Grand tour of Lac du Bourdon

The main departure point is from the Calanque car park, at the foot of the municipal campsite and very close to the leisure centre.

(D/A) Leave the car park as close as possible to the campsite entrance. Opposite the lake, turn left and immediately take the path on the left. Most of the path is sandy and runs alongside the upstream part of the reservoir. This is where the Étang du Bourdon was located before the lake was created. Arrive at a crossroads with four paths.

(1) On the right are 2 posts of an old estate fence. Continue straight ahead, taking care when crossing a stream shortly after the crossroads. Pass by a private residence on your left, keeping to the marked path. The grassy section ends in a gravelled section to join a road.

(2) Continue straight ahead along this road, which crosses the Étang de Charmoy dyke. Continue along this road until you come to a bend in the road. Opposite the crossroads, gates mark the entrance to the Parc de la Boissière adjoining the Boutissaint estate.

(3) Turn right as far as La Gaîté. On either side of this small road are fences separating parks and game reserves. At the fork in the road, as you turn right, the first sign on the right and the second on the left mark out the route. At the bottom of the descent, a cross road cuts off the momentum.

(4) Turn opposite towards Les Rivets (old roadman's hut on the left). At the "Sens Interdit" on the left, take the road on the right and you will come to a dirt track. Follow this road until you reach Les Colas.

(5) Take the wider road opposite, leaving an old farmhouse on the right. The D185 is fairly straight. It crosses the Ru de Chasseloup et Boitron which feeds a branch of the Bourdon. Continue, leaving the Métairie Archambault farmhouse inn on the right. Further on, the hamlet of Les Baillys on the left should also be left.

(6) As you reach the dyke, you will see the weir structures on the right. On the left are the lawns of the gardens that run alongside the various streams formed by the dike overflows and collectors.

(7) At the end of the dyke, turn immediately right onto a surfaced path that separates the lake from the holiday camp premises. Continue along this path until you reach a large curve.

(8) Opposite, a sign forbids entry to private property. Turn left and head up the tarmac lane.

(9) Take the cross road on the right and keep to it. Continue, leaving the horse farm on your right and chalets and holiday cottages on your left.

(10) At the crossroads, go down to the right and then left on the large curve to find the start car park (D/A).