(6) Take the path on the right, heading north, which descends towards Les Escampeaux.

(1) Join theGR® trail and follow it to the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 422 m - Car park at the D1 picnic area.
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 401 m - Crossroads of the circular. Escampeaux
  3. 2 : km 4.48 - alt. 707 m - Common fork A/R
  4. 3 : km 4.83 - alt. 709 m - Common fork A/R
  5. 4 : km 7.7 - alt. 799 m - Junction with the D1
  6. 5 : km 8.81 - alt. 711 m - Junction with the Pas du Loup trail
  7. 6 : km 14.56 - alt. 564 m - Cistern
  8. S/E : km 16.85 - alt. 422 m - Car park at the D1 picnic area.

Notes

No water on the route (despite the rain water reservoirs carved into rock!).
Access is restricted in summer, so be sure to check before setting out.

Worth a visit

Mont Ventoux, of course, but also Bédoin, Mazan, Malaucène and Vaison-la-Romaine.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

In order to avoid overloading this post, which is specifically dedicated to hiking: Facing Mont Ventoux, please post your question on the following forum: Support: Visorando mobile app.

Link below

Support: Visorando mobile app

Thanks in advance

See you soon

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello
Are the walks you've done on your iPhone or smartphone?
If so, you need to start synchronisation from your mobile phone using the button with an open circle ending in an arrow.
You will then have the hike on your PC and can follow Henri's instructions.
You will then have access to the Actions menu, where you can describe your hike via Edit description if you wish.
Have a nice day

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

On a side note, how can you view the hikes you've done on your PC using your account?

Log in on your PC

My Account ==> My Hikes ==> the hikes page will appear.

See you soon

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regis8418
regis8418

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello, this hike offers some beautiful views of the plain of towns around Auzon and Mont Ventoux. I would like to point out two negative aspects of this route: one is that the path is very stony overall, and the other is that there is a section of road which, in my opinion, could be avoided. Nevertheless, this hike is still worth doing. Enjoy your walk, everyone.
Régis

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bernardSalon
bernardSalon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike for a good walk without any particular discoveries, but with an interesting view of Mont Ventoux.
Thank you.

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patrick.bormann
patrick.bormann

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Easy hike on beautiful paths. The section along the main road offers beautiful views but is a little unpleasant. The entire route is marked in yellow/orange.

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hockyard
hockyard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant hike, partly through the forest, with beautiful views of Mont Ventoux. It is easy to find your way with the clear signposting and detailed description. A must-do.

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firmin30@hotmail.fr
firmin30@hotmail.fr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A hike that I was partly familiar with, and which I always enjoy doing.
No particular difficulties.

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Survival
Survival

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

-Risk of misunderstanding: "head towards La Gaillarde on the left" because there is already a sign indicating La Gaillarde on the Pas du Loup trail, but on the right!
I would say instead: "...Pas du Loup trail, which you follow to the left for about 300 metres before turning right towards La Gaillarde, then after 100 metres take a path on the left, still towards La Gaillarde".

-Then, when you reach the D1: to avoid the inconvenience of walking along the road, which is also quite dangerous (speed of cars and bend),
I suggest:
"Do not cross the D1 but turn left across the field, following the road for about 200 metres, then go downhill and look for a passageway to access a pretty path at the bottom of the valley (a good spot for a picnic). Follow it for about 800 metres: it joins the Piste du Loup. Then turn left and take the track."

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POIRIER
POIRIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I walked 22 km after taking a detour to the sheepfolds and the Bélé cave, with a total climb of 636 m.

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COLIA
COLIA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did this hike today. It was a beautiful route with stunning scenery and lovely rain water reservoirs carved into rock. However, this route takes a good 4½ hours for experienced walkers. The route is very well marked. We must congratulate the FFRP volunteers who maintain the trails and redo the markings. I speak from experience.

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POIRIER
POIRIER
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful walk

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edmondguevara
edmondguevara

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2014
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The view of Mont Ventoux is the main motivation for this hike.
A long, single climb (easy) before returning to the starting point via a long, single descent (simple).

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