The Gardiole mountains and the national forest

To get to the starting point, take the D114 road between Vic-la-Gardiole and Cournonterral. Halfway between the two busy roads, at the highest point, park in the space marked "P" at the "Parking de la Tortue" car park in the southern part (at the entrance to the discovery trail) of the Gardiole National Forest, not far from the Bergerie de Saumade.

(S/E) Leave the car park and take the path that runs alongside the DFCI road in a south-westerly direction. Walk for about 700 metres until you reach a three-way intersection.

(1) Cross the road and turn left, heading north-east.
At the next two-way intersection, turn right at a 90° angle and head southeast.
At Cote 64, turn right onto a two-way section and follow a path downhill in a south-westerly direction. Cross two streams, continue uphill and you will reach a cistern and a three-way junction.

(2) Cross the path to access the path on the left heading southeast, continue along the Combe Fourche summit and join a path. Turn right at Cote 87. Cross a power line. Stay on the path, avoiding all exits, and join a crossroads and a bridge.

(3) Turn right before the bridge and take the path uphill in a north-westerly and westerly direction. Continue along the top of Combe des Bestiaux. You will reach a junction with two paths.

(4) Turn left at the cairn and descend southwards. Reach a stream and continue right on the stream path, climbing southwestwards. Cross a steep area and reach the summit of Combe des Bestiaux. Go around the Roc de Combe des Bestiaux on the left. Reach a section with two directions, turn right in a south-westerly direction and access the rocky part of Pioch Noir 216 m.

(5) Cross Pioch Noir and its promontory, going around a cluster of shrubs on the left. Reach the fork in the path. Keep right and go straight ahead in a north-westerly direction, staying on the path. At the fork, continue straight ahead on the^PR® (marked in yellow) in a westerly direction. Avoid three exits, two on the left in a triangle shape and the one on the right.
At the next junction with two directions, keep right. Avoid all other exits. Finish heading north-east and turn left at the fork in the path.

(6) Turn right at a bend heading north. Cross a power line, go around a fire barrier and reach the Tour de Gué de Pioch Camille 224 m.

(7) At Roc de Pioch Camille, turn around. After the fire barrier, take the path on the right. Avoid two exits on the right and left. Continue on the path heading west. Go around hill 221 and keep the exposed rocky area on your right, heading southwest. Reach the two-way crossroads,
cross the path heading south and continue along the path, avoiding three exits heading south-east. You will come to a T-junction with two directions and turn right heading west. At the bend in the downhill intersection, turn right downhill and go around hill 194, keeping to the left on the^PR® (yellow marker).

(8) Take a path on the left and turn right onto the trail. Cross a stream and scree and the summit of Combe Longue. At altitude 166, at the two-way section, turn right downhill and reach a two-way crossroads below.

(9) Turn left downhill, cross a stream, Ruisseau de Barbière. At the two-way section, turn left. Continue south-west and south, walking along a stream used by mountain bikers. Go back up, going around a clump of bushes on the right on the southbound path. Keep left, maintaining a southerly direction. Reach the end of the two-way path. Turn right, follow the path in a south-westerly direction and reach a three-way crossroads.

(10) Cross the DFCI path at elevation 219 and continue south on a path used by forest fire fighters. Reach a two-way crossroads and keep right.

(11) At the two-way section, at the cairn, turn right onto the path. Reach a DFCI road and turn right. After 200 m, reach a two-way section. Turn left to reach altitude 234 and Roc d'Anduze.

(12) At a two-way section, turn right and take a path heading northeast to north. Continue halfway up the slope, then downhill. Cross a stream to go back uphill. At the two-way section, turn right heading northeast. Reach a two-way section, turn right and join the DFCI path.

(13) Turn left onto the DFCI path heading north to north-east. After 400 m, at the two-way junction, leave the path and turn right downhill onto the path. At a two-way junction, continue straight ahead heading north-east. Turn left to reach a two-way junction at a small island of trees.

(14) Turn right downhill heading northeast. Keep left, avoiding all right turns, and join a stream. At the two-way junction, keep left downhill and follow the stream (Ruisseau de Barbière). Keep Rulets and Cabanes on your left. At the two-way section, keep right uphill, avoiding the left exit on the yellow-marked^PR® (trail signpost). Cross a power line, reach altitude 117 and the two-way crossroads, and keep right.

(15) Avoid a two-way junction and maintain a north-easterly direction. Continue straight ahead and join a two-way firebreak path. Continue left in a south-easterly direction and access a two-way DFCI path.
Turn right. Continue for 100 m to reach a two-way section, turn left and join a path descending in a north-easterly direction. Cross a stream, climb back up and join a DFCI path. Turn left and reach the two-way crossroads. Turn left, into a right-hand bend (Montée de la Jasse). Reach a two-way section, turn left and then immediately right below the path, heading north-east. In a left-hand bend, cross a stream and reach a multi-way crossroads and a cistern.

(16) From the three-way junction, turn left twice heading west, going around the cistern on your left. Cross the two high-voltage power lines and follow the circular path to Pioch Redonel.

(17) At altitude 129, at the electricity pylon, cross the two power lines, join a path and access a descending trail on the left, heading northeast and passing under the power line. Approach a section of trails in two directions, keep left with the high-voltage line on your left and access a path. At the two-way crossroads, go left then turn right, pass under the high-voltage line and join point 97 and the two-way section. Turn right then left and continue north-east under the high-voltage line. You will come to a large crossroads with multiple paths. Continue straight ahead, avoiding the left and right turns, and walk along the Bergerie Neuve on your left.

(18) Turn left heading north, cross a power line and reach a fork. Turn right heading northeast and cross a stream and a power line.
At a two-way junction, keep right and approach a four-way star junction. Continue straight ahead in a north-easterly direction and cross a stream. Pass a two-way junction, keeping left, and reach a three-way junction.

(19) In a right-hand bend, avoid two left-hand exits, continue right heading east and cross a stream. In a left-hand bend, follow the high-voltage line and the cistern on your right and reach the Bergerie de Saumade.

(20) At the crossroads, take the^third exit on the right heading northeast, leaving the Bergerie de Saumade on your left and following the power line on your right. Cross a stream and arrive at a two-way section at an electricity pylon. Turn right, pass a fire barrier and follow the firebreak path on the right that runs alongside the D114 road. Reach the car park (S/E).

There are no water sources along the entire route. Equip yourself as you would for any hike. Wear hiking boots that you have already broken in. Foot care is essential (anti-chafing cream), carry only the essentials in your rucksack, and wear clothing suitable for the season and weather conditions. Head covering with neck protection in hot weather. Do not forget drinking water, as refreshments will be limited. In short, your rucksack should not be too heavy and should be well suited to your body size. Walking sticks may be useful, so consider bringing them.
- Always know your position on the route with: a map of the route, a compass, GPS and a mobile app. (Charge your mobile phone before departure; if you forget, always bring a mobile charger).
- Airplane mode can be used to save your mobile phone battery.
- Follow the route point by point. If you take a wrong turn, return to the last known waypoint.
Important information: in hot weather, set off early in the morning.

- Gardiole Massif: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massif_de_...
- Les Faiseurs de Murailles et de Cabanes en pierre sèche (dry stone wall and hut builders): http://www.pierreseche.com/la_genese_des... -

(7) Roc de "Pioch Camille": from this spot at an altitude of 224 m, there is a view of the Gigean and Fabrègues valley and the motorway. Further away are the mountains of Mont Saint-Baudille, Roc Blanc and Pic Saint-Loup. There is also a view of part of Montpellier and its suburbs.

(12) Roc d'Anduze, 234 metres, the highest point in Gardiole. View to the south-east.

(13) From this point, it is possible to extend the route to visit the Abbey of Saint-Félix de Monceau (167 m) while following the discovery trail.

(17) "Pioch Redonel" 129 m, view of the Languedoc Basin.

(20) La Bergerie de Saumade. From this location, management of the Gardiole State Forest.