Le Mas walks

Spectacular landscapes, a remote, wild region, villages nestled in the mountains: you are in the Haut-Estéron region. Three days’ hiking in this magnificent setting, alternating between paths and tracks through the woods, across the plains and along the ridges, whilst passing through some beautiful, isolated villages.

The first stage of the journey through the Haut Estéron region: the landscapes are magnificent and the area extremely wild; we didn’t come across a single other hiker. The trails are varied and well-marked. We’ll set off from the village of Le Mas to reach Amirat (lodge) via the Charamel mountain and the village of Les Mujouls.

This round trip hike, starting from the charming village of Le Mas, takes you to the summit of L'Arpille. L'Arpille is considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Alpes-Maritimes on the Mercantour.

A moderately strenuous but very pleasant walk. It is the largest recorded and listed natural waterfall in the Alpes-Maritimes, with its three successive drops. The waterfall is exceptional and, in terms of height, is matched only by its Icelandic twin sisters. The start and end of this route offer a chance to discover the beautiful architectural heritage of Aiglun. Thanks to its strategic location, the inn is a popular spot at the end of this round trip in the Estéron.

An exceptional hike, combining history, nature and fitness. The troglodyte fortress is unique, the Vegay waterfall is rivalled only by its Icelandic twin sisters, and the rough section of the nature trail will test your sense of direction. The route concludes with a tour of Aiglun’s beautiful architectural heritage.

Located a stone’s throw from the village, on the edge of an impressive canyon, the troglodyte fortress known as the “Château d’Aiglun”, with its stone-masonry walls, nestled in its natural surroundings, bears witness to a mysterious past . This rural built heritage, a veritable bastion situated beneath the Giet cliff, is believed to be the largest of its kind in France, spanning nearly 80 metres. The construction of stone steps, the installation of metal steps, the safety works on the access routes, the installation of signage and attractive information points allow visitors to fully enjoy these magical, timeless places.

Circular route from the village of Gars to Briançonnet. This hike takes you to the impressive Source de Gars, the birthplace of Célestin Freinet, pioneer of modern education. It is a varied route that passes through the village of Briançonnet and the ruins of its feudal castle, from where there is a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Both villages are well worth a visit for their rich heritage.

Far from the most popular trails in the Alpes-Maritimes, this walk takes you through a few small villages in the upper Estéron valley. The circular route described here also offers some lovely panoramic views of the Mercantour mountains and features a fairly varied landscape, ranging from woodland to farmland. A long route with significant elevation gain but no technical difficulties. Please note: there appears to be an issue regarding private property.However, there is an issue between the waymark (7) and (8). The path is now closed by the owner of the farm. You must continue via the Crête des Rochers des Côtes and then rejoin the path at the far end of the Rochers de Notre-Dame.

A very pleasant, easy family hike through pine forests and small meadows, ideal for a picnic in the mountains.

At an altitude of over 1,400 metres, this pleasant hike through the pine trees takes you on a journey of discovery through an enchanting environment. The Pic de Fourneuby overlooks the village of Le Mas and offers a 360° panorama of the foothills of the Alpes-Maritimes and neighbouring departments.

This hike is accessible to all. The highlight is the magnificent site of Castellaras, the only difficulty being the climb, which is nevertheless reasonable. The hike starts from the picturesque health resort of Thorenc. The route also offers views of Lake Thorenc and the Château des Quatre Tours. The variety of landscapes and paths is another interesting aspect of this hike. What's more, there are no navigation difficulties.

Second stage of the journey through the Haut-Estéron region. This stage takes you to Saint-Auban via the pretty villages of Gars and Briançonnet, then over the somewhat steep Col de l’Escoussier; a variety of landscapes and a trek through wild countryside await!

Cime du Cheiron via a trail that is little known to walkers. This trail has been cleared by our club and marked with cairns. Moderator's note description from 2013; the situation on the ground seems to have changed with regard to the cairns marking certain sections. See reviews. GPS or Visorando app useful.

The walk starts and ends at the car park right next to Lake Thorenc. The aim is to enjoy the magnificent view at the foot of a TDF relay mast: to the south, the waters of the lake at the start of the walk reflect the surrounding forest, and further to the east stands the Castellaras, a natural defensive stronghold.

Another route leading to the ruins of Castellaras and Lac de Thorenc, which follows part of the existing route on Visorando. It starts from the D5, at a place called La Pinée, and is just as interesting.

This hike takes place in the welcome and much-appreciated shade of the trees in summer, except during the 500-metre ascent of the rocky ridge of Les Molières. Please note, this hike should only be undertaken in good weather as the section between waypoints (5) and (7) climbs quite steeply and some sections can be slippery and daunting for those who suffer from vertigo. The 360° view from the summit of La Cacia is extraordinary!

This circuit is ideal on sunny days and a surprising route thanks to the diversity and beauty of the valley, which is still wild. On the northern slope, you'll appreciate the quiet atmosphere of the pine forests and the oaks that dominate the verdant agricultural plain of Sallagriffon, with a panoramic view up to the foothills of the Mercantour mountain range. On the southern slope, you'll appreciate the magnificent mineral landscapes with tremendous views of deep clues carved out by the capricious course of the rivers.

This sunny walk, at the foot of the rocky ridges of the Montagne du Cheiron, offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Calern plateau, Cipières and the Loup valley. The walk starts near the Tourist Office, by the D2 road, then climbs towards the Font d’Antony before descending to the ruins of the old medieval village of Les Hautes-Gréolières, where you can still admire the Chapel of Saint-Étienne. The route then descends via a wide, stony path which quickly leads back to the village and the starting point. After this journey into the past, take a stroll through the bustling streets of the modern-day village.

Superb hike along a long ridge with endless views across the entire department. The hike is quite long but can be extended for the more athletic by passing through Coursegoules or even Bézaudin. The luckiest hikers will catch a glimpse of Corsica in good weather. It is common to see chamois and marmots. The return via Vespluis and Les Miroirs (no difficulty) allows you to admire the entire ridge and the south-facing slope of this mountain in pastoral tranquillity.

Discover a beautiful forest near Castellet Saint-Cassien. Following the ridges along unmarked paths offers a delightful way to explore this stunning Haut-Estéron National Forest.

Starting from the Gréolières-les-Neiges resort, this short circular hike will take you to the Cime du Cheiron, the highest point of the massif of the same name. You will then follow the ridge to Jérusalem for some magnificent views of the Mercantour and the plateaus further south, Saint-Barnabé, Calern and Caussols, before descending via the slopes. During this hike, you may encounter vultures, chamois and even marmots.

The gradual climb to the summit of Cime de la Cacia offers views of the Barre des Molières, a natural rock face that is also used by rock climbers. The summit, which is reached after crossing a scree slope, offers beautiful 360° views. The return trail follows the only route that once connected France to the County of Savoy.

A short hike to enjoy between late April and mid-June to admire the peonies in bloom.Much of the route is through woodland, so it stays cool during hot weather.This mid-mountain walk is a great way to enjoy the area outside the ski season.

A magnificent hike passing Croix de Verse, Jérusalem and Cime du Cheiron in Gréolières les Neiges. Not particularly difficult, with a 360° view between the peaks of Mercantour, Vallée du Loup and the Mediterranean on a clear day. Depending on the season, paragliders take off from the route.

A beautiful snowshoe hike (or not in winter) with no difficulty and panoramic views of the Mercantour peaks and the French Riviera on a clear day. After a pleasant first section in the Cheiron forest, you cross a small valley before climbing up to Plan des Baumetes and reaching the Crête du Cheiron at Croix de Verse (1,706 m). 360° view of the sea at Argentera!

The route is not particularly difficult and can easily be done on snowshoes if there is enough snow. The summit section of the route offers superb views of the Caille plain and all the surrounding peaks.

A magnificent hike through the wild, karst landscapes of the Grasse Pre-Alps. As a bonus, a very well-preserved drystone shelter.

This short but challenging hike starts in Cipières, a village at the foot of the Calern plateau facing the Cheiron massif, and takes you to the banks of the Loup, a 49km coastal river (the second longest in the Alpes-Maritimes) through deciduous forests. Once you reach the banks of the Loup, you will walk along the buried Foulon aqueduct, which supplies water to Grasse and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, although the river is right by the path, it remains difficult to access.

Starting from Tourounet, this mostly shaded route will take you to the Saint-Barnabé plateau, then to the outskirts of the village of Coursegoules, before descending via an ancient Roman road lined with pine and oak trees back to Tourounet.

A short circular hike to the top of the Audibergue ski resort. A beautiful panorama of the Mercantour mountain range, the peaks of the Grasse region, the Mediterranean Sea (Lérins Islands and Golfe de la Napoule) and the Estérel.

After learning about the work carried out by the Calern Astronomical Observatory, this hike takes you along one of the longest ridges in the region, offering magnificent panoramic views of the karst plateau, the Caussols plain, the middle country and the Mercantour.

The Calern plateau above Caussols is extraordinary for its botanical diversity, karstic relief, sinkholes, karstic caves and collapses. This hike reveals an agricultural heritage of cleared sinkholes, dry stone enclosures and huts, and piles of stones that decorate the landscape. In May, the dew adds a touch of magic to the wild orchids, ball thyme and budding lavender.

A very pleasant hike criss-crossing the sunny and shady sides of this mountainous area, offering two contrasting types of vegetation and views of the Alps that will have you stopping regularly to take in the scenery.