Walking in Eastern Provence – Côte d’Azur to the Alps

Eastern Provence, 3rd edition (2016) and 4th edition 2021 in pdf form from our website. Updated 9/10/20

Updates for walks and car tours (drives) in eastern Provence and the Côte d’Azur given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book you can “upgrade” to the latest edition at half price.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably by e-mail, to info@sunflowerbooks.co.uk.

IMPORTANT: THIS REFERS TO ALL EDITIONS OF THE BOOK, INCLUDING THE 4TH NOT YET PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM. THE DISASTROUS STORM ALEX HIT THE SOUTH OF FRANCE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OCTOBER 2020. THE WORST DAMAGE HAS BEEN IN THE VESUBIE VALLEY (CAR TOUR 2), WITH THE VILLAGE OF ST-MARTIN VESUBIE COMPLETELY FLOODED AND CUT OFF. THE CAR TOUR WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR MONTHS, NOR WILL SOME OF THE WALKS ACCESSED FROM IT. THE DEPARTEMENTS OF ALPES MARITIMES AND VAR WERE THE WORST HIT AS FAR AS WE KNOW, AND WE EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE SOME WEEKS OR MONTHS UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PICTURE IS.

ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS BELOW HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE 4TH EDITION, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLY IN PDF FORM FROM OUR WEBSITE BUT TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM EARLY IN 2022. [SUNFLOWER]

Walk 2 Mont Chauve d’Aspremont. NB we did the Alternative Walk – Aspremont Circuit which we thought was stunning. Fabulous flowers en route in May and fabulous views… It is worth pointing out that the Fort is a continiuing military establishment – you cannot enter – as we were politely told by an official at the summit… We found the tunnel mentioned on the return to Tourette to be closed (locked) at the far end having already stumbled our way through. Ignoring the tunnel and continuing on the waymarked path towards Basse de Guingo brings you to the outside of the far end of the tunnel nevertheless… Waymarking at Basse de Guingo for the return to Aspremont is missing – Need to stress to look for the wide grassy path leading downhill to the right of the one you have just arrived by… There now appear to be three restaurants in Aspremont village centre and a small, friendly Relais – which offered welcome refreshments after the walk. (User, 5/16) • We also did the Alternative return to Aspremont. We didn’t get around to checking for updates before we left the UK, but agree with the comments made by those who took this walk in May, that the path via the tunnel is no longer a viable “slightly different” route. There was also rapid gun fire, at what we assumed to be a shooting range coming from the ruined fort area, so keep well away. Follow the path after the entrance to the tunnel and as you descend to a junction of paths, with a basin ahead, turn sharp left downhill and make your way back to Aspremont via the grassy path, which was rather brown and well worn by September. (User, 9/16)

Walk 3 Peillon and Peille. At the start of the return from Peille village you could make it clearer that you zigzag down grassy footpaths to the last hairpin, not the road itself. NB there is a red painted wooden ‘Peillon’ signpost, indicating the route to follow to the right, halfway down the zigzags which cuts off a fair number of the road hairpins. You can also follow orange painted arrows and XMB markings on the ground which indicate the paths to take… The path to follow through the woods after crossing the stream is now quite clear with apparently freshly painted thick yellow flash markings showing the way… We didn’t see the large boulder mentioned with red and yellow marks but didn’t need to as the route ahead seemed quite clear… The ‘second tall cairn’ at the ‘important junction’ no longer exists but the onward path is clearly marked with a left handed upside down L flash clearly pointing to the left. Branches have also been laid blocking the path straight ahead as a further indication to turn left… Again ‘2 minutes later at a Y-fork’ the right hand path is clearly marked with a yellow L flash and branches blocking the path in front… We didn’t notice the building mentioned at 2h 55 mins but arrived at ‘col and marker stone 128’ without problem… NB we thought both Peillon and Peille were more picturesque villages than Eze – which is very commercialised and touristy. (User, 5/16)

Walk 5: The walk starts at the Colle de Belle Barbe and heads towards Lac  de L’Ecureuil.  I quote from the guide as one approaches the Lac: “Soon the sound of rushing water heralds you approach to the tiny Lac  de L’Ecureuil.” It may have done once but the Lac de L’Ecureuil, despite still being shown on Map 3544ET,  is now completely dry and clearly has been for several years looking at the tree growth. I don’t think it has dried out. What I think has happened is that the bank at the southern end of the Lac must has given way at some stage releasing all the water. There is no rushing water and definitely no lake and it is unlikely there ever will be again. (User, 6/18)

Walk 8 La Turbie and Eze (alternative La Turbie Circuit). The two tunnels and the path between them on the Corniche track just after the Maison de La Nature are both currently closed and this whole section blocked off due to maintenance work repairing the roof of the tunnels. The route to follow is sharp left at the first tunnel to the Table d’Orientation to follow the ‘sentier botanique’ in reverse. A good 20 minutes diversion but very pretty in its own right. (User, 5/16)

Walk 12: Unless you wish to buy cheese form the Vacherie we suggest that having walked to the picnic area from the Col de Turini, go left downhill to meet a flagpost to Circuit de L’Arphia as Flagpost 235 is beyond the Vacherie. In the clearing at spot height 1648 there has been recent logging activity. The Flagpost 235A is fixed to a tree and has been damaged. Upon your return to the Col de Turini enjoy refreshments at the café within the Hotel des Trois Vallees and if you are an historic motorsport fan, you will be immersed in memorabilia and photographs of rallies past and present. An unexpected bonus for me! (User, 9/16) [Authors’ comment: We love the Trois Vallées, as is evident from our book ‘Walk & Eat around Nice’.]

Walk 13: The GR52 from Flagpost 423 to the Vacherie du Boreon is poorly waymarked and you need to take care to follow a number of cairns to stay on the GR52. (User, 9/16)

Walk 14: Flagpost 357 is not to the left of the CAF, it is adjacent to the chapel & hotel where there is also a WC sign. Walk up the steps to the left of the CAF to the large map boards to start this walk. (User, 9/16)

Walk 15: Good news! Flagpost 429 has been replaced. (User, 9/16)

Walk 16: At the 1h15min-point the stepping stones have been supplemented by a timber bridge. (User, 9/16)

Walk 24: At Flagpost 56 you need to look carefully for the narrow footpath slightly to your left. Do not go down the steep wider path that is immediately to the left of the house. Flagpost 56A is not labelled as such and in walking distance it is more than 60m downhill from Flagpost 56; it is probably 200 to 300m. At 1h25min it is not clear that you have reached the Fuont Nouvelle. The footpath we walked had been trodden to the right of the concrete capped well. The wooden siting post mentioned had broken off and was not visible until we reached the ridge and Flagpost 57A. (User, 9/16)