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The start is at La Gabelle, a place you will find just after passing the Col de Porte. Parking is not allowed in front of the start, but you will find somewhere to leave your car a little further down the road. Marker 120 is right by the roadside, impossible to miss.
(S/E) Follow the path heading north, more or less parallel to the road.
(1) The IGN map shows a path on the left, but if it still exists, it is well hidden. Continue on the right towards the east, cross a first stream and continue to the Raimonaudo barns.
(2) Once you have passed the barns, the path indicated on your left is not very visible, and it also passes through a field where there may be a bull, so I strongly advise against setting foot there.
Continue along the path until you cross the Moissins valley. Marker 119 is not exactly at the crossing as indicated on the map, but a little further on.
(3) At this marker, you now have three options:
- the first goes east on the right, which will be the way back,
- the path marked due west, on the left, is a little longer and goes around the barns of Moissins,
- between the two, the path to the Moissins barns begins.
Be careful, as there are no yellow markings and the path is sometimes difficult to see.
Take this last path, which is the one marked. Cross the small abandoned barn. You will reach the crossroads directly below the Cime de Saint-Estève.
(4) Turn right to continue on the main path which climbs north-east. On the way, ignore a small, somewhat hidden path on your right. Continue towards the marl deposits which descend towards the river below. Be careful, as this section is not very stable.
(5) At the bottom of the valley, cross the Ruisseau des Vernes stream and pass in front of a small wash house. Continue along the path until you reach Béasse a few hundred metres further on.
(6) Cross Béasse, but be careful if you enter the buildings, as they are not always very stable. Leave the hamlet and continue along the path towards Baisse de Béasse. From here, the path begins to climb steeply until you reach Peira Cava, so pace yourself. Head for marker 167 at Baise de Béasse.
(7) Climb to the right towards the north-east and pass the cross. This will take you around Pointe de Faule, with Saint-Colomban and a few other small hamlets below you on your left.
(8) Ignore the small climb on your right, unless you want to stop and admire the view, and continue climbing towards marker 172. You will arrive at Granges du Lac. The path will be a little difficult to follow in this section as it crosses the tree-top adventure course. You will have to leave the path several times and go around the barbed wire to get back onto the path at a cistern.
(9) You will rejoin the path, and the village of Peira Cava is now indicated by a wooden sign. Bear right. Once you have taken the bend on your left, follow the direction of the Pierre Plate orientation table. The path will first descend steeply, with wooden signs on your left providing information about the trees, then climb back up to the table.
(10) This is the end of the climb. Turn right towards the west to enjoy the view from the orientation table. You will arrive at the first table, then you can head to the next one by pushing open the small wooden gate and going down the iron staircase. Enjoy the view.
(11) Retrace your steps to the previous crossroads.
(10) Head towards the village. After a few dozen metres, you will come to marker 118. Take the path on the right and begin the descent.
Be careful, as this return route through the forest can sometimes be a little tricky: the path is not very visible at first and the dead leaves are slippery, so watch your step. You will cross the Moissins valley several times. You will come back to the crossroads with marker 119 that you passed on the way there.
(3) You are now back at the bottom of the valley and just need to follow the same path as on the way up to return to the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Easy 
