Access: coming from the Rhône valley, cross Les Ollières-sur-Eyrieux then take the bridge over the Eyrieux. Turn left immediately after onto Route de la Plage. At the cemetery, turn left, do not take the left-hand road (Route de Tartary), but the road that runs alongside the cemetery on the right. At the next crossroads, take the road on the left which leads to a crossroads (signs for Ruelle de l'Eyrieux on the left and Route de la Plage on the right). Turn right to park either at the playground and picnic area or a little further along the river (large stones).
(S/E) From the car park, take the path keeping the river on your left. Pass the canoe rental buildings to reach the toilets. Turn right and follow the path uphill between the tennis court and the water treatment plant. Join a small tarmac road at the Téoule signpost.
Yellow-white signposts
(1) Turn left towards Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort, following the road. Pass the entrance to the Domaine des Plantas (campsite) and follow the uphill path. Shortly afterwards, the tarmac ends as the path turns right to go around the estate (discrepancy on the map).
(2) The path turns left and, about 50 metres further on, comes to a fork. Turn left onto the path parallel to the road and join the path that runs alongside the bungalows. Follow this flat track to the end of the campsite and then climb into the woods. After a few hairpin bends, you will come to a tarmac road.
Turn right and follow this road uphill until you reach a crossroads at the Les Pauses sign (EDF hut).
(3) Turn right onto the road and immediately left onto a path overlooking it. Join the same road, cross it and continue straight ahead on the path; you will arrive higher up on the D265.
(4) Follow it to the right until you reach Saint-Vincent-de-Durfort. Cross the village on this same road, ignoring the roads and paths marked on the left. Pass the church, the temple and the toilets and reach a crossroads and the signpost for Les Balans just before the village exit sign (oratory).
(5) Turn left onto the paved road downhill towards Serre de Gruas. When you reach the Durfort Bridge, cross it.
(6) Turn right onto a path. Make a left turn and continue to a crossroads 100 metres further on. Turn right into a pine forest. Shortly afterwards, at the fork (not marked on the map), continue straight ahead on the main path (ignore the path on the right). Cross a small bridge and continue up a stony slope. When the path runs alongside a pasture, ignore a path on the left and continue through the woods to reach a small paved road.
(7) Turn right onto the tarmac road, pass a beautiful swimming pool and continue to the house (the path passes through the middle of the property, but there are no signs prohibiting this). Pass the house and turn right after the terrace to walk along the bottom of the property. This path is marked on the map as a discovery trail and there are numerous small wooden signs with numbers here and there, but no explanations.
After several wide hairpin bends, you will arrive at the bottom of the valley.
The path climbs gently up the other side and arrives at a crossroads at signpost no. 9 (not marked on the map). Turn left to continue on the same path. After a short climb, you will arrive at another crossroads (not marked on the map). Turn left and continue to a house and the signpost for Le Faure.
Continue right towards Chambon de Bavas on a pleasant path along the hillside. Arrive at the hamlet of Vaneilles and cross it via the alleyway until you reach the crossroads in the centre of the hamlet.
(8) Turn right, leave house no. 2287 on your left and continue along the lane. Pass no. 2293 to leave the hamlet. Turn left and descend the path. Continue left on a path that runs diagonally between landscaped gardens (leave the access road to the hamlet on your right and left). A sign saying "no motor vehicles" indicates the entrance to the path. Go down between the low walls and feel free to visit the two charming gardens on either side, which are private but open to the public.
Continue downhill, passing through a private area where you can picnic, and you will come to a crossroads (no signposts at this point). A car wreck on the left is a good landmark.
(9) Turn right onto a grassy path that runs alongside a pine forest and join the hollow of the valley. Cross the bridge, go up and continue for about 400m to pass in front of a house (Bataille). Continue on the partially paved path until you reach the D265 at the Fourton signpost.
(10) Turn left onto the road for about 100 metres, then turn right onto a path. At the next fork, take the left to reach the Croix des Bans signpost (not visible on the map). Turn right onto the path that goes around the property and join a new crossroads about 300 metres further down.
(11) Turn right, the path narrows and becomes very stony for a few hundred metres. Further down, it becomes very pleasant for the final descent and you will reach the Théoule signpost.
(1) Turn left and then immediately right onto the path that leads back to the car park (S/E).
