Country:
District:
Park in the car park along the lane leading to the old Sumène railway station.
Yellow markings throughout the hike
(S/E) Go to the old station at the top of the lane and keep right to join the Sumène-Ganges greenway.
Take the greenway overlooking the Rieutord and you will soon reach the first tunnel, the Tunnel de la Carrière.
(1) Turn right onto the interpretive trail. You can make a short round trip to the Belvédère du Noyer, then continue above the tunnel towards the Réserve Naturelle Sud to rejoin the greenway on the other side of the tunnel.
Continue along the greenway towards Ganges. Pass through three more tunnels and a few viaducts until you reach the Viaduc des Minières
(2). At the very beginning of the viaduct, look for a path that climbs steeply to the left to reach a sign indicating the direction of Ranc de Banes. Follow thisPR® trail that climbs into the forest on the left.
The climb is quite steep and quickly reaches a stony section leading to a flat area overlooking the first cliffs of the Gorges du Rieutord.
The trail continues on a gentle slope and then passes through a forest of holm oaks just before reaching Baume Clauside. You can enter the first cave on the right of the trail to take a look inside.
(3) The route continues just below this first cave. Pass a low dry stone wall to reach the heart of the cave. Cross the cave, observing the stalactites and small draperies, and exit at the back on the left, passing through another dry stone wall that reminds us of the previous occupations of this place during the war.
The route then descends slightly before climbing back up to the right at the Combe Chaude ridge, on the edge of the nature reserve.
Continue along the main marked path. This path moves away from the ridge and arrives at an intersection with a sign indicating the Travers de la Margarane.
(4) Continue straight ahead towards Ranc de Banes along a rolling path. After a short steep climb on the right, you will reach a crossroads indicating Camp Flouret.
(5) Turn left towards Ranc de Banes. Cross a small scree slope and, at the next intersection, climb up to the right towards the viewpoint.
When you get close to the ridge, where you'll have a view of the valley, turn right and follow a trail that runs along the ridge of Ranc de Banes on the sunny side. Keep going, following the yellow markings, until you reach the summit, where you can enjoy the view from a stylised orientation table.
(6) Retrace your steps back to Camp Flouret.
(5) Turn left towards the Col de l'Agas.
The descent is fairly quick and steep, taking you to the Col de l'Agas in a pasture area.
(7) Descend to the left towards Sumène on the north slope. This section is very wet and slippery and passes through an enclosure. After a few hairpin bends, the trail heads east for a few hundred metres. Then take a hairpin bend to the left to return under the Ranc de Banes through a forest.
The trail then joins a track at the Bois de l'Ubac.
(8) Continue downhill to the left towards Sumène. At the end of the track, continue on a stony path which can be very wet. Be very careful, this section is very slippery until you reach the road at the end of the path. Walking sticks will be very useful on this section.
Once on the road, join a slightly larger street running alongside the Recodier. Turn left and go under the railway bridge to reach the RD 11.
(9) Go down to the left towards the centre of the village. Pass a sports field and turn right towards Place du Plan.
(10) Continue straight ahead on the other side of the car park along the small street called Pont de Recodier. Cross the Recodier on this small bridge, which offers a nice view of the Ranc de Banes. Turn left towards another pretty bridge over the Recodier.
Cross this new bridge to return to the left bank of this small tributary of the Rieutord. Pass under a porch on the right to reach the Pont du Plan and its two medieval towers.
Cross this bridge and then take the second street on the left, Rue du Four. Continue along Grand Rue to join the RD 11, Avenue de Ganges.
(11) Turn left and cross the Pont Petit. After the temple, turn right onto Avenue de la Gare to return to the car park at the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
