La Crête de la Colle

Departure and arrival: Piégut church car park

1. Head south on the tarmac road (D854) towards the Crête de la Colle. 200m further on, take the signposted track which is directly opposite. Leave the left track and continue on the right for about 10 metres
2. Then leave the track to take a path that goes left, towards the Crête de la Colle. Begin the ascent between pines, beeches, oaks, junipers and broom, flavoured by the lavender plants. In the moss, purple and white hepatic anemones can be seen. The path follows a ridge line and overlooks the Fracheland Ravine. After the overhang of the Fracheland ravine on the left, a caïrn invites contemplation. Take the time to admire the village of Piégut in the foreground with a panorama in the background that begins in the west with Céüsette, Céüse, the Pic de Bure (Indian head), Pic de Charance, Vieux-Chaillol, Piolit... to end with the Morgon in the east. Continue the climb encouraged by a hedge of honour of Scots pine. The progress is accompanied in the background by the cries of jays and green woodpeckers
3. When you reach the Crête de la Colle, continue on the track on the right towards Piégut. Follow it for about 500 metres. In view of the chamois, roe deer, stag, wild boar and hare tracks that intermingle on the track, there is a good chance of surprising some on the road, if you are discreet! The route is now shared with mountain bikers
4. The path junction offers a great place to eat, sitting on a soft grassy area. Leave the track in favour of a downhill path to the right. Walk in the shade of a magnificent beech forest. The black alder and bearberry appear as you cross the grey marl in the Grand Vallon. Beautiful hanging passages allow you to enjoy the landscape. The path continues to descend, zigzagging between the trees and anemones, before leading to a wide track. Follow it to the left for 200 metres
5. Leave the track and keep heading for Piégut down through the woods.the path cuts the track once, and the second time turn right at Les Faysses towards Piégut on a wide track.
6. At the next intersection, climb the track on the right where the needles of the larches replace the leaves of the fayards, offering more discretion to observe and listen to the spotted woodpeckers, great tits, finches and other passerines. After passing the Grand Vallon, the path opens onto vast meadows and you can still enjoy the panoramic view of the village, with the luckiest of you being able to see a few mulberry trees offering their berries.
The loop ends a few hundred metres further on, between meadows and mountains.

HUNTING PROHIBITED
As hunting is banned throughout the area, this is the ideal itinerary during the hunting season!

THE NATURA 2000 CLASSIFIED SITE " Venterol - Piégut - Grand Vallon ".
This site has been integrated into this network because its forests and grasslands are home to species and habitats of community interest. Human pressure on this area remains low, which explains the good state of conservation of the various habitats today. Numerous species can therefore be observed on this route, such as beetles like the Alpine rosalia or the large capricorn, butterflies like the beautiful Isabella of France or characteristic flowers like the Venus' hoof and Bertoloni's columbine.

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