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To reach the car park below the old village, enter Rochecolombe. At the Info-Rando sign, head towards the cemetery; after the cemetery, continue towards Sauveplantade. 100m after crossing the bridge over the stream, enter the car park.
(S/E) Turn your back on the tarmac road and head across a meadow towards the old village, joining the path that descends towards the stream. After 130m in this direction, at the signpost, take the path leading uphill to the left.
Follow the white-and-yellow markings throughout the climb.
(1) At the “Lauzière” signpost, carry on straight ahead towards Vogüé-Gare and Sauveplantade. At the next signpost, “Léauze”, which is nearby, continue towards Vogüé-Gare and Sauveplantade by turning left.
After 250 metres, at a left-hand bend, follow the signposted path which continues straight on down the hill.
(2) 400 metres further on, watch out for the signpost on the left (do not continue straight ahead on the path).
Follow this path for a little over 400m before reaching a tarmac road; cross it to take the Chemin de la Chadenne opposite. Continue along this path, following the signposts. Walk through the vineyards on the plain
(3) At the ‘Chade’ signpost, turn right towards the first houses of Sauveplantade. Follow the tarmac road to the right, then turn left at the Fork in the road to reach the village centre.
(4) Walk past the Romanesque church (open to visitors, with information boards) and its cemetery. 50 metres further on, take the road on the right which crosses the stream via a bridge.
At the next crossroads, at the “Sauveplantade” signpost, turn right towards Le Pradet.
(5) At the “Pradet” signpost, turn right towards Rochecolombe and Lauzière. On leaving the hamlet, follow the white-and-yellow marked path to the left through the heath.
The track narrows to a path and climbs quite steeply beneath the Serre de la Fourche.
(6) Take care to follow the markings to the right beneath the Serre de la Fourche as the trees thin out and the path becomes less steep. The path widens into a track again, offering lovely views of the valleys on either side.
(7) At the ‘Palas’ signpost, turn left towards Villeneuve-de-Berg and Clos de Vernet, following the signposted forest track.
Follow the signposting to Clos de Vernet and join the Route Royale, a wide dirt track.
(8) At the ‘Clos de Vernet’ signpost, turn right towards Saint-Maurice d’Ibie and Tête de Crespi.
(9) At the “Tête de Crespi” signpost, continue straight on along the Route Royale for 500 metres to reach the Montagu crossroads.
(10) At the ‘Montagu’ signpost, which features an information panel on the Voie Royale and a street sign for the commune of Rochecolombe, turn sharp right onto the path leading down towards Leyris. Follow the white-and-yellow markings along the path, which offers a beautiful panoramic view.
(11) Please note: take the road on the left, which is signposted, even though the path appears to go straight on. Follow these signposts until you reach the entrance to the hamlet of Leyris.
(12) At the ‘Les Clos’ signpost, turn right towards Rochecolombe.
(13) After 600m along the track, the signposted path descends to the left, running alongside a stream – which is usually dry – on the higher bank.
Cross the stream via a concrete crossing, then continue along the path opposite towards the village of Rochecolombe. Walk past the Info Rando sign in a small square at the crossroads.
(14) After the sign, take the tarmac road on the right which climbs up beneath the church at Rochecolombe
Follow the white-and-yellow markings uphill until you reach the ruins of the old village and continue to the platform of the feudal castle (remains of the keep adjoining the Chapel of Saint-Barthélémy).
(15) Next, head back down towards the carefully restored houses and then towards the river, which you will cross via a bridge before rejoining the starting path (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
