Cadières de Brandis

From the car park of the col des Lèques, take the track heading south. You can park a little further away (there’s a parking lot at the tennis court or at the small mountain pass at 400m). Follow the track towards Cadières de Brandis.

1 - At the first intersection, leave the Chemin de Taulane on the right (return path) and continue up the forest track on the left. Gradually go up the track for about 1km until the intersection with the path descending on Castellane.

2 - Continue on the rising track. At 100m, leave a descending track on the left. Continue on the rising track for another 300m, then follow the route of the trail at the first turn. Reach to the peak of the Colle Bernaiche and regain the trail coming from Villars Brandis.

3 - Continue on the track heading towards the pylon and at the end of it, follow the path starting from the hillside and heading towards Cadières. Continue on this route which is relatively flat for 500m then. When you have reached a fruit tree, leave this route in direction of Cadières, which is glimpsedat the back and follow the path that goes right up the hill. Meander between the rocks and under the pine trees, reach the highest point of the trek (1 550m).

4 – Between pines and cleared passages, go down the path leading to the plateau. After about 900metres, turn right at the bottom of a depression (an area where the air pressure is low), then go through the rocky passages (not dangerous, but some steep passages; pay attention to the marking!) and cross a small rock tunnel before starting the descent to the forest. In the woods, (a steep downhill!) continue to pass through until you reach another marked path.

5 - Leave behind the path descending to Taulane on the left and follow the path on the right going towards the col des Lèques. At 900m, regain point ( 1 )

1 - Enter the car park via the route taken initially.