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Drive through Saoû on the D136 to Le Pertuis. Cross the Vèbre via the bridge on the right, then follow the road as it bends left to enter the Domaine de la Forêt de Saoû. Park in the designated car park at Les Sables Blancs on the right.
(S/E) From the car park, retrace your steps to the Pont de Pézillet signpost.
(1) Take the path on the left towards the Auberge des Dauphins. Walk along the Vèbre, which flows to your left. After about 800 m, the path veers slightly away from the Vèbre; continue along the forest track for another 1 km or so until you reach a junction. Then head up to the right through the undergrowth, quickly reaching some stone steps before joining the Ancienne Route Touristique.
(2) At the Ancienne Route Touristique signpost (elevation 485 m), head down to the left to the “Pont en Béton” (elevation 480 m). Cross the Vèbre via this bridge.
(3) At the Eco-guards’ Office signpost (alt. 470 m), take the time to make a detour to the left to the Auberge des Dauphins to discover the history of Villa Tibur. Its location is marked by a bed of gravel spread over the remains of the perimeter walls uncovered during the 2014 excavations. Beautiful grounds at the Auberge, wash house and pavilion; picnic area.
(3) On your return, continue straight ahead for 50 m and at the signpost “Chemin de la Grande Combe” (alt. 480 m), climb left up a steep path towards the “Chemin Muletier”. The climb, which is a bit long, requires some effort, though this is all the more reasonable given that it is the only real difficulty of the route. You will reach a track suitable for vehicles.
(4) At the “Chemin Muletier” signpost (alt. 650 m), turn left to descend the track. Make the most of the gaps in the vegetation to admire the view of the Synclinal Perché and the vertical cliffs of Le Pertuis. Pass the “Chênes Est” signpost (alt. 500 m).
(5) About 100 m further on, at the “Les Chênes” signpost (alt. 500 m), leave the descent to the left—which follows stone steps and corresponds to the “Sur les pas des Muletiers” walk—and continue along the track to rejoin the “Les anciennes fermes” route from the ruins of the Raillon farm, visible to the right above the track.
(6) At the “Virage de Raillon” signpost (alt. 470 m), leave the track and take the path towards the Fuoc farm. The view quickly opens up to the Grand Pomerolle and the Petit Pomerolle. A lovely spot for a picnic break above a field, in the shade of the trees. Continue to the remains of the beautiful Fuoc Farm. Caution! Risk of falling rocks; go round them but do not enter the ruins.
(7) At the Fuoc Farm (alt. 460 m), head down to the left along the dirt track. At the junction, keep left and you’ll reach the “Quatre chemins” (alt. 402 m).
(8) Turn left onto the wide path to the “Les Abeilles” signpost (alt. 400 m).
(9) Continue straight on along the “Route des Anciennes Fermes” to the “La Prade” signpost (alt. 415 m), then turn right to reach the Sables Blancs car park.
(S/E) Starting car park.
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Local authority
Easy 
Very difficult 
