Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps

This guidebook describes 18 day walks and 6 long distance routes. The treks include a 5-day traverse of the French Mercantour National Park and a 7-day traverse of the Alpi Maritime Park, and the walks range from 6 to 20km in length. The routes are suitable for novices and experienced trekkers alike.

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Overview

Guidebook to walking and trekking in the Maritime Alps on the border of Italy and France, just north of Nice. It includes 18 graded day walks, on both the French and the Italian sides, ranging from 6km to 20km in length and suitable for a range of abilities. There are also 6 longer treks, including a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime.

Detailed route descriptions sit alongside colour maps, and there is full information about accommodation options down in the valleys and up in the mountains. Useful French-English and Italian-English glossaries of walking terminology are included, too.

Rising to over 3000m above the sun-drenched French Riviera, the Maritime Alps form the western edge of the mighty Alpine chain. Wildflower lovers will also appreciate the remarkable range of flowers, including many unique to the area. Worlds away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of the coast this is a marvellous area for novice walkers and seasoned long-distance trekkers alike.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
The Maritime Alps
Walking
Wildflowers
Wildlife
Exploring the Maritime Alps
Local information
Access
When to go
Camping
Dos and don'ts
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Walks
Walk 1 Fontanalba rock engravings circuit
Walk 2 Mont Bégo loop
Walk 3 Vallée de la Roya to Vallée de Vésubie
Walk 4 Upper Vallée de la Gordolasque
Walk 5 Lacs de Prals circuit
Walk 6 Ancient passes above Madone de Fenestre
Walk 7 Vallon du Haut Boréon circuit
Walk 8 Lacs Bessons
Walk 9 Around the Argentera
Walk 10 Lac des Adus loop
Walk 11 The Great Lakes tour
Walk 12 The Alpi Marittime trek
Walk 13 The Valasco tour
Walk 14 The Fremamorta loop
Walk 15 Rifugio Bozano
Walk 16 Rifugio Remondino and Lago di Nasta
Walk 17 Vallone di Lourousa
Walk 18 Traversing Colle di Fenestrelle
Walk 19 Rifugio Pagari loop
Walk 20 Vallon del Vei del Bouc
Walk 21 Gorge della Reina
Walk 22 Vallone degli Alberghi
Walk 23 Costa di Planard
Walk 24 The border forts

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C French–English and Italian–English glossaries

Updates

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September 2021

Pera del Fener

p154 From Rifugio Soria-Ellena stick with the official path for Pera del Fener as the shorter route is no longer clear.

(Thanks to Anne Brearley)

July 2019

Update

p77 The map should show the red footpath running to the east, and then parallel to the south shore, of the lake in le Boreon, as per IGN map 3741 OT (not to the north and west as currently shown).
p79 bottom of page para starting "40 min - Pont Peirastreche", should read: "40 min - Pont Peirastreche. At junction P423 bear right off the GR 52, ignoring directions for the Vacherie du Boreon, and without crossing the river. The path narrows a bit and soon gives superb views of the Peirastreche waterfall. Further down, the GR 52 rejoins you as a lane from L. Pass private Refuge Saladin. At P380 the path ascends a little for a seemingly never-ending traverse WNW in woodland. At P379 ignore direction R to Vacherie des Erps. At a minor waterfall......." etc (as per existing text)
(Thanks to Nick Bradley)

April 2019

p34 By Bus: the web site for bus info in France has been changed from www.cg06.fr to www.pacamobilite.fr

2018There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: <>https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.
April 2018

p29/ p112 / p164 - The Posto Tappa at Terme di Valdieri has been renovated as Casa Savoia sleeps 24, open beginning June to end Sept, tel 327 0116543 casasavoiaterme@gmail.com



March 2018

p113 and 179
Rifugio Morelli-Buzzi Ph + 39 348 3399722 - email: pgiraudo@alice.it


August 2017

p28 Valleys and Bases in Italy
The summer shuttle bus services linking Entracque, Trinità, San Giacomo, Lago della Rovina are on-demand services – see p34 for contact numbers.

p31 + p159 + p184 + 187 San Giacomo: the Park Foresteria aka Rifugio San Giacomo tel 0171 978704 www.bmgelas.com open April to October.
The Park Visitor Centre has closed

p37 Austrian Alpine Club in the UK web site www.aacuk.org.uk

p44Maps
Excellent 1:25000 and 1:50000 maps are published by Fraternali www.fraternalieditore.com
<... Albergo Balma Meris www.locandabalmameris.com
<... line 6: the fork L past ruined huts is now Grade 3. An easier alternative (30min longer) continues straight on in ascent before descending to be joined by the Col de Cerise path.

p163 Ponte Valasco: cross the bridge and continue uphill to the 1996m junction

p165 Access: cars are allowed as far as Pian della Casa del Re (1735m)

p167 2nd last line: the fork L past old huts is now Grade 3. An easier alternative (30min longer) continues straight on in ascent before descending to be joined by the Col de Cerise path.

p173 Access: it is now possible to drive as far as Pian della Casa del Re, and shorten the walk by 1hr.

p205 line 5: the best path now crosses to the L side of the stream and climbs past Costa Lausea, before dipping briefly to recross the stream near a huge boulder. In the shady corridor it's not far up to the signed junction (well before the 1750m fork) where you branch R for the climb to Gias Vilazzo.

June 2016
p36 the web site for the UK branch of the Austrian Alpine Club should be www.aacuk.org.uk
p138 Albergo Balma Meris web site has changed to www.locandabalmameris.com

Reviews

"It has been my pleasure to follow in Gillian's footsteps all over Italy"

I have used Gillian Price's books for the Dolomiti, Stelvio, and Gran Paradiso, and most recently last year for Alpi Maritime and Mercantour. It has been my pleasure to follow in her footsteps all over Italy. Thanks so much for her wonderful books and sense of humour.
- Sandy

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The Cicerone guide to Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps is a neat little guide to an area you really should visit if you are a keen hiker – what’s not to like!

Gillian Price has produced a lovely guide to the best the region has to offer – and it seems it does have a lot to offer for hikers and trekkers. Firstly Gillian must be congratulated on the depth of information she is providing in the guide – there is a wealth of information on places to stay, amenities and travel in the area and as an enthusiast for public transport (to help minimise you impact) there is good information on travel.

This together with the information she provides on wildlife, flowers and history the introduction makes an easy read and should get you in the mood for a great holiday in great surroundings.

The guide has 18 day walks and 6 long distance treks to choose from with difficulties ranging from the easy and popular Fontanalba Rock engravings to the spectacular 7 day Alpi Martime circuit. So there is something for everybody.

So the Cicerone guide to Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps is a neat little guide to an area you really should visit if you are a keen hiker – what’s not to like!

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