Park in the small car park between the church and a playground (it’s off-limits to those over 10, and besides, you’ve come for a walk).
(S/E) Leave the small car park and head up the hill via Impasse de Chichateney. Follow the yellow markings. Ignore a dead end on the left and another on the right. The path turns to the right. A little further on, turn left.
At the top of the hill, you reach a complex crossroads.
(1) On the left, there is a sign: Les 5 chemins – alt. 405 m. Ignore the two paths on the left and take the Chemin des Grandes Terres opposite, heading towards Vernéa. This small road quickly turns to the right.
You will come to a large concrete cylinder on your right; this is the water tower.
(2) Further on, between two fields, on the left, take a dirt track marked by a yellow signpost and, a little further on, a yellow stripe on a solitary tree. Ignore a vague grassy path. You’ll reach a fork with a metal gate in the centre. Take the right-hand path, temporarily leaving the yellow markings. You enter the forest.
(3) Don’t miss the discreet path on your right; take it. Broken branches on the trees confirm that you are not the first to pass this way. The descent is not steep but is made a little tricky by very slippery clay soil after the rain. Very soon, you come to a fork. Ignore the poorly maintained branch on the left and take the right-hand path. Towards the bottom of the descent, you’ll come to a T-junction. Take the right-hand path. The track is now cut into the hillside but wider.
You’ll come out onto a dirt track.
(4) Take it to the left. You are in a small valley. You’ll find the reassuring yellow markings again. Follow this fairly wide track. Two paths join together on the left. Ignore them and continue to the right. Very soon, you’ll cross a sort of concrete ford. Continue along a pretty stream.
You reach a crossroads with a sign: Vernéa – alt. 289 m.
(5) Carry on straight ahead, towards the communal woodland. Further on, the markings suggest you take a path on the right. Ignore this and continue along your little road. A little further on, you cross the stream via a bridge with aluminium railings.
(6) Immediately afterwards, head up to the left onto a dirt track. Very soon you’ll come to a fork. Take the right-hand path. Walk alongside a meadow on your right. At the top of the meadow, turn right. It’s quite a climb, but don’t worry – you’ll go back down every centimetre you’ve climbed. At the top of the hill, you emerge from the woods and reach a T-junction. Take the right-hand path, which descends slightly. This leads onto a small tarmac road at No. 1705, Route du Cancelet. At least, that is what is written on the letterbox mounted on a post on your left.
(7) Take this Route du Cancelet on your left. It continues to climb steadily. Ignore the Route du Vernéa, which joins from your left. Carry on straight ahead.
You come to a crossroads with two signs: Chemin des Filiâtres and Chemin du Piron.
(8) Take the latter on the right. Ignore a dirt track that cuts across your small road. You enter the hamlet of Le Piron. After a metal gate, you’ll see a dirt track leading down to the left. Take this track, following the yellow markings. Further down the slope, you’ll come to a fork. Leave the yellow markings by heading right. You’ll reach the plain and emerge onto the small road known as Route de Sous Savas.
(9) Take this road to the left. After a while, it will take you back to your starting point (S/E). On the way, you’ll pass a row of very flashy villas.