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On arriving at the Comté Forest from Vic-le-Comte via the D225, just after the access road to Pignols on the left, there is a small rest area on the right where several cars can be parked (sign for the Sentier des Arbres, which is the official starting point).
This route follows sections of various paths in the Forêt de la Comté, and you will come across various signposts; please ignore any that are not mentioned in the description.
Many paths are not shown on the IGN map, but are clearly marked on OSM.
(S/E) Leave the lay-by via the exit opposite the direction of Vic-le-Comte. Cross the D225 carefully and take a path a few metres ahead on the right. Walk for about a hundred metres, then turn right and go through a gate.
(1) Ignore the return path on the left. At the junction of four paths, with signposts, carry on straight ahead, disregarding the directions indicated. You’ll come to a wide path.
(2) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring any signposting you see. Ignore any faint side paths; at the crossroads of four paths, carry on straight ahead again. You’ll reach a gravel track near a site where ponds have been created (numerous information boards).
(3) Follow the gravel path to the right, and at the next junction, turn right. Cross the D225 with care and take the path opposite. You’ll come to an information board for the Sentier des Gardelles. Continue along the path, then turn left onto a path that leads to a pond.
(4) Walk along the path on your left, skirting the pond, then continue along this path as it moves away from the pond. You’ll come to a wide track; follow it to the right, ignoring the faint logging tracks on either side.
(5) At the crossroads of four paths (logging area), turn left. The track climbs up the slopes of the Puy des Gardelles. Keep going straight on, ignoring any side tracks. At the T-junction with a track, just after a right-hand bend by a fallen tree, turn left, following the ‘Fleur’ markings. You’ll reach the Integral Biological Reserve (RBI), where there’s an information board.
(6) Take the path on the right that runs alongside the RBI.
(7) At another RBI sign, at the Fork in the road (with a barrier on the left-hand path), keep to the right. Take care not to miss a path branching off to the left of the track (marked with a ‘Fleur’ sign at this point, pointing straight ahead).
(8) Further on, when you see signs and young trees on the right, cross the small embankment on the right, then follow the ‘Leaf’ markings along a section of the Sentier des Arbres. Turn slightly right at the junction, then continue to follow the ‘Leaf’ markings round a left-hand bend, then straight on at the next junction. You will eventually rejoin the path you left earlier further upstream. Follow it to the right. Shortly afterwards, ignore a path on the right (and the ‘Feuille’ markings) and immediately pass through a gate to reach a wide track.
(9) Turn left, following the yellow markings. Enjoy the views over the village of Pignols, and pass a barn.
(10) At the junction, follow the unmarked path to the right, which winds sharply. At the T-junction, turn right. You are now on a Roman road.
(11) At the crossroads, turn left. Cross the D225 carefully and follow the road opposite, which climbs towards Pignols. Cross the Ruisseau de Pignols and then, at the Fork in the road, turn left onto Rue des Condamines. Turn right at the first street, Route des Fontaines. Opposite the fountain, which has a washhouse, turn left and then, at the next junction, turn left for a short round trip to a very beautiful covered washhouse.
Back at the junction, turn left and walk about twenty metres. Don’t miss the staircase leading up between two houses (there’s sometimes a car parked in front, but it’s a public path). At the top, turn right and you’ll arrive at Place de la Mairie. Opposite, follow the signs for ‘Église’ to reachthe Church of Sainte-Marguerite, with its pretty porch and picnic table (there’s a mural inside; the key is available from the town hall, though not at weekends – a shame; see also § Things to See).
(12) Return to Place de la Mairie and head off to the left. Then follow the streets downhill, passing a fountain and the enamelled lava war memorial under a covered walkway on your left. Carry on straight ahead, then turn left at the end of the street opposite an old telephone box converted into a book box. Cross a road and continue straight ahead onto Chemin des Pradeaux.
(13) At the crossroads after passing the last houses, turn left, then take the first path on the right, running alongside a field. Just after entering the woodland, at the crossroads, take the path on the left, marked by a badger’s paw print; follow this marking until otherwise indicated. Begin to walk around the Pic de Dimond.
(14) At the junction of three paths, head diagonally to the right. At the next junction, by an information board about mammals, turn right (Sentier de Cheix Blanc).
(15) At the next junction of three paths, keep to the right. At the junction shortly afterwards, go straight on, leaving the badger-paw-print markings which veer off to the left. At the next junction, rejoin the badger-paw-print markings and continue straight on. Leave these markings for good at the next junction, continuing straight on once more. You will eventually rejoin the path you took at the start of the walk.
(1) Turn right to go through the gate, then head back to the car park (S/E) on the other side of the D225.
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