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Park in the car park at Vinezac Town Hall.
(S/E) Return to Rue du Bourg (which leads to the Town Hall) and turn right onto it, heading south. Leave the Route du Village (the route to the finish) on your left, walk all the way along the old village on your left, and continue due south along the Route d’Uzer, leaving the Route des Lombards on your right. Ignore the junctions to the right and then to the left, and continue due south, ignoring the access paths to the houses. After two bends, complete the descent by joining the Route de Morte Mérie.
(1) Turn sharply left and head for the Boude bridge over the Alobres stream. Before the bridge, take the main track on the left, heading north, skirting the vineyards on your right and the stream on your left (small weir). At the end of the vineyards, turn right, cross the Combe Longe stream and join the D423 at the finish.
(2) Walk carefully for about 200 m along the D423, then turn left before a bridge onto the small tarmac road which runs alongside the Alobres stream again (on your left). You will reach a junction with several routes (three roads and a path, marked by the “Les Alobres” hiking signpost).
(3) Take the Chemin du Serre opposite, a small road along the ridge. Continue straight on until you reach a house on the right. Continue along the road for about 200 m.
(4) Leave the tarmac via a path that starts straight ahead whilst the road veers to the right. The path widens, becomes passable by vehicle after a house, and becomes tarmac again at the “Les Amandiers” guesthouse. Pass these buildings and arrive at a crossroads (hiking signpost with directions to Merzelet).
(5) Turn left towards Merzelet, cross a housing estate and leave the tarmac for a path that crosses a small valley.
(6) At the small road, turn right for 50 m, then right again onto the D103, and right once more onto the quieter minor road signposted Coustillon, which then rejoins the D103.
(7) Cross the D103 with care. Opposite, take the Chemin de Combe Vieille, which leads into a beautiful pine forest. At the first large bend on the right, look out for the path that descends to the left, crosses a stream, then becomes steeper and stonier as it climbs. On the left, a large section of the pine forest has been burnt. Return to the wide path (elevation 397).
(8) Turn left, passing beneath the hamlet of Merzelet.
Alternative route: follow the wide Combe Vieille forest track all the way, keeping to the right; this is slightly longer but a bit easier going.
(9) At the end of the hamlet, turn left onto the path leading down towards the south-west. Follow the tarmac for 100 m, then turn left again (blue markings and arrow) onto the path that cuts across the hairpin bend to rejoin the road. Continue down the road, then turn right onto Impasse de Coudouysse, which joins the D103 (no vehicle access).
(10) Cross the D103 carefully once more. 100 m further on, take the street on the left which continues as a path in the same direction. At the end of the vineyards, look out for the signposts to take the small path below which follows the stream, then cuts right at a right angle, skirting the vineyards on the right. At the end of the vineyards, climb a short, steep slope on the left which leads to a field of olive trees. Follow it to reach a small road (Chemin de Courte Oreille, Les Crozes hiking marker).
(11) Follow this small road to the right, then turn right again onto the Route des Crozes. Then take the hairpin bend into the first street on the left (Route de la Fontaine). At the right-angle bend, continue straight ahead along the Chemin de Lembras. At Lembras, continue straight on to the road.
(12) At the vineyard, take the path downhill to the left (yellow/white and blue markings) to reach some olive trees and a wide track. Follow it to the right, rejoining the tarmac road at Vianes. At the junction, take the wide track straight ahead, slightly to the left. Keep to the right of the road and reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
