Country:
District:
Coming from Sanary or Bandol via the Route du Beausset, head towards the Jardin Exotique (Chemin de Sainte-Trinide). Once you have passed under the motorway, do not turn left (Jardin Exotique) but continue straight on along the Chemin de Sainte-Trinide. When you reach the Chapelle de Sainte-Trinide (which you will see on your right), continue straight ahead (Chemin de la Piole Paul Venel) for about 600 metres until you see the sign explaining the hiking routes on your left, located just at the start of the path.
Park a little further on the right, where there are three parking spaces along the dry stone wall.
(S/E) Take the red and blue marked trail that starts at the sign and passes between two beautiful properties.
(1) After about 150 metres, take the path that climbs to the left, at a sign indicating:GR®5130 mins. Very quickly, the path turns left, then runs along a balcony overlooking the Sainte-Trinide district, with beautiful views of Bandol Bay.
You will then come to a steep descent, at the end of which you will reach a stream bed. Follow the stream to the right for about 200 metres, before leaving it to take the rocky section on the left, which climbs steeply.
This will take you to a wide forest track (the Chemin des Gros Pins) at a hairpin bend, near the SNR 3 cistern. Follow this track to the right for about 200 m.
(2) Take the steeply ascending path on the right-hand embankment: marked in red and blue, it is the continuation of the path coming from the valley to the left of the track. Climb this path until you reach the ridge road (elevation 269) and turn left. When you reach a cistern, leave the wide track on the left and continue straight ahead to the Pointe Ouest fortification.
(3) You can continue to the left to enjoy beautiful panoramic views, then turn back.
(3) Walk alongside the military buildings and follow theGR® trail, whose red and white markings are clearly visible on the tree trunks in front of the barracks. This trail takes you for a kilometre or so among the rocks of the ridge, with beautiful views to the left and right (caution: difficult terrain!), until you reach the road at the foot of Pointe du Cerveau.
(4) At the bend in the road, at the intersection with theGR®, you will find the entrance to the Garou cave. Carefully descend between the rocks for about ten metres before you find the entrance to the cave on the left. It is a large, multi-level cave that is well worth a long visit.
The climb back up is easier than the descent. Take theGR® trail on the left, heading east. You will rejoin the road at a bend after passing a small (poorly maintained) botanical route and seeing a cistern on the right.
(5) TheGR® continues eastwards, but head south along the forest track closed by a barrier, which you follow downhill for about 250 metres before turning right onto a wide path that climbs gently before descending gradually, still heading south.
After about 400 m on this wide path, in a bend to the left, you will find the entrance to a path on the right, clearly marked by stone borders.
(6) Take this path, which is well maintained with its assembled stone borders. Halfway along, you will see a pine tree in the middle of the path. Then you will begin to see the rocks that form part of the Roche Curade site on your right. Descend carefully and you will find yourself at the site on your right.
Take the time to admire this majestic breaking wave of stone, then continue along the path towards the west. You can't go wrong: first, the trail passes between large rocks, from which you have beautiful views of Roche Curade behind you, then you leave the pine trees for the heath, and the trail joins the blue and red marked trail, which you descend to the left for your return. You arrive at a crossroads.
(7) Turn right (blue and red markings) to descend the path along the rocky bed of a temporary dry stream and you will find yourself back at the starting point.
(1) Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).
. The visit to the cave adds to the enjoyment of the hike. In short, a varied and interesting hike: definitely worth doing! 
Visorando member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
