The Pioch Noir circular walk starting from the Tortue car park

La Tortue car park, on the D114 between Vic-la-Gardiole and Fabrègues.

(S/E) With your back to the road, set off along the wide track which winds gently uphill. You’ll come to a junction just after a left-hand bend.

(1) Leave the track and take a path starting on the left.

(2) Continue to the left, pass a water tank and carry on straight ahead to reach the end of a wide track.

(3) Go straight on, skirting the Combe des Bestiaux on the left, and arrive at a four-way junction.

(4) Take the^second route along the track on the right, ignoring the^first path on the right which leads back the way you came. Reach the junction with a track.

(5) Carry on to the right and you’ll reach another junction.

(6) Head to the right and follow the track leading to the Pioch Noir, situated on the right.

(7) Return to the track and rejoin the route to the right.

(8) Turn left onto a wide, stony track.

(9) Stay on the wide path as it curves to the right.

(10) Do the same at this junction to stay on the main path, which curves to the right before opening out onto a large cleared area.

(11) Keep to the right to follow the straight track to the cisterns at the end.

(12) Take another track on the right.

(13) Head left and you’ll reach a large star-shaped junction.

(14) Turn left, then immediately keep to the right to climb towards the Pioch des Jasses. Go round it on the left and reach a junction of tracks.

(15) Continue to the right, staying on the same track.

(16) Leave the track on your right and head straight on to rejoin the first junction you passed at the start.

(1) Carry on straight ahead, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, to return to the car park (S/E).

La Tortue car park, free and unsupervised, on the D114 between Vic-la-Gardiole and Fabrègues. The ground here is quite rough — take care not to scrape the underside of your vehicle when manoeuvring.

There are no water sources along the entire route: make sure you carry enough water, particularly in hot weather.

The path offers little shade for much of the way.

FFRandonnée rating : E2/T1/R1, Effort: 2/5 (Fairly easy, 41/100) — Technical difficulty: 1/5 (Easy) — Risk: 1/5 (Low).

This rating assumes an average level of fitness: for a hiker who is not very fit, the walk may feel more strenuous despite this rating.

This walk may be closed depending on the fire risk level. Remember to check the fire risk map before setting off.

Pioch Noir (216 m). A viewpoint offering unobstructed views of the lagoons and the sea, the highest point on the route.

Vegetation — typical Mediterranean heath of the Gardiole: pine and holm oak in the undergrowth, kermes oak, rosemary and thyme on the ground, and broom in bloom depending on the season.

Geology — white limestone characteristic of the massif, exposed on the most exposed sections.