Montagne de Faraud from Saint-Benoît-en-Diois

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, I did this route on 2/6/22. I made a variation from point 7, Col de Faraud. Instead of turning left immediately when coming back from Mont Faraud, I went back to the pass and then turned left onto a path that leads to the Sadoux chapel. This path runs parallel to the other one. From the chapel, retrace your steps and take the path on the left that leads back to point 9, where I rejoined the route to Col de Betton. There, take the path on the left immediately, which brings you back to the path at point 5, where you head towards Col du Royer. From there, return to St Benoit by taking the same path you took on the way there. This detour adds 3 km and 200 m of elevation gain.
The original path from the Col de Betton is closed; the owner has blocked access and the path is no longer maintained.
Other than that, the hike is magnificent and the short detour to the Sadoux chapel does not lengthen the route and is enjoyable.
Enjoy your hike!
cl

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Date of your route : Sep 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are many changes compared to the guidebook. In fact, you have to follow the GR (red and white markings), but it is a track for almost the entire climb.After the Col du Perrier, the trail to Faraud is very beautiful with views of the east face of the Trois Becs. Otherwise, there is still the problem of the blocked descent (private property) and the permanent hunting sign, but you can get through if you don't meet anyone. The Gleyzolles variant seems feasible but is long and adds 270m of elevation gain.

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Date of your route : Jan 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful hike, beautiful views
after Col Betton, Chemin Barre, Cause Chasse, return via the same route

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Once you've descended to Gleizolles, it "might" be possible to return to Saint Benoît via the Col de l'Aiguille. Worth trying... But this adds distance and elevation gain to the hike.

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Date of your route : Oct 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike, but the return route will need to be changed from the Beton Pass because there is a private property sign that we passed, but
we were greeted by the owner at the 538-metre point, who did not appreciate our passing through at all. So bear this in mind to
avoid any trouble.

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Date of your route : Jun 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hike also done on 17/06/18: no problems with signposting for us.
Just before point 2, we took the shortcut, which avoided having to go down and back up again. At point 4, we found the trail without any problems, but if we had taken "left, left" instead of "left and right", it would have been a shortcut and no problem at all. At point 5, you have to follow the yellow markings that descend gently to the Col de Faraud. For the round trip to the summit, the path is clearly visible, and the snack up there was very pleasant with a beautiful view of the valley. After point 8, at an altitude of 850 metres, we chose to take the path parallel to the route, which avoids point 9 (and also avoids going down and back up again) and is very clearly visible and very pleasant. At the Col de Betton, we ignore the prohibition sign, as it is not hunting season and there is no chain. The track disappears and the path becomes very wild but remains clearly visible on the ground. The hike is very beautiful, I would just add a slight downside to the first 5 km, which are on a monotonous and uninteresting track, but hey, that's the price you pay to enjoy the rest! Thank you for this hiking idea, which took us 5½ hours to complete and was not at all difficult for us (5 experienced hikers); in the end, it was 18.5 km with 970 m of elevation gain.

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The description of the hike must be old because a lot of things are inaccurate (colour of markings, names, etc.).
From 1 to 3, simply follow the GR (red/white markings). At the Col de Perrier (not indicated on any sign), I couldn't find the path mentioned, so I took a small detour via the Col de la Baume, which wasn't a big deal. At point 5, the markings are yellow (not yellow/green), but it's hard to get lost. At the Col de Faraud, however, the paths go off in all directions. Take the path that goes left and uphill (double red markings); point 6 is much higher up. On the descent from the Faraud mountain (great views), don't miss the fork and the yellow triangle 112, which is still there. After that, it's pretty much impossible to go wrong.
After point 10, the descent is not very pleasant, as the track is completely overgrown with vegetation and in a few years it will be difficult to pass.
Despite these few orientation problems, it really is a beautiful walk. Magnificent views.

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike

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Date of your route : Sep 13, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,

Hike completed in just 5 hours in sunny weather. Magnificent views along the entire route, especially at the summit of Mount Faraud.
At the start, after point 1, when you have to continue right on the track, another track has been created which climbs up to the vineyards and is marked with yellow triangles. Do not take this track but continue on a track marked GR (white and red). Please note that the yellow signs no longer say "Col du Perrier" but Chastel Arnaud or La Chaudière, and there are no yellow markings.
Be careful after point 10 and the Col de Betton. 200 to 300 metres further on, the track ends in a cul-de-sac and there are signs saying "chasse gardée, propriété privée défense d'entrée" (private hunting ground, private property, no entry). If you want to follow the route, you must continue past the no entry sign and continue on an unmarked and unmaintained path leading to a ruined house. Avoid hunting days and be careful on other days.

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Date of your route : Aug 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

As an occasional hiker, I went to "scout" this route up to point (2).
It appears that the yellow markings have been replaced. There is only one white and red marking and another red and red marking (the latter seems to have replaced the yellow one).
If an experienced hiker or the author could confirm this for us.

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Date of your route : Jul 16, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this hike this weekend, which is only difficult because of its length.
A few details.
At point 5, when you leave the trail, you have to go left at the first bend in the forest trail. We didn't see any yellow and green markings; now it's just yellow.
At point 10, the trail has indeed been abandoned and vegetation has reclaimed it. We only encountered one chain blocking the path, which was easy to climb over.
Note that at the end of the rather nice balcony trail, there is a rope on the left to help you cross a slightly rocky passage.

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Hello and thank you VERY MUCH for this information.
If it is private property, it would be best to go around it and not break the rules.
I have sent a private message to the author.

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