Sospel - Menton

(S) Leave the Auberge and take the departmental road on the right.

(1) At the crossroads, turn right and take the^GR® trail that goes up the road.

(2) At the roundabout, turn left and continue along the departmental road for a few metres before continuing on the right. Continue straight ahead on Avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance, pass the big bend in front of the swimming pool, to reach an intersection.

(3) Turn left onto the road towards Col du Razet until you reach another intersection. Take the dirt track opposite. Continue straight ahead, following the red and white^GR® markings.

(4) Leave this wide track and take the^GR® which climbs into the woods on the right via a path, then rejoin the track and continue to the right again.

(5) At a bend, the^GR® leaves the track and rejoins a path that climbs steeply into the woods. Arrive at the Source de l'Albaréa to find a Franco-Italian commemorative plaque inaugurated in August 2016, in memory of the Italian partisans and French resistance fighters shot by the German occupiers in August 1944.

(6) Continue straight ahead on the long climb up to the Col du Razet through the woods. At the pass, enjoy a magnificent view of Menton.

(7) Stay on the^GR® trail, which veers slightly to the left below Mont Albo. Cross a wooded valley to climb up to Colla Bassa.

(8) Descend southwards to pass through Baisse de Fraiche Fonda. Continue along the path to the bottom of the valley, passing Mourga, once an important farming area. Continue descending to an intersection where you will find the ruins of Vieux Castellar on your right.

(9) Begin the ascent of the last pass of this journey, which peaks at 1,100 metres. Reach the Col du Berceau

(10) Begin the descent from the pass to Plan du Lion. Be careful, the winding descent is challenging, difficult and slippery. At Plan du Lion, join the^GR®51and 52 crossroads.

(11) Leave the^GR®51on your right and continue downhill on the^GR®52. Cross an old pine forest, which has been damaged by fire. The descent is steep. You will reach a wide track.

(12) Cross it and follow the very stony path along a dry stone wall. Follow the^GR® carefully until you reach a road.

(13) Cross the road and descend to another road. Follow it around a large bend and pass under the A8 motorway. Walk along the left-hand side.

(14) Turn right, then left again. Descend to the edge of the villas on the heights of Menton. Follow the red and white markings. Join a road and stay on it until you reach the Colombieres district. Take the stairs. After passing under a bridge, you will arrive at Menton-Garavan station (E).

Please note that the only water source is at the Albaréa spring at the start of the stage.

As we did the^GR® 52 in the first week of August 2017, this stage was the most challenging due to the heat. Be sure to take plenty of water with you. We became dehydrated and had to ask to refill our water bottles when we reached the first houses in Menton.