Back from France

I'm back in the UK, but thought I'd round up the final couple of days in Provence; two walks and hardly any rain! The first of the two was a round walk on the GR99 and 99a, a loop that took in part of the shoreline of Lac Ste. Croix to Baduen then back over the hill to the start. This was a lovely circuit, which I expected from my map research. I needed to check it as the red marked footpath shows a dotted line for a short section where the route rounds the peninsula. Although most of the walk is easy going at this point for about 200m the path is forced up for 60m vertical height gain through bare deeply pocketed limestone before dropping back down close to water level. In fact all of this section of the coast-hugging path is quite lovely with grey rock exposed down the the shoreline of turquoise blue water. It's a scramble, but not an intimidating or exposed section.
At the furthest point from the start the path reaches Baduen, which is a pretty coastal village below a rocky summit, before wandering up through a ravine to cross the highpoint on the way back to the start.

Beach on Lac Ste. Croix

On the final day of the trip I walked straight out from Moustiers; up onto the high ground behind to join the GR4 as it drops back down, heading North-westwards back to Moustiers. The climb up at the start is really well graded with well built zig-zags so, although it's a steep climb, you arrive quite swiftly to the plateau. after an easy section the path then turns to single-track and drops down into a limestone gorge before a second steep ascent below the Crete de lOurbes. I then took an unmarked path to the summit of this mini-mountain which was worth it for the summit but disappointing for the views, which are better from the official path as it winds down between cliffs and rocky towers.

View back to Crete de l'Ourbes from near Moustiers

All that was left was a valley plod back to Moustiers and a day's journey back to a rain soaked England.