The Malavettes

Description

To access the start point, take the interior Saint-Raphaël road in the direction of Agay, which is called the Avenue des Golfs. Continue until the roundabout at the Carrefour des Veissières. Go in the direction of the Domaine du Parc des Veissières. Continue straight on the Avenue J.F.Kennedy to the end, and go to the bottom of the park. Park on the right-hand side in a small car park located just after an EDF transformer approximately 50 meters before the forest barrier. The end of the Avenue J.F. Kennedy ends here at a signposted dead-end.

(D) The walk begins at this forest barrier on a green and white marked trail. When you get to the reservoir, take the descending path straight ahead (ignore the small path climbing up to the right).

(1) A little further on are markers with two large cairns, then a path in front of the H63 fire protection sign "la Cabre". Keep to main track on the right.

(2) When you get to this intersection, take the second trail on the right and ignore the two tracks to the left, including the main track.

(3) After the small bridge, go right, cross the large track and take the path climbing slightly to the left of this one. After approximately 500m, the route takes you across a small stream to continue on the trail.

(4) When you get to the marker "Route des Malavettes" / "Carrefour de Colle Noire", take the left-hand path that leads to the Maison Forestière des Malavettes (an abandoned forester's house). Here, take the first path that descends to the right, and then cross the stream.

(5) The path climbs and on the left there is a magnificent view of the forest against the open sea. This lovely clear place surrounded by eucalyptus will make an ideal snack-stop.
Continue on the path that descends to the left. When you get to a concrete ford, cross the small stream to climb back up the path opposite. Cross another small stream again and then climb up to the Col de l'Essuyadou (altitude 170m)

(6) At the col, you need to turn right on a track located just in front of the tree marked yellow which leads to the Roche Noire intersection (altitude 250m). This small track will now be marked blue and offers a magnificent panoramic view of Saint-Raphaël up to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. When you reach the blue cross marker, turn left and continue on this marked track up to a junction.

(7) Don't turn left, but go right-left and then continue straight, ignoring the forest barrier on the right.
When you get close to a pretty little pond, the path climbs back up. At the top, you need to turn right when you reach a rusty barrier; this small path takes you around another pond on your left, climbs up and joins the track you took at the start of the walk.

(1) Continue to the right on the joint section used at the beginning and marked green and white. Go back past the reservoir and down to the first barrier which served as the start point.