Anou sheep

Short, easy walk in the limestone Pre-Alps with a climb to the summit of Mouton d'Anou for a remarkable view.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 235 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 228 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,075 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 884 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at marker 134, on the road to Villeplaine just before Bézaudun-les-Alpes (06) coming from the Col de Vence: parking for two vehicles in the next bend.

Head south, following the yellow markers (some of which are faded) and staying on the main path.
(1) Keep the high-voltage line in sight. Pass under the line near the post and join the gas track, recognisable by its yellow two-sided posts.
Go down to the left, pass a blackcurrant bush and look for the yellow signpost on the right (southbound).
Look for cairns on the plateau at the end of the open spaces. The climb is not well marked, but follow the path that climbs almost straight up.

(2) When you reach the plateau, take the track on the left, leaving the yellow markings on your right (you can go to Colle de Menon, 1.5 km there and back).

Follow the track and pass a sheepfold (3) (notable for its size). Continue along the track, leaving a track leading to another sheepfold on your right, and rejoin the gas track.

(4) Turn right (east) and pass the blackcurrant bushes and speed bumps for about 1 km.

(5) Look for the cairns on the right indicating the climb to the summit via a beautiful path.

(6) Descend from the summit via the same path until you reach the gas pipeline track (5). Turn right, then quickly turn left onto the track suitable for vehicles, which will take you to markers 138 and then 137.

Head towards Bezaudun, following the path through the woods. Leave one track on your left, then another, and turn right to begin the descent to marker 135 and the road to Villeplaine.

Turn left and follow the road to the car.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 888 m
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 923 m - Look out for the high-voltage power line
  3. 2 : km 1.21 - alt. 1,013 m - Turn left onto the plateau
  4. 3 : km 1.44 - alt. 1,013 m - Sheepfold
  5. 4 : km 2.06 - alt. 983 m - Gas track
  6. 5 : km 3.14 - alt. 1,017 m - Climb on the right
  7. 6 : km 3.46 - alt. 1,075 m - Summit
  8. 7 : km 5.7 - alt. 894 m - On the left, road back
  9. S/E : km 6.49 - alt. 895 m

Notes

Plenty of water at the fountains in Vence at the start of the climb up to the pass. No water after that.
Walking shoes recommended as some sections are stony.
Safe for children.
Ascent from Saint-Jeannet and from the village of Le Broc possible.

Worth a visit

Visit the village of Bezaudun or Coursegoules.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 31 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
JLOUISL
JLOUISL

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As friendly as ever, and as an added bonus, an encounter with a young deer 😀

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User 26087573

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Visorando route was essential, otherwise we would have got lost! Especially at the beginning. There are few or no signposts.
Through the undergrowth at first, then clearings, lots of flowers, beautiful views from the two peaks along the route. A flock of sheep with four dogs protecting them, which acted tough when we approached but let us pass after sniffing us.
An average hike overall.

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Blako
Blako

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As a novice hiker, many thanks to Visiorando for this delightful little loop where we were alone in early November. It was beautiful, peaceful, and we felt calm thanks to the GPX route. Thank you again

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LaBoucherieSanzot
LaBoucherieSanzot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike with very few people and a beautiful view at the summit.
There are no signposts.
The trail gets a little lost among the rocks before reaching the ridge, so GPS tracking is highly recommended. After that, the trails are easy to follow with the description.
It took us a little over 3 hours, including a picnic.
We enjoyed the day and would like to thank the author of the description

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avc06
avc06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little hike; the start is a bit steep; yellow markings are mostly faded.

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Clo13
Clo13

Leaving St Jeannet, crocuses and hellebores in bloom are enhanced by a superb panorama (cows grazing freely).
A beautiful day.
feb 2024

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Emmanuel Nice
Emmanuel Nice

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy walk. Beautiful views from the summit.
Halfway between points 4 and 5, to the left of a yellow marker, there is a drystone shelter in perfect condition

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Clo13
Clo13

Interesting route, crocuses and hellebores in bloom, cows.

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Plume06
Plume06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike with a stunning view as a reward

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1001Watt
1001Watt

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy walk, 80% of which is on tracks, except for the entire first section (between stages 1 and 2): there are no visible yellow markings or real path to reach the ridge.
Once on the ridge (stages 2 to 3): breathtaking panoramic view of the Baou de St Jeannet and the Baou des Blancs in the foreground, then, in the background, the Mediterranean Sea, from the edge of the Nice airport runways to the Esterel Massif.
However, the wind was very strong on the day of our walk, so we couldn't linger too long on the ridge and didn't make the return trip to the summit of Mouton d'Anou. The end of the route is more sheltered from the wind, between undergrowth and clearings, but is a little less interesting.

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jpbaldou
jpbaldou

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

explanations not very clear... we had to look for the way. A couple gave us directions.

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jocanyoning
jocanyoning

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Exceptional view from the summit across the entire Mercantour mountain range and towards the sea.

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danielaime06
danielaime06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Positive points: accessible in 50 minutes from Nice by car - fairly easy and family-friendly - beautiful panoramic view at Mouton d'Anou
Negative points: it's a bit easy to get lost at the start of the route as there are several tracks before you reach the gas pipeline - the loop towards the Col de Menon is no longer signposted - the section of the route along the gas pipeline isn't very picturesque

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Alix06
Alix06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thanks, Andreh, for this hiking idea!

It allows you to climb up to Mouton d'Anou with a gentle incline compared to the routes starting from Saint-Jeannet or Le Broc. This is great in winter when the days are short and you don't want to set off too early in the cold.
The view from the top is magnificent!

For the short loop through the sheepfold, the GPS track was very useful as there are no markings on the ground. We only saw one yellow mark, which was almost completely faded.

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Pacobiot
Pacobiot

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Start of marker 134. I found the description of the route between the large pylon and the start of the climb to Le Mouton a little complicated: it would be enough to write: when you reach the pylon, turn right until you reach the yellow marker with a gabled roof on the gas pipe, then follow this pipe straight ahead until you reach the cairns marking the start of the climb to Le Mouton.
Coming down from Le Mouton, follow the gas pipe to the right, then at the top of the very steep and stony descent, you can take a grassy path on the left to protect your ankles and knees, which joins the path that descends towards Vieilleplaine and Bézaudun at the next marker (no. ?).
A very pleasant walk with magnificent views from Le Mouton (with two peaks!).

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