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Coming from the D941 from Valréas, turn left at the roundabout and park at the entrance to the village of Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes, on the right in front of the town hall. To park in the car park on the left, enter by going round the school, a little further on to the left.
(S/E) From the car park, walk past the town hall and cross the Rieumau via the bridge (there’s a very pretty covered wash house on the left, a little way down). Head up to the right onto the Route du Fournil. At the Fork in the road, head down to the right onto the Route des Julliannes and follow it, ignoring the other roads branching off. The houses become sparser, giving way to orchards, farms, lavender fields and vineyards. This tarmac road then becomes the Chemin des Juillanes. At the T-junction, turn right onto the Route de la Beaume, which goes round a farm. A bench on the right offers a chance to rest in the shade.
(1) Turn onto the first path on the left after the farm. A sign indicates private property, but in the centre of the sign it states: “authorised for non-motorised users”. Dogs must also be kept on a lead as there may be free-range hens. A little further on, pass a chain with the same warning signs. Go round an olive grove on the left to head up into a small woodland (look out for the ‘Sentier des Vignerons’ sign in the shape of a bottle). Walk between vineyards and olive groves along the Chemin de Meyresse, which becomes a small tarmac road. Keep an eye out for a lovely view of Rousset-les-Vignes on the left, through the gaps in the vegetation. You’ll come out onto the Route de Nyons.
(2) Turn left towards Rousset. Caution! This is a fairly busy road; stay on the left-hand verge, which is wider. At the entrance to the village, just past a restaurant on the right, you’ll find public toilets and a drinking water tap. Enter the village via the Montée à l’église on the right (signposted ‘Sentier des Vignerons’ with a glass symbol). Continue through the village along Rue du Four, then Rue du Château. At the end of the castle, take a covered passageway which leads out above the main road. Cross it, taking care, to reach a pretty covered wash house.
(3) Walk past the wash house and head down Rue du Bourg, then turn right onto Chemin de Planas. Continue straight on along this path (marked with a bottle symbol), which soon climbs a steep slope. At the top, continue across a plateau, skirting a vineyard. Go round the vines on the left and head down to the right onto the next path (marked with a glass symbol). Walk alongside the vines again, going round the plot on the right as you leave Chemin de Planas. Keep an eye out on the left for a path leading down into the woods (marked with a Red Triangle on a post). Head down into the woods. Caution! The path quickly becomes very steep and rutted. You’ll arrive above the safre hill of the Domaine de la Bouvaude, which organises a spectacular summer night-time sound and light show with organic wine tastings.
(4) Stay on the higher ground and follow the path which turns left just before an old signpost bearing a yellow arrow. There is a lovely view over the plain and Mont Ventoux.
When you reach the safres again, keep an eye out on your right, below you, for a stony path on a small hill. Join it by descending gently down the safres. It turns right (glass marker), then left. Then continue straight on, overlooking the vineyards on your right.
(5) Head down and go round these vineyards on the right (glass and bottle markings) until you reach the tarmac road. Cross the Route des Bourdis and continue along the wide stony path opposite (glass markings). Carry on along this path between the vineyards until you reach a cross path.
(6) Turn right onto it (marked with a red arrow) and carry on alongside the vineyards on your right. Continue along this main track, ignoring a turn-off to the right (marked with a red arrow). The stony ground gives way to tarmac. Carry on straight ahead (marked with a bottle). Pass between fields of lavender.
(7) Continue along the Route de la Colline. At the junction, turn left and head straight down through the village (you may wish to visit the church). When you reach the inn, turn left, then cross the bridge to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
