Hauts Plateaux du Vercors via the Pas de Berrièves and the Pas de la Ville

Park in the small car park at the Col des Deux, situated on the left 100 m past the pass. To get there from Grenoble, turn right at the hamlet of Fruitière, 1.5 km before Gresse.

(S/E) Climb up and cross the Col des Deux. Continue for 100 m until you reach the fork.

(1) Take the path on the right towards the Pas de Berrièves and you’ll come to a Fork in the road.

(2) Keep to the left, leaving the path on the right which leads to Côte Joubert. You’ll reach another fork.

(3) Head up to the right, skirting the meadows, then through the forest, then out into the open on the foothill ridge, until you reach a fork in the path.

(4) Turn left onto the path which winds steeply upwards through the scree to reach the Pas de Berrièves.

(5) The Jasse du Play hut is visible. Head up to the right along the path skirting the cliff edge to a large cairn to admire the view. Then descend, following the view, to the top of the small grassy valley and turn left to descend towards the Jasse. Join the^GR®91again.

(6) Follow it to the right as far as the Jasse du Play.

(7) Retrace your steps.

(6) Follow the red and white^GR® markings to the Fontaines du Playe.

(8) Top up your water supplies if necessary and if possible (low flow). Continue along the^GR® to the Fontaine de la Chau.

(9) Continue along the^GR® until you reach a fork in the path.

(10) Leave the^GR® and turn left, heading up to the Pas de la Ville.

(11) Then take the path down towards Gresse.

(1) You’ll cross a cross-country path (elevation 1721). Continue downhill until you reach a road. Follow it to the left for about 350 m.

(13) Leave the road and turn left, heading due north, onto the small path towards La Ville until you reach a road.

(14) Walk up to the Pierre Blanche car park.

(15) Take the Montée des Dolomites on the left-hand side of the Fork in the road until you reach the Serre Monet junction.

(16) Turn left onto the track towards the Ferme du Grand Veymont, pass it and arrive at Les Grands Deux.

(17) Turn right to descend to the D242.

(18) Follow it to the left to return to the original junction.

(1) Carry on straight ahead, pass the Col des Deux and reach the car park (S/E).

Water points:
* A tap near the start by the roadside, 50 metres below the (1).
* Fontaine du Play (very low flow).
* La Chau fountain: don’t count on it.
Conclusion: it is best to set off with all the water you need.

Shelters:

• the Jasse du Play is a clean, freely accessible hut designed for walkers. It contains a stove, a table and a guest book. Naturally, there is neither water nor electricity. There are no mattresses, but you can sleep on the floor upstairs.
• The two huts at the Jasse de la Chau, near the (10), are, however, reserved for shepherds and their work.
• Just before the ski resort’s reservoir, there is a pretty, tarpaulin-covered wooden structure shaped like a hemisphere, with a picnic table inside.

Season: the ascent to the Pas de Berrièves takes place along a scree gully that never sees the sun. The last patches of snow melt late here. Signs indicate that the Pas de Berrièves is strongly discouraged in winter conditions.

Orientation: within the Hauts Plateaux Nature Reserve, to minimise human impact, the paths are poorly marked: few coloured markings, a few cairns, and very few signposts. They may seem difficult to follow for someone with little experience. Nevertheless, in clear weather, with a little experience, it is easy to find your way around the Hauts Plateaux: huts, the Grand Veymont and other passes and summits. It is a pleasure and a great feeling of freedom to be able to stray from the official paths. It is a completely different matter in fog, where a good sense of direction and a compass can prove a great help.

Pastoralism: in summer, the Hauts Plateaux are used as mountain pastures. Shepherds, their flocks and their dogs may be encountered on the path. The beauty of the landscape is down to their age-old way of life. Provided you follow the guidelines to be observed in such situations, everything usually goes very smoothly.

Difficulty: the ‘difficult’ rating is mainly due to the length and elevation gain of the route. There are no sections that are particularly exposed. The climb to the Pas de Berrièves through the scree gully beneath the cliffs is somewhat exposed (risk of falling rocks) and may be daunting for a novice. In good weather conditions, there should be no problems with navigation, although there are few coloured markings on the paths, particularly within the Reserve

Ibex are quite common at the Pas de la Ville, and even more so on the Grand Veymont ridge.

From (13) to (16), the route passes through the pleasant ski resort of Gresse-en-Vercors, known as ‘la Ville’. On the ascent of the Dolomites, you’ll pass a grocery shop open all year round.

Excellent organic goat’s cheeses, amongst other things, are available to buy directly from the Ferme du Grand Veymont between (16) La Croix de Serre Monet and (17) Les Grands Deux. Services, opening hours, prices and further information can be found at lafermedugrandveymont.com/.