Vaumale valley - Lioux valley

Description

(D) The car park in the hamlet of La Combe, one kilometre before Lioux, just after the war memorial on your right.

(1) From the car park, walk down the road to the left to get back to the crossroads and the signpost for "Lioux - Le Château-Est."
From there, take the road on the right signposted Château Parrotier. Carry on down this road, which has yellow waymarks, until you reach the crossroads for "Lioux-Le Château." Carry straight on towards "Joucas" and "Vaumale," still on the same road. Follow the waymarks on the road, ignoring a trail heading off to the right, then at the next crossing leave the roads to the right and the left and carry straight on down a wide downhill path. The path will take you to the signpost for "Vaumale."

(2) 5 metres after this signpost, a cairn marks the entrance to Vaumale valley. Turn right and begin the climb up the river bed (dry in June 2014). There are still some traces of old yellow waymarks, but in any case, you need to climb up the valley. During the climb, there are various carefully-placed metal bars and cables to help you cross the more difficult passages.

(3) Just over 3 kilometres further up, at the signpost for "Gorges de Vaumale" leave the waymarks, which head off to the left towards Col de la Ligne, and instead turn right on the GR^® trail (Grand Randonnée - Long Hike) (red and white waymarks). The trail winds up through the woods and then comes out on a tarmacked road at Bezaure farm. The waymarks take you past the farm and then turn off to the right on the road alongside a water reservoir and then several cherry trees.

(4) After a descent, the GR^® leaves the road and bears off to the left on the Bois de Bourrade trail.

(5) At the signpost for "Bois de Bezaure", take the path to the left which climbs up towards "Col de la Ligne" and "Les Rouvières". The path completes its climb to come out onto a plateau opposite the last cherry trees and a cabin that is occasionally used. Carry straight on along the path, which then takes you down into Lioux valley.

(6) At the gate at the crossing for "Les Rouvières" take the direction of "Lioux" on the right. The path goes down into the valley for 3.4 km and is much less physical than the climb up Vaumale valley.

(7) When you are almost at the bottom of the valley, the waymarks take you off to the left and then come out and lead you around some houses. The path then leads onto the D60A, which you must walk down on the right to get back to the car park (1).