La Loube

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb and original hike, thanks to the author.
The blue markings are almost gone, so you have to follow the red ones instead. It's safer to stay alert and use a GPS, given the multitude of tracks in all directions, as it's easy to get lost. The steep rocky climb above the cave-spring, using your hands, is great fun but should only be attempted in dry weather. The view from the summit is absolutely breathtaking (from the snow-capped Alps of Devoluy to Mercantour, all the way to Provence, from Estérel to Sainte-Victoire and even the islands). I took a shortcut down via Pas de la Nible and Notre-Dame Chapel, which was very good.

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Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
a very beautiful route with stunning scenery, but a bit long, so plan to do it in summer.

My only criticism is that it's quite difficult to find the path to Loube Mountain from the Orris spring (so as not to use the chimney above the cave, which is dangerous)
The directions don't match the terrain.
We found this path BEFORE CLIMBING TO THE SPRING. You have to cross a flat area on the left, which is often muddy, and the path is at the end. It is not visible from the path leading to the spring.
This path is not on the hiking trail, but runs parallel to it further west.
We came across a pretty little cave there.
otherwise, the description is very good.

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Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done on 9 May 2021. Very beautiful hike and magnificent panorama. The descent through the rosemary bushes was very pleasant.
A few comments:
- the famous trail on the left from the Orris spring (WP3) is easy to find; it is as indicated on the left when looking at the cave below. It is well maintained and marked. You arrive at a sort of small pass, then descend and climb back up. Just before reaching the road, you go around a block on the left.
However, the actual trail does not correspond exactly to the given trail, which is a shame. But with GPS, you can find your way and arrive at the same spot on the tarmac road.
- it would appear that the description of WP4 actually corresponds to WP5.
- between WP6 and 7, there seems to be a missing WP because at the goose paste you have to turn right (blue cross) while the blue marked trail continues to the left below...

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Date of your route : Oct 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike with stunning views.

I couldn't find the small construction site near the cave, so I went through the chimney, which has some good handholds. Some parts of the chimney are exposed, and you need to be very careful in places.

On the way back, you also need to be careful in some places, even if there are no difficulties.

Also pay attention to the markings, which are not always clear in some places.

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Date of your route : Mar 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

be careful with the signage, which is not always very parish specific to Brittany, but the trip is worth it

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The passage is just below the building, going around it at the bottom and to the left, but it's not easy to find...
Then, there is a way to avoid all the tarmac... After about 50-100 metres, take the path on the other side of the road. It is not very well used and is not easy to follow either, but at least it exists.
This path then comes out higher up at a large concrete post on a bend. There is a cairn here; take the path on the left, which leads directly to the wooden lookout tower, which has been restored.
Be careful not to miss another path a little further on that crosses the one you are on, branching off to the right as you climb towards the lookout.

There you go... It's not easy, but once you know the way, it's much simpler. At the same time, I looked for a way to avoid the tarmac.

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Date of your route : Mar 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

one negative point is the paint markings, as there are some sections where it is not obvious. After the Orris cave, there is a slightly difficult chimney section. Is there an easier route? It is not easy for some people to get through with backpacks.
Before reaching the antennas, there is a bit too much tarmac.
Great scenery, a very beautiful hike to do again.

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Date of your route : Feb 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk in a setting typical of our beautiful region.

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Date of your route : Apr 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A splendid hike despite the heat that was beginning to set in.
However, we couldn't find the access to the road and ended up in the chimney, where we had to climb, which was very dangerous for those who are afraid of heights. Then we just had to follow the yellow markings, which led us after a climb directly to the road that goes up to the antennas. At point 5, the platform is closed because it is a lookout reserved for fires
as mentioned in a previous comment, between points 6 and 7 (despite the IGN map), we missed the Barras valley.
this shortens the route by 3 km but allows you to pass by the Notre Dame chapel, which is very pretty in its green setting.

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Date of your route : Dec 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, hike completed on 17 December, no clouds and a little windy, so magnificent views. We followed orange markings at the start, then green, and after descending 300 metres on the private road after the platform, the markings were fairly well indicated in blue. We didn't find the famous "chimney", but we climbed back up to the road without too much difficulty, a little further on after the cave

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Hello,
At the source of Les Orris, there is a small path that branches off to the left, taking you past a cave (which is easy to miss as the entrance is somewhat hidden) with a beautiful stalagmite inside. Continue along the path and immediately afterwards you will find a small trail that climbs steeply but does not require climbing (you do not need to use your hands). It will take you to the tarmac road at La Loube. This way you can avoid the chimney, which is very challenging!

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"Rond Vert, which takes you to the source of the Orris, you can continue to the right to climb a difficult chimney that will take you to the La Loube antennas."

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Date of your route : Nov 06, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely hike, except for a section close to the climbing area that could have been mentioned.
Thank you

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To confirm Aquariel's statement, the hatch leading into the lookout is indeed locked with a padlock. I went there yesterday as part of a reconnaissance mission in the area.

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