The Crête de Scaletta from L'Escarène

This route crosses two villages in the hinterland, L'Escarène and Touët-de-l'Escarène, via rarely used paths. A fewancient ruins, the remains of forgotten terraces, a 360° view from the top of the Crête de la Scaletta and abundant wildlife.

This hike is for experienced hikers. The Crête de la Scaletta is off-trail and the terraces between (11) and (12) form low walls that must be crossed. Sometimes you have to use your hands on the rock.

Details

88778316
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 748 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 743 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,003 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 337 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on Place Camous, located behind the village church

(S/E) Head towards the passage under the church which leads to Place Carnot. Take the alley opposite the church, then cross the village via Rue du Pont Vieux, crossing Le Paillon, and follow Rue de Saint-Sébastien to the D2204.

(1) Cross the road carefully and take the staircase called Escalinada Jules Sioly. At the top of the steps, turn right.

(2) Cross the road with caution. Continue straight ahead on the tarmac road called Chemin de Coalongia. Look for marker 140. Follow the signs for Le Castel.

(3) Turn right onto the path, then continue along Chemin de Coalongia until you reach the end.

(4) Turn right, then left, walk alongside the house and continue along the wooded path, which gives way to terraced olive groves. 150 m after the electricity pylon, walk alongside a long old terraced wall. You will come to a cairn.

(5) Turn right onto the Serre path, which descends through the woods and ends with a few steps at the entrance to Touët-de-l'Escarène. See marker 144 below on the right.

(6) Walk carefully along the national road (D2204) for about 30 metres . Opposite, take the Escaiouns climb . At thesecond bend, continue to the right via the Pountin passage, then Rue des Espras. At the end of the village, continue towards the car park.

(7) At the end of the car park, just before the private property, turn right onto the stony path and head towards a waterfall.

(8) Walk alongside it, noting that it is sometimes dry, and turn right just after it. Then walk above it. Continue along this wooded path, a small section of which has been paved slanting street, until you reach a four-way crossroads.

(9) Turn right. Pass higher up in front of an ancient stone basin and shortly afterwards you will reach the crossroads at the Villatalla farm, which is in ruins.

(10) Turn left to see the ruins. Behind the building is a spring under a stone arch.
Return to the crossroads,
continue straight ahead for about 20 metres and turn right onto the path: enjoy the views of L'Escarène below. Continue climbing through the woods on the unmarked path: there are a few cairns. Off the path, you will reach a small grassy plateau, with a pretty view of Mont Panard a few metres to the right.

(11) Continue climbing towards the summit. The vegetation makes it a little difficult to move around. Cross a series of terraces forming a stone staircase, hence the Italian name "scaletta": these cultivated areas date back to another era. Continue to the Crête de la Scaletta.Follow a few cattle tracks. It is easy to walk along the ridge. Continue along the ridge to the Plastra farm, part of which is in ruins, and continue to the crossroads.

(12) Follow the path for a few metres, then turn left into the field. Use the Visorando app to quickly find the path that runs alongside the stream and a hunting blind. You will come to a clearing.

(13) Cross it, then follow the path that continues to the right into the wooded area. Then cross a path to continue opposite on a magnificent wooded path leading downhill. Walk along the ruins of a house on the right and reach the four-way crossroads you passed on the way there.

(9) Turn right at this crossroads. Walk along a long ancient terraced wall, then the wooded path winds its way before reaching the tarmac road of La Colla. Take it to the right and you will quickly find marker 142.

(14) Continue along this road, passing through the Coalongia Tunnel. At marker 141, turn right onto the path, which will take you back to the cairn crossroads you passed on the way out. Continue along the La Colla track.

(5) Retrace your steps in the opposite direction until you reach the initial crossroads with the staircase.

(1) Turn right and cross the bridge over the Paillon River. At the end of the bridge, turn left and head for the Camous car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 349 m - Camous car park - Paillon (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 0.41 - alt. 358 m - Stairs - Ruisseau de Redebraus (cours d'eau) - Affluent du Paillon
  3. 2 : km 0.58 - alt. 362 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 0.72 - alt. 387 m - Trail-track junction
  5. 4 : km 1.19 - alt. 443 m - End of the carriage road.
  6. 5 : km 1.72 - alt. 521 m - Cairn
  7. 6 : km 2.35 - alt. 442 m - National road
  8. 7 : km 2.68 - alt. 472 m - End of car park
  9. 8 : km 3.07 - alt. 566 m - Waterfall
  10. 9 : km 3.35 - alt. 648 m - Crossroads circular
  11. 10 : km 3.78 - alt. 698 m - Villatalla
  12. 11 : km 4.7 - alt. 909 m - Terraces - Rocher de Saint-Sauveur (Touët-de-l'Escarène)
  13. 12 : km 6.17 - alt. 981 m - La Plastra crossroads
  14. 13 : km 7.51 - alt. 787 m - Clearing
  15. 14 : km 9.14 - alt. 562 m - Marker 142
  16. S/E : km 11.22 - alt. 349 m - Camous car park - Paillon (fleuve)

Notes

Walking sticks and hiking boots are recommended.
Equipment: pruning shears and the Visorando app.
(10) Spring behind the ruins of the Villatalla farm.
Between (11) and (12): enjoy the views on the right of the Col de Braus, famous for the Monte Carlo Rally. The top of the ridge offers a beautiful 300° view.
Close the cattle pens.

Worth a visit

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.