The Cols du Fromage and des Estronques, starting from Ceillac

Park in the car park at the Ceillac village hall, to the south-east of the village.

(S/E) Set off north-eastwards to cross the village. Continue by following the red and white^GR® markings and also follow the numerous directions shown on the signs or hiking plaques. On leaving Ceillac, take the tarmac road and proceed to the junction with a footpath.

(1) Turn left at the signpost and follow the^GR® as it winds its way uphill^. You’ll reach a wide track at a crossroads marked by a cross.

(2) Turn right onto this wide, almost level track to reach the hamlet of Le Villard.

(3) Leave the track here and turn left onto the^GR®5, beginning an easy but relatively long climb. Wind your way through the larch forest and, after a final series of hairpin bends, reach the Col Fromage, a major junction of trails.

(4) Leave the^GR® here and turn right onto the yellow-marked path. Walk through the woods at first before reaching the mountain pasture. Continue on to reach the junction with^{the GR®58}.

(5) Turn left to begin the final ascent to Col des Estronques.

(6) Head back down the same path you took on the ascent to return to the previous junction.

(5) Keep left on the^GR® and begin the descent into the mountain pasture. Enjoy the pleasant walk as you reach the forest; continue on to reach a crossroads with several routes.

(7) Keep to the right on the^GR®, passing the Rabinoux and then the Tioure chalets before reaching the crossroads in the hamlet of Le Villard that you passed on the way out.

(3) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey, with the option of a detour via Ceillac before reaching the car park at the village hall (S/E).

Ceillac has plenty of shops where you can stock up on supplies (grocery shops, bakeries, cafés)

(6) At the Col des Estronques, you can turn right onto the ridge path to reach the Tête de Jacquette at an altitude of 2,757 m – an additional 107 m climb – but the view over Saint-Véran is truly remarkable.