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Park in the small car park located before the entrance to La Colombe campsite.
(S/E) Go up the road on the left (east) alongside the campsite. At the crossroads, turn right (east) onto the small road leading to the hamlet of La Roche. Follow the hamlet; the road ends at a right angle. A stony path leading to the fields follows on from this. At the next Y-junction, stay on the lower, flat path.
(1) Cross the Ruisseau de Colombe stream via a small bridge (under renovation in May 2016). Head up through the undergrowth, following a track and ignoring the various paths branching off.
(2) At the crossroads, turn left. Walk east then north-east, ignoring the side paths. Follow the forest track, which gradually climbs up to the Chambon house. Pass to the left of the house then, to the right of a barn, cross the stream.
(3) A few metres further on, at a fork, turn right and continue along the track which continues to climb up the valley, heading north-east. Ignore the various paths on the right or left that cross the track. Cross the Ruisseau de Colombe stream again.
(4) At a fork, keep to the right-hand track and climb through the undergrowth. After a hairpin bend, you will reach a meadow enclosed by stone blocks (to prevent motorised vehicles from entering). Continue along the track, skirting the meadow. When you reach a cultivated field, go around it on the right and continue climbing through the undergrowth above the field, heading east. The track continues to climb for a long time, then winds around a few times.
Yellow markings
(5) After a hairpin bend, leave the track and follow a well-marked path to the left towards Saint-Martin, heading north-east. Follow this very pretty path along the hillside, then descend to cross a stream, then climb back up to pass under some rocky outcrops and reach the Source Saint-Martin (you can see the Saint-Martin mast just above).
(6) Follow the white sign towards Fontcouverte, descend slightly to the right, cross a small stream and then climb back up to a wide track.
(7) Follow it for a few metres to the right and then immediately turn left at the bend onto a grassy track that passes above the Fontcouverte lodge: the view is absolutely magnificent. Continue on this route leading to the Crêtes de Serre Chauvière.
(8) Follow the ridge to the left, taking care (sharp limestone pavement), to the summit at 1,262 m (geodetic marker).
(9) From the summit, retrace your steps.
(8). Continue straight ahead along the ridge (south-east), then take the winding path that follows it to the Col du Royet.
(10) Reach Col du Royet. From the pass, cross the track and take the wide path downhill along the meadows (marker on a small rock on the right in the meadow). Shortly afterwards, at a three-way junction, keep to the track forming a wide bend to the right. It climbs slightly before reaching an intersection (marker).
(11) Follow the well-marked trail to the left (this trail starts near a very large uprooted dead tree, then a small cairn a little further up). Stay on the trail and pay close attention to the markings: after about 500m, there is a small error. The sign on a tree indicates to turn right, but you need to descend slightly to the left, to a small cairn, then turn right, after which the markings continue as normal.
Further on, the path climbs slightly before dropping down to the Aurel valley.
(12) When you reach a small fork, continue straight ahead on the left-hand path to reach an uncultivated meadow. Continue straight ahead on the well-marked path, which descends quite steeply. There are numerous springs along this path.
(13) At the next fork, turn 90° to the right. Continue downhill on the marked path until you reach a junction.
(14) Follow the marked path on the left and you will reach a wide marked path.
(15) Follow it to the right. A pretty little yellow ribbon is tied to a tree, marking the landmark. Reach the forest track: shortly before, two yellow ribbons also mark the landmarks.
(2) Cross the track and rejoin the uphill route.
(1) Cross the small bridge, go through the hamlet of La Roche and follow the road to the car park (S/E).
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