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At Le Rove, on the D568, park in the Allée des Écoles near the pharmacy.
(S/E) Head west past the pharmacy, then turn right onto Boulevard de la Carrairade. Follow the Traverse du Baou to the last houses.
(1) Turn right onto a stony path that climbs steeply. Keep to the right and you will soon see the Vierge du Rove. Arrive at an H-shaped junction.
(2) Keep to the right, following the ridge. You will come to a crossroads where you will see the gas pipeline track at hill 238.
(3) Cross the track, then head east on the wide, straight track. Beautiful views of the harbour of Marseille, the Étang de Berre and the Massif de la Sainte-Victoire in the distance. Pass hill 272 (large cement cairn), then hill 260 below a junction of tracks. Continue eastwards, then come to a Y junction and a wire fence. Below: La Vérune, a stable used to milk wild goats to make Brousse du Rove cheese.
(4) Turn left and keep left to join the gas pipeline track. Go down this track on the left and then, at the dip, turn right towards a ploughed field which then narrows. Head due north into the small valley, ignoring the various paths leading off to the right. After a short climb, you come to another ploughed field. Note the abundance of goat droppings in this area.
(5) Turn right, then come to a fork with 3 paths. Take the one furthest to your left. It climbs slightly, then becomes steeper with rough markings that are sometimes light green, sometimes red. Arrive at the Oppidum de la Cloche. Visit the site and admire the scenery. Head for the facilities at the summit.
(6) Turn left for a short but steep and slippery descent. Take care. Arrive at a ventilation shaft of the Nerthe railway tunnel at mark 141. Follow the path along the tarmac road to La Nerthe, joining it at a barrier.
(7) Turn right onto the road and continue for approximately 230 m. You will come to a post with a Red dot and a footpath on the right.
(8) Follow this path as it heads south-west. Find the crossroads with the ploughed area.
(5) Keep going straight on, heading south-west. Continue straight ahead at an X junction, then start descending towards an olive grove and a vast, open plain. On the left, notice the Siou Blanc well signposted. Continue on the track that crosses the plain. Arrive at an X junction.
(9) Continue straight ahead through the Vallon Gorge de Madame, planted with deciduous trees by Le Rove primary schools. The landscape is magnificent. At the end of the long, straight road, you will come to another school plantation and a Y junction.
(10) Turn right towards the Vallon de la Gipière (old wooden sign for Chapelle Saint-Michel). The path is easy in this wild, sometimes steep valley with rocks to climb over (potholes). Arrive near the A55 motorway and an X junction.
(11) Turn left onto the track that runs alongside the motorway, then bends away from it several times. You will come to a large water reservoir.
(12) Turn right and continue for about 120 m. You will come to a junction with a footpath.
(13) Turn left onto this path, which leads up to the Chapelle Saint-Michel. Visit the site. A few metres to the north, you will come across the ruins of the Templar castle. Descend to the left of the chapel, then come to a junction of 3 tracks.
(14) Follow the one in the middle, heading south. The track becomes tarmac on the uphill section and takes a few bends. Follow this track as it crosses the Plaine de Gignac. Keep left at a Y junction at marker 157, then pass marker 186. Join the gas pipeline track.
(15) Turn right onto this track, then cut left 40 m further on (short cut) to join the track below on the left for about 100 m.
(16) Turn right for a new shortcut that joins a new track on the right. You will come to a Y junction with barriers and a large water tank.
(17) Turn left, pass the water tank and follow the ridge back to the crossroads.
(2) Turn right and follow the opposite route to the parking area (S/E).
Walker
Difficult 
