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Parking behind the Château de Poët-Laval above the medieval village.
(S/E) From the car park, head towards the cemetery and follow the signpost for Poët-Laval vieux village, which is on the left-hand corner.
Red and yellow signposts
Take the paved road that climbs to the right, following the cemetery towards Les Côtes.
After passing the cemetery, the tarmac gives way to a wide, stable path that quickly joins the Les Côtes signpost.
(1) Continue right on the same path towards Trou du Furet, ignoring the path on the left, which will be for the return trip.
About 100 metres further on, leave the path and turn right onto a small path that climbs parallel to it and goes around a house.
Continue climbing for about 1.5 kilometres until you reach a fork.
No signposts
(2) Turn right onto the path, following the sign for Les Plaines - Serre-Gros.
The trail continues north and turns northeast after 300 metres. Continue along the trail, pass a small clearing and follow it on the right. A little further on, cross a small beech forest and the path turns east. The trail becomes less visible but a telephone line will help you find your way.
When the trail disappears completely, turn left into the pastures to rejoin the ridge path.
(3) Follow the wide ridge path to the west on your left. After passing the highest point (889m), you can leave the path by turning right to get closer to the cliffs and follow them (be careful).
Further down, you will find a path.
Red-yellow markings
(4) Turn right onto the signposted path. The slope becomes steeper and sharp limestone pavement replaces the grass as you reach the Trou du Furet, a natural archway that allows you to cross from one side to the other.
Reach the Trou du Furet signpost at a crossroads a few metres lower down.
There are no official markings, but there is a fluorescent green spray-painted marker.
Take the small path furthest to the left marked with a cross, which descends steeply at first. It then runs along the mountainside for over 600 metres until it reaches a fork marked by a cairn (not marked on the map).
Turn right and follow the clearly visible trail, which is more or less flat in the forest and then slopes more steeply before arriving at a T-junction.
Red-yellow markings
(5) Turn left onto this good path, which rejoins the markings. The descent is very gradual and pleasant at first, then the path becomes stony in places.
Further down, the trail winds through the forest, then becomes stony again as it runs alongside dry stone walls and ends at the Les Côtes crossroads.
(1) Turn right onto the path to return to the cemetery and the car park (S/E).
and once you reach the plateau, there's a superb 360° view between the Vercors, Drôme and Vaucluse. MAGNIFICENT.
A great hike, done with the kids (aged 9 and 12), who were thrilled when we reached the top. For me, it brought back childhood memories...
Visorando member
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