Near Le Vinaigrier

Park in the car park of the Clos de Vidauban athletics stadium.

(S/E) From the athletics stadium, follow the railway line on your right to leave the housing estate.

(1) At the three-way junction, take Chemin de l'Estre on the left. Follow the cycle path on the right-hand side of the A8 motorway, ignoring the bridges. At the end of the cycle path, at the crossroads, immediately take the road on the right and continue for about ten metres.

(2) Turn right, go under the A8 motorway, and continue along Chemin Roucas Troucas for about 1500 m until you reach No. 1075.

(3) Take the dirt and stone track on the right until you reach the next crossroads.

(4) Turn right (Chemin de la Bastide de Castel) and continue straight ahead until you reach a road.

(5) Turn left (Route du Plan de la Tour) and cross a small bridge marked with official blue and white signs. Follow the road until you cross the iron bridge over the Aille, then reach the first bend to the left, with a track marked Bérard.

(6) Follow it to the right and descend for about a hundred metres. Cross a concrete slab, which retains water when it has rained, and continue on this track until you reach a ford, which is more or less deep depending on the season.

(7) Cross it and follow the sandy, muddy and stony track for about 1,400 metres until you reach the first fork.

(8) Take the track on the left and continue, ignoring the secondary tracks, until you reach the next junction with a wide track. Turn left and, after about 50 metres, you will come to a multiple junction with a DFCI water tank.

(9) Take the leftmost track until you see the Vidauban golf course.

(10) Keep to the right and follow the fence on your left along the fairly rough track, which has small muddy and stony bumps. Be careful not to fall. At the next crossroads, ignore the turn-off on the left and take the track on the right until you reach a road at the end of the descent.

(11) Turn right (Route du Plan de la Tour) and follow the D72. After passing the place called "La Bastide Rouge" on your right, go past kilometre marker 6 and you will soon come to a track on the left with DFCI water tank no. 6.

(12) Take the track on the left, go through the gate and, after a few dozen metres, start climbing a hill that may be muddy and rutted, depending on the season. Stay on the main track, pass in front of the Aube farm, then, after about 300 m, you will come to a crossroads.

(13) Turn left at the hairpin bend and follow the dirt track uphill. After about 1,000 metres, you will reach a three-way junction.

(14) Keep to the right. The difficult part begins with a climb of about 2 km with a gradient of over 15% in places. Be careful of possible falls due to the presence of roots, ruts and branches. Reach the ridge (elevation 303).

(15) Turn left and continue to the second fork.

(16) Take the hairpin bend to the left, climbing slightly for about 300 m. Continue along the Piste des Pommiers, descend for about 900 m and arrive at a crossroads.

(17) Turn right and descend to the confluence of the Aille and Argens rivers.

(18) Cross the bridge over the two rivers at km 25 of Chemin du Bac. Follow it for about 750 m.

(19) Leave the tarmac road and turn left onto the Piste de la Tournavelle, which climbs for about 1,700 metres. At the pass, where there is a DFCI water tank, turn right and continue to the next crossroads.

(20) Descend the track on the right, which is a little rough in places, for about 2 km. Watch out for branches and ruts. Continue downhill, passing a farm on the right, then arrive at the entrance to Domaine Maïme on the left.

(21) Take the tarmac road, pass under the A8 motorway and continue to the next junction.

(22) Turn left onto Chemin de Saint-Jean, then follow the motorway for about 2,500 m, then pass under the A8 bridge.

(23) At the exit, continue to the right, then turn right again onto the track (dirt and stones). Follow the motorway for about 600 m, then, after passing an old motocross track, the track moves away from it. Continue until you see a fence enclosing a ranch and reach a multiple junction at the end of the fence.

(24) Take the first track on the right. Tackle a dirt climb, which is slightly difficult due to numerous exposed roots. Pass under the A8 bridge. Be careful, as there may be sand accumulated at this point. Climb for about 2 km to reach the tarmac.

(25) Turn left onto Chemin du Plateau and, at the next junction, turn left again onto Chemin de la Savoie and descend towards the A8 motorway. At the end of the descent, at the junction with Chemin du Peyloubier, turn right and rejoin the route you have already taken.

(2) Ignore the bridge on the left and, a few metres further on, take Chemin de l'Estre on the left and follow the same route as on the way there, until you reach the athletics stadium on Avenue du Clos (S/E).