Country:
District:
Coming from Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf on the D503, park about 60 metres before the road (D79) that climbs up to the right towards the village of Malleval in a small car park on the right, which also serves as a bus stop (Le Pont stop).
(S/E) From this car park, head towards Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf for 25 metres along the D503 and turn left onto a footbridge. Follow the path until you reach some steps leading down to the road (D79), next to a woodworking workshop.
Cross the road and take the wide path opposite, which appears to lead to private homes.
Turn right immediately and climb a flight of about ten steps. After this, follow the rocky path that climbs to the left. When the path makes a hairpin turn to the right, take the first small path on the left (wooden sign marked chemin des cactus).
The narrow, rocky and stony path winds its way up between ferns and then cacti (see information below). At the top of the path, on a wider track, turn left and after 25 metres, turn right onto a stony path that climbs uphill.
When you reach the road, cross it and follow the path opposite. At the top, you will arrive at the car park in front of the cemetery entrance (enjoy the panoramic view of the Pilat massif and, when crossing the road, a beautiful view of the Malleval Gorges and the vineyards).
(1) At the end of the cemetery car park, take the wide path on the far right which descends, passes under the road and returns towards the village. At the bottom, the path becomes a small lane (Rue du Tilleul) which descends and is often slippery. It leads to the main street of Malleval, which you should follow almost straight ahead.
(2) Before crossing the bridge over the stream, turn left onto the paved road that climbs towards the village of Lupé and the sports field. Follow the road with the Ruisseau de l'Épervier stream below.
After 300 metres, when the road bends sharply to the left, take the small tarmac road on the right between two beautiful stone houses. After about 100 metres, the road becomes a wide dirt and gravel track.
At the first fork, take the right-hand path (the narrower one). The small path, bordered by old stone walls on the left, enters the forest with the Ruisseau de l'Épervier far below. At a small fork, continue along the left-hand branch (the right-hand branch descends towards the stream). The path gradually approaches the stream and follows it (a very pleasant part of the walk).
(3) The path crosses a bridge made of wooden planks to reach the other side of the stream, where you will discover a small waterfall that is a haven of peace and coolness in summer. Continue along the path beside the stream (on your left).
After about 200 metres, the yellow-marked trail turns sharply to the right to leave the valley. At the bend, take the small trail on the left that continues to follow the Ruisseau de l'Épervier.
After 300 metres, the trail crosses the stream via a small bridge, then begins to move away from the stream and climb uphill. After 250 metres of climbing through the forest, you will come out at the bend in a wide path. Continue straight ahead for about 50 metres.
(4) When you reach the road, you will see the village of Bessey and its church opposite. Turn right and go down the road, which turns into a track. At the bottom of the descent, cross back over the stream and then climb back up. After climbing for about 300 metres, leave the woods and arrive on the plateau with increasingly unobstructed views. Continue along the path until you cross a small paved road (Route du Bouillard).
Continue along the wide path opposite for about 800m until you reach a crossroads (Le Saut de l'Agneau). Along the way, take the time to stop and enjoy the superb 360° views, with the Pilat massif behind you and the Alps opposite, weather permitting.
(5) At Saut de l'Agneau, take the path furthest to the right, towards Malleval, then 50m further on, turn right at a right angle. After about 400m, you will arrive at the road at a place called Chez Favier.
Cross the road and take the small tarmac road opposite, which passes by a beautiful traditional house and turns into a wide track that descends through the vineyards towards the village of Malleval, which you will see from a new angle. Follow this wide path downhill (ignoring the directions given by the Gaillard estate). After a hairpin bend to the left, after a recent construction (under development - 2017), the path suddenly becomes a dirt and gravel track that descends towards the village, then a very small rocky and slippery path.
(6) When you reach the road, turn left for about ten metres and then turn right to go down the steps and then the wide path that leads to the road (D79), which you should follow to the left to descend towards the village of Malleval. Pass the post office and the school and join the junction of the D79 and the Route de Lupé.
(2) Follow the main road, keeping the path you took on the way there on your right. Before the end of the village, in a slight left-hand bend, take a tarmac path on the left that descends very steeply, called Rue des Fabriques.
(7) At the bottom of this street, turn left onto the tiny alleyway marked Chemin de la Pavia towards Saut de Lorette and Chemin des Cigales. Go down the paved path with a few steps and you will see the pretty waterfall.
(8) When you reach a small paved road at the bridge, cross it and take the narrow path opposite towards Saut de Lorette.
This path is very rocky, narrow, steep in places and slippery, so you need to be very careful. Do not go there with young children or elderly people who are not very sure-footed. If you decide not to go down to Saut de Lorette, skip to the next section.
Follow the path to the end and cross the stream over the rocks to change banks and enjoy the waterfall from the front. Return along the same path to the road at the bridge.
(8) Take the same Chemin de la Pavia in the opposite direction until you reach Rue des Fabriques.
(7) Take this street to the left. At the top, turn right and follow the main street for about 40 metres towards the centre of the village. Turn left onto a staircase with about ten steps called Rue de l'Église. After the steps, follow the small paved alley. At the church, turn right and climb the stairs to admire the view from the square.
Return to Rue de l'Église, admire the salt storehouse as you pass and continue towards the village hall. At the end of the street, you will see the entrance to the small castle (private property). Climb the steps of the former commandery and turn right at the top to take the path between the two walls.
Follow this path, always turning left at the junctions. Return to the path you came up (do not take the Chemin des Cactus). When you reach the road, cross it and take the steps to the right of the post box. Go down a few steps and continue down the path until you return to the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
