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The start and finish are on the tarmac road leading to the Val d'Aren quarry. It is best to park about a hundred metres after the bridge on the left at an intersection so as not to obstruct the passage of lorries during the week.
(S/E) Join theGR®®51, which follows a shaded path on the left bank of the Aren. Follow the well-markedGR®® (red and white markings) gradually climbing up to the Gros Cerveau ridge. After a few hundred metres, you will reach a three-way junction (cairn).
(1) Follow theGR®® which continues to the right (south). You will reach a disused military fort, the Ouvrage de la Pointe, which is accessed via a footbridge that is closed.
(2) Follow theGR®® trail along the south side of the fort. Quickly leave the tarmac road and continue along theGR®® trail which runs along the north wall of the fort. Follow the path along the ridge via a beautiful aerial route with a few short steep climbs with carved steps leading to the Pointe du Cerveau.
(3) While following theGR®®, descend the ridge to reach the gap at the edge of the road below (D2220).
(4) Descending the gap, you can visit the Grotte du Garou cave, located about a hundred metres to the north. To reach it, follow the blue markings. After about twenty metres, on the left, climb a 2-metre-high rocky outcrop equipped with rungs. Continue along the blue trail to reach the cave below. Return to theGR®® by following this path in the opposite direction.
(4) Turn left and continue onthe GR®® trail, which crosses the wooded area above the road to the east. Along the trail, information panels mark an educational trail. At a small clearing, the trail passes close to a chasm known as "De la Femme Morte" (Dead Woman's Chasm), which is protected by a gate (sign with FFS description). Continue along the trail, which leads to a large clearing at the intersection of the road and a track.
(5) At this cleared area, after about 30 metres, join theGR®® trail, which winds through the woods above the road. Cross a blue-marked trail that leads down to the Val d'Aren before reaching a water cistern located in a bend in the road below the summit of Gros Cerveau.
(6) Continue straight on theGR®® which winds its way up through the sharp limestone pavement to reach an observation table located at the edge of the cliff. Follow the track for about 50 metres to the fort. Leave the track and follow theGR®® which goes around the Gros Cerveau fortification to the north-east, crossing a ditch via a footbridge. After about 50 metres, a path opens up on the right.
(7) Leave theGR®® to take this path, which climbs diagonally towards the top of the fortifications. Follow the edge of the enclosure towards a telecommunications pylon to the south-east to reach a geodetic marker located on the edge of a large plateau overlooking Toulon.
(8) Continue along the embankment, which extends northwards along a path. After about 50 metres, rejoin theGR®® at the bend marking the start of the descent.
(9) Follow theGR®® trail, which descends rapidly in a series of hairpin bends to the north-east. At the end of the bends, the slope levels out and after 250 metres, a narrow path marked in blue branches off to the left and north. Continue along theGR®® trail and after 100 metres you will reach an intersection (signposted 'Danger Carrière').
(10) Leave theGR®® which continues to the right and take the path on the left to the north-west. After about 100 metres, leave this path and take the narrow path marked in blue, which branches off to the left to the south-west. After a short descent, you will reach a valley at a tree (cairn). The trail veers to the right. Continue downhill, following the path along the right-hand side of the gully. You will come to a large open plateau bordering the quarry, where the trail disappears.
(11) Descend this rugged plateau, shaped by quarry machinery and littered with rocks and shrubs, following the left-hand edge of the quarry. After about 200 metres, you will reach an old track covered with sparse vegetation overlooking the quarry. This track leads to the bottom of the quarry, where large boulders block the way. Do not enter the quarry area, but continue along the path that extends the track, skirting the quarry to the south. Follow this gently sloping path. After about 2 km, you will reach the entrance to the quarry.
(12) Turn left onto a path that climbs diagonally above the road. Follow this path along the cliff edge and, after about 1 km, return to theGR®®51at the start of the climb (cairn).
(1) Continue the descent by taking theGR®®51on the right (north-west) to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
