The Sommet de la Plate and the Montagne de Bluye

Access: From Malaucène, head towards Entrechaux via the D13. Then head towards the Gorges du Toulourenc and Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux via the D40, running alongside the Montagne de Bluye.
After passing through the village of Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, cross the bridge over the Toulourenc. Immediately turn right onto the access road to the Maison Forestière de Chante-Perdrix. Park in the car park.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along the tarmac path running alongside the Toulourenc towards the west. Cross a small bridge over a stream. You will see the yellow hiking markings and red mountain bike markings (Grande Traversée de Vaucluse).

After 140m, leave the small tarmac path and continue left onto the footpath. Follow the yellow and red mountain bike markings. You will then reach a flat area marked by a cairn after approximately 270m. Continue right onto the wider path, following the markings.

(1) At the Y-junction that appears after 300m, take the path on the left. Follow the yellow^PR® markings and the red mountain bike markings. The path climbs steadily. You may need to cross several fords or streams.

(2) At the junction with a wide track suitable for vehicles, turn left onto it to continue climbing.
Look for the yellow^PR® markings and the red mountain bike markings.

(3) At the sign for “l’Arjalas”, continue straight on towards Sous le Col de Comte. Stay on the track. Look for the yellow^PR® markings and the red MTB markings.

(4) At the “Sous le Col de Comte” sign, turn left towards the Col de Comte. Take the track. Look for the yellow^PR® markings and the red MTB markings. You will soon reach a crossroads.

(5) At the track junction, look for a single wooden post on the right. A path leading off in a hairpin bend appears. This runs alongside the track you took earlier. No markings. The path continues along the hillside through coniferous trees (with the lower parts of the trunks stripped) heading north. The forest track is then visible below on the right.

(6) After about 600m, the path makes a sharp left-hand bend. The slope then becomes much steeper as it winds through boxwood in the undergrowth.

(7) Reach the summit of Pic du Comte, marked by a cairn. Shortly after Pic du Comte, the path descends and then climbs again to reach the summit of La Plate, also marked by a cairn.

(8) Then head westwards along the ridge line. The well-marked trail continues, alternating between sections through the undergrowth and open areas offering sweeping views to the north of Mont Ventoux.

(9) Just before the edge of the woods (at the end of the ridge), on a flat area marked by a small cairn on a grassy patch, take the path on the right. Descend through scree and small rocky slopes. No signposting.

(10) At the Col d'Arnoux, at the small cairn, turn right. The entrance to the path is partly obscured by boxwood. The path is narrow due to the vegetation. Descend along it. No signposting.

(11) At the bottom of the descent, cross a wide track suitable for vehicles (the “Tête de la Blache” signpost is 50m to the right). Turn left onto the track towards Le Planet. Yellow markings.

(12) After 1.4 km, look out for a stony track leading down to the right. No signposting. Then, after 150 m, continue straight on along the lovely dirt track which also leads downwards.

(13) Look out for a small, crumbled cairn after 75m. Take the path on the right. You will then find yourself on the^GR®91. White/red and yellow markings. The path winds its way over some scree and rocky sections in places.

(14) You’ll reach the edge of the D242 road at the “Le Vallon” signpost. Continue right along the road towards Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux.

(15) At the “Pont de Veaux” signpost, turn right onto the^GR®91towards
Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux. White/red markings. The^GR® follows a fairly wide, stony track that climbs steadily at the start. The wide track turns into a path as it ascends through several hairpin bends.

(16) At the large cairn, continue straight on (ignore the path on the left that climbs). You will soon reach the “Gorge du Toulourenc” signpost, offering a beautiful vantage point above the gorges. Continue straight on towards Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux via the^GR®91. White/red markings.

(17) When the^GR®91begins to descend, look out for a rocky step and a grey stony area on the left. Reach the area by going over the rocky step (approx. 1m). A path emerges through the scree. Climb up this path. No markings.

Join a small path through the undergrowth, continue along it, turning right. Yellow markings will soon appear. Climb until you reach the D40 (there are no junctions, contrary to the map legend).

(18) Cross the main road, heading slightly to the right. Yellow markings. After about 50m, continue to the right or left (the two paths join up).

(19) At the next fork, turn left onto the wide path. Yellow markings. The path climbs steadily through the vegetation.

(20) After about 550m, you’ll reach a wide track. Turn left, then immediately right at the cairn. Yellow markings. The path will start to climb more steeply, even very steeply in places, to reach the ridge of Montagne de Bluye.

(21) Once you reach the ridges, continue to the right. Yellow markings. The path frequently runs alongside the north-facing cliffs, passing through woodland or open areas offering views of Mont Ventoux, then the Ouvèze Valley and the Baronnies.

The traverse of the ridges (from west to east) will also alternate between ascending and descending terrain for about 4 km. Ignore any tracks leaving the marked path. Yellow markings are present at regular intervals.

(22) At the sign pointing to Eygaliers on the left, continue straight on towards the east. After about 1.3 km, the path descends to the right, temporarily leaving the ridges.

(23) At the T-junction marked by a cairn, where there is also a yellow-arrowed stone, continue slightly to the right. Yellow markings. After an 800m descent with a few rocky and scree sections, you will reach a crossroads.

(24) Continue straight on, ignoring the wide track to the left. Follow the yellow markings. A few metres further on, the markings direct you to turn left onto a very steep section, quickly joining a wide path below. On this path, turn right to continue the descent more gradually.

When you reach a track junction in an open area, turn right to reach the visible hiking sign 100m further on.

(25) At the “Col de Chaussène” sign, turn sharply right to rejoin the GR®91 towards Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux. White/red and red mountain bike markings (Grande Traversée de Vaucluse). The path descends northwards then westwards over very stony ground for about 2.5 km.

(26) You will arrive at the cemetery in Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux. Head down the small tarmac road to join the D40. Turn left onto the road and follow it for 200m until you cross the bridge. At the bridge, turn right to reach the car park at the Chante-Perdrix forest house (S/E).

(26) Drinking water point at the cemetery in Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux

Le Toulourenc.

Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux (the smallest village in the Vaucluse: 37 inhabitants) with its narrow streets and old stone houses.