The Vallon du Diable and Saint-André Chapel

Start from the Grand Caunet car park.

(S/E) Take the^GR®51(red/white) marked trail that heads west into the forest. Ignore all the paths to the right and left.

(1) After 1.3 km, in a clearing (with an underground cistern on the left), leave the^GR® and take the path on the left which descends towards Ceyreste for about 1 km.

(2) At the end of this track, a small valley begins to appear on your right, parallel to the track. Do not walk too fast as you need to locate a cairn on the right and, among the trees, a trail on the ground that descends into this ravine. Enter this ravine, the bottom of which is quite narrow (there isn't room for two people side by side) and very rocky, but it's a pleasant place to hike as the vegetation isn't overgrown, the undergrowth is very pleasant and the well-marked trail is frequented by those in the know. The path is very good, descending gently. Landmarks are very few and far between. Walk at the foot of rocky slopes, under the cover of the forest. You can see a little blue sky above your heads.

(3) Much further down, at the crossroads, stay on the small path that descends to the right (do not take the wide path that climbs to the left). Continue for about 700m.

(4) At the crossroads, you will come to a good path on your right. Take this path. It climbs steeply, well marked, between rock faces that are even more vertical at the beginning. Then the valley widens a little. Walk along a scree slope of huge rocks on your right.

(5) Just after this scree slope, take a small stony path on the left which climbs quite steeply for 15-20 metres to join another horizontal path running east/west a little higher up. Take this path, heading to your left, i.e. eastwards. It climbs up a balcony and then winds its way up, quickly joining a large track a little higher up.

(6) Take this track westwards. It quickly makes a 90° turn northwards, then veers left, but you must then leave it and stay on the path straight ahead (yellow markings, not clearly marked) which overlooks the oppidum ravine and the oppidum with its steep cliffs.

(7) A little further on, follow the yellow markings on the path carefully, as it leads back to the track, which you cross to descend opposite, heading west/north-west (open area). Descend this small path through lush vegetation, pass a hairpin bend and continue for 200 metres.

(8) At the three-way junction, take the path on the left that descends (and not the yellow path on the right that ascends). Be careful at one point during the descent as there is a fairly difficult passage: a rope stretched out on the left is helpful, especially when it is wet. You will then find yourself in the Vallon du Diable.

(9) Head north up the valley on a good stony path under the cover of beautiful vegetation. It climbs steeply at first, then levels out a little halfway up. You will appreciate the high, jagged cliffs above you, which you can see through the trees. The valley eventually widens a little, and after a few hairpin bends, you will come out onto the ridge trail near the Pas d'Ouillier.

(10) Turn right. The route now follows the^GR®51marked trail that you left at the start, in the open air, in full sunshine with a very clear view of the coast of La Ciotat, the Couronne de Charlemagne, the Calanques massif, Carpiagne, the Étoile massif, the Garlaban, Sainte-Baume, Sainte-Victoire and Ventoux (in the background).

(11) Pass in front of the Cabane des Gardes (a refuge equipped with a fireplace and a table with benches) and under the lookout post. The trail continues like this for almost 4 km, still marked^GR®, until it reaches a beautiful uphill hairpin bend.

(12) At this point, leave the trail and take a narrow path downhill to the left (small cairn with a C painted on it). Descend this small stony path to the bottom of the valley where it meets another path running north/south. Then head north to leave the valley, ignoring all the paths that appear on your left and lead downhill. Emerge from the valley to find yourself on the edge of a cliff on a wide path that climbs gently. Stay on it, continuing to climb.

(13) Take the path on the left that leads to the Saint-André Chapel, which sits atop a sort of vertiginous promontory. Visit the chapel, then return to this path, which turns into a track, and continue south/east along the cliff.

(14) After about a kilometre, you will come to a large crossroads. Take the^GR®98marked trail on the right, which climbs steeply to the summit of Montounier, then descends on the other side to rejoin the track that supports the^GR®51, which you left earlier.

(15) Take this track to the left, heading east, to reach the intersection you passed at the start of the hike.

(1) Walk back to the Grand Caunet car park (S/E) via the same route you took on the way up.

The first half of the walk is quite shady, which is pleasant in hot weather. However, once you reach the ridges, it can be quite challenging. There are no water supplies. The walk is long, with ascents and descents almost to the end, so it is suitable for walkers who are used to terrain that is not always easy.
Be careful in strong winds not to get too close to the edge of the cliffs.

The Romanesque-style Saint-André Chapel was restored a few years ago, as can be seen from its neat appearance.