Le Riou Vert

From LE RIOU VERT, go past the chapel and turn right towards the BRAMOUSSE pass and the GR58. When you reach the BRAMOUSSE mountain chalet, above the chapel on your right you'll see a tiny chalet. The path is just behind it. Marked with small orangey-yellow circles, the path crosses meadows and forest up to the ‘centenaire', an ancient larch tree that stands amid a few other enormous larches. Backtrack a little to begin your descent, down to the waterfall for a refreshing break, then return to the chalets via a small road (if you look carefully you'll see the remains of a lime kiln below you), to reach the chapel and take the GR58 hiking trail to BRAMOUSSE.

From LE RIOU VERT, head for the Fromage pass. After climbing through the forest you'll reach a footbridge from which you'll walk down to MONTBARDON where you'll find a cheese restaurant. Remember to book ahead, or you can purchase your picnic. Take the same route back, stopping on the way to see the Fontaine de l'Oules, a natural marvel made up of water pools, then walk back up to the footbridge to rejoin the path to BRAMOUSSE and LE RIOU VERT.

From LE RIOU VERT, head for the Fromage pass via the Riou Vert valley, up through the forest to the footbridge. From the pass, walk up to the observatory (a former military lookout post) for a beautiful 360° view over the Ruine Blanche ravine, the Riou Vert valley, the Ceillac valley and Font Sancte. The crossing continues along ridges to the Bramousse pass, then down to Les Sagnes. From there, head for the Souillet pass and the Bramousse chalets before returning to BRAMOUSSE via the GR58 trail.