Les Monts d'Autuche

Parking on route de Montaulieu, 100 m after the bridge (parking Saint-Denis). 1. Hiking sign and water point at the start of the loop. Return to the bridge and take the road to Châteauneuf and Mirabel. In the village, turn left onto a track, then immediately left again onto a path. 2. At the first flat spot (15 mins), follow the track before catching the path on the left, which gradually joins the ridge (on the left, a plunging view of the Trolepuy ravine, and on the right, of the Châteauneuf-de-Bordette valley). Be careful: halfway up, the path shifts slightly to the Châteauneuf valley side, for around 400 m; then return to the ridge and follow it to the summit of one of the two Monts d'Autuche (alt. 965 m). 3. Turn right and head south downhill. 500 m from the summit, look out for a path on the left (leaving the main path which continues straight on towards Peitieux mountain and the GR 9). Follow this path (on a contour), which is not always well marked, to the Col d'Autuche. Then take a left-hand path. The descent offers panoramic views of the Buisseron (rightmost), Angèle and Miélandre mountains and the Eygues valley. After a steep slope, take a path to the left. Follow a slightly downhill path. 4. In 5 minutes, you reach a wide track, which you follow to the left, until you reach the road. Follow the road all the way down (approx. 2 km). At the crossroads, turn left to reach Les Pilles.