Walk to Roussillon

0.00km – START POINT: The bus stop in the Place St Pierre. Facing the Boulangerie with the car park behind you, TURN LEFT up towards the centre of the village then immediately TURN RIGHT down Avenue Ducroit. Follow this road as it swings round to the right and downhill.

0.50km – Just after the exiting Goult sign (the village name with a red line through it) BEAR RIGHT and head up the minor road in front of you in the direction signposted “Domaine de Verriere”.

1.60km – At the fork, continue STRAIGHT ON and stay on the road.

2.00km – At the next fork, BEAR LEFT and follow the road as it swings down and to the left. Make sure you look to your left for the great views of Lacoste and Bonnieux from this part of the walk.

2.50km – As you reach a junction with the Chemin du Jas signposted on your right, continue STRAIGHT ON.

3.20km – The road will swing round and down past the shop belonging to the vineyard of Domaine de Verriere where you should continue STRAIGHT ON unless you want to stop and sample any of the fine wines on offer.

3.80km – After passing some large houses on the right you will cross a small bridge. TURN LEFT up the small dirt track and leave the road here. After just a few metres, BEAR RIGHT up the small narrow path following the yellow stripe waymarks that you will find on some trees. At the top, follow the path to the left. Continue following this path as it skirts round the field which has a stone building in the centre of it.

4.10km – Emerging onto the road at a junction, BEAR LEFT down the tarmac road signposted Les Rousseaus and Domaine de Coulet Rouge looking out for the yellow waymarks on the trees. As there are 4 route options at this point, please take care to ensure you select the right one. The routes you should avoid are marked with a yellow x as opposed to the usual horizontal stripe.

4.40km – At the next junction you have the option to take a slightly shorter path if you follow the yellow sign that says Roussillon (3.9km). To stay on the documented route, BEAR RIGHT and follow the signs to St Sers Sud (1.4km).

4.90km – BEAR RIGHT onto the main road. Carefully make your way along here for approx. 400m.

5.30km – Leave the main road and BEAR LEFT up the quieter road to Les Huguets.

5.70km – BEAR RIGHT at the St Sers Sud signpost and follow the road as it veers into the village of Les Huguets. There are no cafes, restaurants or shops in the village but the small town square is a nice spot to take a break and top up your water bottles from the font in the square. Once you are ready, continue to follow the route through the village.

6.30km – At the junction immediately after leaving the village, TURN LEFT and walk along the main road for 100m.

NOTE: You have the option of turning right here and walking the 1.6km to the Pont Julien Roman bridge. It is simply a case of walking straight down and carefully crossing the busy A7 road and you will see the bridge ahead of you. There is a picnic area and toilet facilities here. Return to the same spot to continue the walk.

6.40km – BEAR RIGHT off the road and onto a track signposted Le Jas. You will soon notice a change in the landscape as the path ascends up into the pine trees.  The red and orange colours of ochre are present in the earth and the vegetation becomes more scrub-like. Keep to the path and continue to follow the yellow route markers.

7.90km – As you reach a set of gateposts, you will see a house called Mauderle to your left. Walk through the gateposts and immediately BEAR LEFT to pick up the narrow path that leads across ochre coloured rocks. The route is marked by the yellow waymarks. This next section of path (approx. 400m) has suffered from some erosion. Take care here, and please look out for the yellow waymarks to ensure you stay on the right path. You will eventually reach some stone steps which will take you back down to the road. These may be slippery, so please be careful.

8.20km – TURN RIGHT onto the road, following the sign to Roussillon (1.2km) using the pavements where available and taking care with oncoming traffic.

8.80km – TURN LEFT at the roundabout and follow the road into the village as it wings around to the right. (Please refer to your accommodation directions here as some of you will be staying at a hotel close to here and this will save you walking all the way into town, only to have to walk back out of town the same way!).

9.60km – At the small square named Place Jean Eynard, with the bus stop, car park, pharmacy and Salle des Fetes you have completed your walk for today.