Mont Falourde from Bairols

Park at the entrance to the village of Bairols, which has a large car park.

(S/E) We cannot begin this hike without going to see the old stones and the medieval charm of this delightful hilltop village. Take the road leading up to the village, go past the only crossroads and, immediately on the left, take a flight of steps leading to the church.

(1) At the top of the steps, pass under the arches and stroll through the narrow streets, which inevitably lead back to the road and the car park.

(S/E) Walk past your car and continue along the road, which descends, until you reach the hairpin bend.

(2) Turn right at marker 191, heading towards the hamlet of Le Lac. The start of the path is somewhat worn, but it soon offers lovely views of the village. You’ll come out onto a small road at a place called Saint-Martin.

(3) Turn left. Pass marker 190 (which is located at this bend in the road) and continue for about a hundred metres , taking care of the traffic. Turn left onto the track, following the signs for “Chapelle Saint-Martin”. Walk to the chapel.

(4) Turn back, return to the road and turn left. Watch out for traffic.

(5) At a cairn, leave the road and take the path on the right, just after the track leading to a house. Walk past a spring and some ruins, then continue through the woods to reach a
pastureland and a track: marker 195.

(6) Continue in the same direction. Pass the three rural lodges in the hamlet of Lac and continue for about fifty metres: signpost + marker 194.

(7) Turn right. The pine-lined path is very pleasant and continues along the contour line. Take care as some sections are narrow. Stop to look out to the right at La Tête de Rigaud, Les Blaches, and the Col de la Madone de Thiéry. Reach a crossroads of tracks (cairn).

(8) Turn left onto the ascending path overlooking Villars-sur-Var, then Massoin and the Var valley

(9) Walk alongside the Pointe de l'Ubac and continue straight on. The path becomes a track suitable for vehicles, crossing fields.

(10) Turn right at this junction of trackways. Walk past some ruins and continue along the ascending path.

(11) Turn right. The path disappears for a short while and continues along the ridge line, which you will follow. The final few metres of Mont Falourde come into view. You will reach a crossroads marked by a cairn.

(12) Continue straight on, towards the nearby Mont Falourde. The final metres of the ascent are a rocky staircase.

(13) Mont Falourde overlooks the junction of the Tinée and Var valleys. A break is in order; you won’t know where to start, as there are so many peaks in view. Turn back to the crossroads.

(12) Turn right. A few cairns point the way to the start of the path, which continues through the woods. This forest, beautifully planted with young fir trees, is a haven of silence.

(14) Turn right onto what is, at first, a track suitable for vehicles, which then becomes a path after several hundred metres: yellow markings.

(15) At this path junction (marker 193), continue left towards Bairols. After a steep climb, the long, wooded return path winds up and down like a rollercoaster, but is not difficult. There are constant views of the Tinée and Bairols. Reach marker 192.

(16) Turn left towards the village of Bairols. Watch out for traffic. Just before the “Bairols” sign, turn 180° to the right; the restored Chapel of Our Lady is a few metres away. Turn around and head back to the road.

(2) Navigate the hairpin bend, then head to the car park (S/E).

Children are not recommended on this route, as there are too many steep sections.

Hike suitable all year round.

GPS or the Visorando app is useful (12). The mobile app is a very welcome bonus.

Hiking boots and poles recommended. Stony terrain.

Water source after the point (5), then no further water along the route

There is a water point and toilets in the village square in Bairols.

In this region, the name "Le Lac" or "Les Lacs" refers to a mountain pass. Do not look for a water source.

(1) Visit to Bairols.