Hiking from the mountain to the sea

Beautiful hike from Breil by the GR510 to Sospel via Piedne Haute. Then take the GR52 to Menton. Please note the Sospel-Menton part is very difficult and is intended for an informed public.

Breil sur Roya - Piedne Haute by the GR510
Duration: 5h
Elevation: + 590m
- 279m
The start of the trail is at the southern entrance to the city, on the left, just before the bridge over the Roya (tag 1). Continue to beacon 2, follow the path through Camp Saorgin and arrive at beacon 118.

At this junction continue to follow the GR510 through the place called Bancao. Arrive at marker 117. The path completely changes direction to go up towards the North-North-West via Viravourgio and traverse the depths of the Riou valley while the goal to be reached near the hamlet of Piedne Haute looms in the south at 1,5km as the crow flies.

A track soon replaces the trail. After crossing the hamlet of Mattegna, the path meets an oratory and reaches a pass dominated by the chapel of the Madonna. Continue to the hamlet of Piedne Haute.

Piedne Haute - Sospel via the GR510
Duration: 3h

Departure from Piedne haute by the D 193 westward then descend by a stony path via the GR 510 (tag 440).

After the Saint Jérôme chapel, the path narrows along olive groves. Leave the cultivated lands and descend while remaining vaguely on the crest; join the D93 (markers 441 and 442) about thirty meters from the Italian border (possibility of stopping at the cafe restaurant of San Michele),

Follow the road for 300 m and take a descending steep path that avoids a bend.

Another 100 m of tar, then take on the right (tag 443) a path which runs along a ledge above the Bévéra and which is equipped with a botanical path through the town of Sospel. We soon reach the Caï bridge over which the Nice-Cuneo railway line passes. Go under the bridge, cross the valley of Basséra and go up to the other end of the Pont de Caï.

From the bridge take a dirt road that climbs to the right and merge onto the D93 which you take until you reach the bridge over the Nieya stream where you enter a shaded path that avoids a wide bend in the road. This path then heads towards the Saint Gervais farm, where it crosses the buildings while widening. It continues in the form of a dirt road which is suitable for motor vehicles and becomes tarry when approaching the D 2204. Take this road until Sospel.

Sospel - Menton
Duration: 7h
Elevation: +1150
-1480

From Sospel (350 m - b.105), take the old road to the Col de Castillon (D.2566). Cross the railway line and just after the first bend, take the small Fontan road on the left (b.106). Continue on the track before taking the GR (b.106a) on the right.

In the first bend on the right, follow the start of a track to join the path which climbs (b.107) before exiting on the croup (fountain - b.107a).

Join the Col du Razet (1,032 m - b.90) by climbing through the undergrowth; continue on the GR52, to reach Colla Bassa (1,108 m - b.95) and take the track to the right which descends in a southerly direction.

Fork further down to the right on a path (GR) to reach the place called Mourga (b.95c). Continue until you reach a track (b.406) that you have to follow downhill to the right to take the path that goes to the left (b.407).

Last climb (b.408) to the tall pines that mark the passage of the Col du Berceau (1,090 m - b.12a).

The descent on the southern slope is steep, stony and technical. The slope softens when it reaches the forest (716 m), a crossroads of routes (b.410) where you have to continue towards the Plan du Lion, leaving the GR51 to the right.

At the end of the plateau (b.412), take the path (GR52) to a track in the St-Paul district (446 m - b.413).

Continue by the track opposite then by the path to the left which descends to the side (markers 424 and 423) until the gates of Menton.

Go along the motorway to the right, then pass under it until markers 422 and 421 continue to arrive at Boulevard de Garavan (b.420).