Access from Escot via the Col de Marie-Blanque road; 7 km after the start of this road (having passed the Barescou campsite), turn right onto the forest track. Follow this track very slowly and park at the end (about 1 km). The car park is at an altitude of approximately 740 m.
(S/E) Follow the small path that starts just at the end of the car park (signposted) and heads into the woodland. It winds upwards, fairly gentle at first and steeper further on. Blue markings are sometimes visible. Generally speaking, the path is clear all the way.
After climbing about 80 m, you’ll cross a forestry track; then, after climbing a further 200 m or so, you’ll come to a rocky outcrop, which you should follow until you reach the edge of the forest.
At around 1,200 metres (450 m above the starting point), you’ll emerge from the forest beneath the rocky outcrop and cross a large, gently sloping scree slope (easy, with the path still clearly marked). On the other side of this crossing, the path dives back into the woodland over a rocky ledge.
The slope then levels off and you reach a marshy hollow (1,340 m), with a spring fitted with drinking troughs. A small shepherd’s hut is visible above the spring. The path continues (still through the undergrowth, heading south-west).
(1) Emerging from the forest once more, you come out into a grassy, suspended valley running east-west, which you simply follow to the right (due west). Cairns mark a fairly continuous path here and there. Walk alongside low walls from the ruins of dry-stone huts.
(2) As the slope steepens (1,450 m), cairns appear in two directions: either to continue climbing the slope ahead, or to head left into the undergrowth. It is best to follow the path that winds its way up the slope; the return route will be on the other side. The steep climb covers a vertical ascent of about 100 m, after which you find yourself on a broad grassy ridge/slope to be climbed to the right (northwards, very easy) up to the summit (1,646 m).
(3) From the summit, there is a sweeping view over the Aspe valley, the Barétous and even the peaks above Gourette and Artouste. Do not go any further (steep slopes).
Descend the easy grassy ridge (or slope) (southwards), ignoring the path you followed on the ascent, until you reach the Col d’Andurte (1,532 m).
(4) From the Col d’Andurte, a clearly visible path descends into the valley on the left, passing briefly through the undergrowth before rejoining the ascent route.
(2) Head down the grassy valley to the right, heading east, and continue in the opposite direction to the ascent along the same route to the car park (S/E).


