The Gacholle Lighthouse at the start of Saintes-Maries-de-la Mer

Start from the Pierre Pastré roundabout at the eastern end of Avenue Gilbert Leroy. Park in one of the car parks along the sea wall.

The sea dyke is marked with posts indicating directions and distances.

(S/E) Climb onto the sea wall, either via a staircase or a ramp, and follow a cement path heading east-northeast. Walk alongside a car park and a campsite on your left and the sea on your right. The cement path then gives way to a sandy path. Keep heading east-northeast, pass under a metal archway and walk alongside a car park.

(1) Cross the bridge over a canal connecting a pond to the sea. Ignore a path on the left and continue straight ahead along the Digue à la Mer towards the Phare de la Gacholle lighthouse. Ignore another path on the left (stele) and continue for about 150 metres along the sea wall until you reach the next intersection.

(2) Turn left, cross a canal and turn right onto the path. Immediately, opposite a gate, turn left. Pass a "Nesting Area" sign and follow a path between a pond on the left and a canal on the right (the IGN map suggests that this is also a pond, but this is not the case).

(3) After about 500 m, at a clearly marked intersection, you have two options:
- Continue straight ahead on the path.
- As shown on the map, turn left onto a path to reach the edge of a large pond. Turn right, walk along the pond on your left and follow a path strewn with pebbles. Return to the main path you left earlier and follow it to the left, walking along the canal on your right. After about 250 m, you will reach a fork.

(4) If you wish, turn left and follow a sandy strip (which may be muddy) between two canals. Continue straight ahead until you reach another viewpoint over the large pond, at the corner of a small pond on the right.

(5) Retrace your steps (the sandy ridge on the right leads to a channel that is not shown on the map and is too deep to wade across; situation as of December 2021).

(4) Turn left (right if you did not go back and forth to the viewpoint) and continue along the canal on your right. At the end of the path, cross a perpendicular canal and you will find yourself back at the Digue à la Mer.

(6) Follow the dyke to the left (sandy path).

(7) Walk past a small car park, go through a metal barrier and continue east-southeast on the dyke (gravel path).

(8) Cross the bridge over a wide channel, ignore the access points to the sea on your right and continue towards the lighthouse on the main path, which is sandy at first and soon becomes gravel. You will reach the western tip of the Étang des Batayolles.

(9) Walk along the pond on your right for about 2.5 km with the lighthouse in full view and Montagne Sainte-Victoire on the horizon. Shortly after the eastern tip of the pond, you will come to an intersection (signpost, access to the sea on the right).

(10) Continue along the dyke towards the lighthouse, which is 2 km away. Soon the surface becomes harder and darker. This will take you to the Gacholle lighthouse.

(11) Retrace your steps and follow the sea dyke to Pertuis de Rousty.

(8) There are two options here:
- Continue straight ahead on the sea wall to the starting point (recommended option for those who do not like walking on sand).
- As shown on the map, turn left to reach the seafront. Head west and walk along the sea on your left.

(12) As you approach a small dune, there are two options:
- Turn right and head for the sea wall at the car park (7), walking alongside a pond on your right (Baisse de la Blancarde). Then follow the sea wall to the left.
- As shown on the map, continue straight ahead along the coast (west). After a good kilometre, turn right to reach a clearly visible footbridge. Take the footbridge to cross a channel (which may be dry), cross a path and you will immediately reach the sea dyke.

(13) Follow the sea wall to the left and further on you will come to the intersection you took on the way out.

(2) Continue along the sea wall and take the Pertuis de la Fourcade bridge.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the sea wall. As you approach the campsite car park, keep left and stay as close to the sea as possible. This will take you back to the roundabout where you started (S/E).

Hiking boots are recommended. After a rainy period, there may be muddy sections between (2) and (6).

Summer is probably not the best time to undertake this long hike, which is entirely exposed. In any case, bring appropriate sun protection. If there is no wind, also bring mosquito repellent.

There are no water sources along the route. Do not skimp on your own water supplies in hot weather.

At the Gacholle lighthouse (11), behind the building, there are picnic tables and an information point open from 11:00 to 17:00 on weekends and during school holidays.

Short version (12 km):
The route between Pertuis de Rousty (8) and the lighthouse (11) may seem monotonous to some. If you want to avoid this 13 km round trip, at (8), turn right before the bridge to reach the seaside. Return to the starting roundabout via the beach and then, from (13), via the dyke.

While the route along the sea dyke is straightforward, walking among the ponds between (2) and (6) requires a detailed map (at least the one accompanying this description).

Hike completed by the author on 29 December 2021.

- Extensive views of the sea and ponds.
- Numerous birds in and around the ponds.
- La Gacholle lighthouse (1882).