Heath and the troglodyte castle at Beaumettes

Park in the Place de la Mairie car park, which is shaded but small and therefore often full.

(S/E) Climb the steps opposite the Place de la Mairie, turn right then immediately left, and go up the narrow street, then take the path on the right towards the Beaumettes troglodyte castle. Pass two bends and emerge onto the plateau at the hamlet of La Roche Pointue. Carry on straight ahead towards the hamlet known as Les Parties Ouest. This is where the magnificent dry-stone walled enclosures begin.

(1) Turn left onto the Chemin de la Fontaine du Loup, ignore the path branching off to the right and continue straight ahead. Cross the small tarmac road and take the path opposite. Head into the woods and turn left, ignoring the private track that branches off to the right. Walk past a house and continue along the path. Just past a ruin, head slightly downhill to the left, cross an open area and follow the path back up to the left.

(2) At the crossroads, turn right. Pass between the ruins with the well and rain water reservoir carved into rock, then follow the path back up to the small road. Turn right and, at the first junction, continue along the small road to the right to reach the “Heath” junction.

(3) Take the path to the left and carry on straight ahead towards Saint-Pantaléon.

(4) At the first junction, take the mountain bike track branching off to the right. After a left-hand bend and a steep slope, you’ll reach the junction with a small road.

(5) Take the wide path that runs more or less flat to the right, ignoring the first one, which is stony and climbs into the forest. You’ll reach the hamlet of Mange-Tian.

(6) Continue along the path to the right until you reach a lavender field. Ignore the path branching off to the right and carry on straight ahead.

(7) At the “La Grande Heath” junction, turn left and walk gently downhill along the road for about 200 m. Then turn left at a 90° angle and continue to the next junction, which is also about 200 m further on.

(8) Take the narrow path branching off to the right. It is marked as ‘sentier botanix’ on the OpenStreetMap base map. Here you’ll find some magnificent Chinese arborvitae, amongst other things.

(9) At the cross-country track, continue left until you reach the next junction, 150 metres further on. Follow the path that goes straight down and you’ll reach an area of grey marl below. Carry on for a few more metres and turn right onto the first track (markings are faint). Cross the pine forest and you’ll come out onto another well-marked path.

(10) Turn right and walk gently down the rocky, ledge-like path. You’ll emerge directly below the D900 at a place called La Fontaine du Loup; turn right and take the old Beaumettes road to easily reach the Town Hall Square (S/E).

Downside: the route runs close to the D900 (safe crossing). There is quite a lot of noise between (10) and the hamlet of La Roche Pointue.

A little further on: the villages of Lumières, Goult, Gordes, Ménerbes, Lacoste, Roussillon, Oppède-le-Vieux, etc.