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Park in the small lay-by at a hairpin bend on the D1 at the Col de Fambétou, accessible from Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers or Saint-Martin-de-Londres. The pass is situated between the Pic Saint-Loup and the Hortus.
(S/E) From the pass, take a path heading south-east towards Pic Saint-Loup. If you look at the north face, you can see the green diagonal line of vegetation leading up to the summit. Follow a rocky path that crosses a dry stream bed, then climb gently, veering slightly to the right, until you reach a fork.
(1) Take a steep path to the left, usually marked by a large cairn. The path is marked on the ascent by scattered, rather old green markings and small cairns. However, the route is fairly straightforward as it climbs directly upwards. Continue straight on at the base of the scree slope and carry on to the start of the Diagonale Nord, which is easier to spot if you have looked at the route from a distance.
(2) Be careful: just before the actual start, there is a false path that can lead to the Diagonale but is more overgrown. As you progress, it is often necessary to use your hands for some light scrambling (around grade III). At the end of this climb, you emerge onto the magnificent ridge line, where you must turn right to reach Pic Saint-Loup.
(3) The summit is marked by a fire lookout post. The views to the south and north are truly superb. However, you won’t be alone, as the paths coming from the south are much easier and very busy. Continue along the ridge line, which is a bit steeper but fairly straightforward, descending towards a rocky pass. Follow the path to a point marked by numerous coloured markers.
(4) Take the path that drops off to the right. Hard to spot at first, it soon becomes clearer thanks to freshly painted green markings (September 2024). It winds its way down a fairly steep slope, though less so than the diagonal path. You’ll reach a small scree slope.
(5) Descend this and continue through the forest on a pleasant, albeit steep, path, which leads onto a good path to follow to the right. Reach a junction and make a short left-right turn to follow the path that leads back to the original junction.
(1) Turn left onto the path you took on the way out to return to the car park by the roadside (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Difficult 
Easy 
