Take the direct route towards Beaumes but, just before the bridge across La Salette, go down to the right and take the path alongside the stream, passing the tennis courts. When the path crosses the stream follow the road round the camp site until you reach the signpost Las Moulins. Turn right, direction Lafare. Follow the road, cross La Salette again and proceed up to the left on the Chemin de Rocalinaud. (Rocalinaud is a huge rock that you will shortly come to on your right). Make sure you leave the road on the path to your left just as you reach Rocalinaud. There are red/yellow crosses on the rocks beside the road in front of you telling you not to proceed. (It is a good idea generally not to take paths marked with crosses as you could be going into no-man’s land).
Start your ascent on the path, stopping at the first terrace for a view of Rocalinaud. Walk alongside a vineyard and you reach a mettled road again. Follow it right. Counter intuitively, given that the road looks to be going up the hill, you then take a left. (Again crosses on the tree by the road suggest not to go that way – 3 crosses means non, non, non). Heading slightly downhill you pass a rack on the right and then a road, all marked with crosses (4 on one telegraph pole must be a record for someone’s frustration), before you come to the right turning you want (there are several right turn signs on the concrete pole on your left). Go up this narrow road, which becomes a track which becomes a path. It’s a fairly long climb but not too steep. More yellow and red signs guide you at turns until you reach signpost La Galinière. Take the left to Galinière Nord where you then follow the track to La Roque-Alric. Keep straight on. Track levels out – good view of Les Dentelles on the left – and then drops down a bit until you reach the signpost Les Esplanades and a magnificent view of La Roque in front of you.
If you want a shorter walk you can take the road then path down from here to Lafare. Advantage, as well as cutting an hour off the route, is that there is a bistrot there. The disadvantage is that you have to take the road back the 3 kilometres from Lafare to Beaumes.
Continuing on, go into La Roque-Alric, a very pretty village, and climb to the top There is a restaurant, Auberge L’Acacia, which is very nice but with only limited opening, mainly for dinner. You can call ahead if you want to check on 04 90 65 44 25.
Leave La Roque at the top by the D90a road, (Serre de Sant-Michel signpost towards Le Barroux). After about 600 metres the road bends to the left but you must leave it and take the forest track sharp right (changing from east to south). There’s a cross on the tree at the right side of the road to confirm this is where you get off. There’s an 8t limit and “sauf riverains” notice at the start of the track you need to take. At the signpost, Le Pontillard, follow the track to Beaumes. Turn right at the junction. There are way markers – yellow and red bars – to confirm you are on the right route. At one stage the path will turn back on itself and you will face two tracks and a sea of crosses. Take the track on the right.
One kilometre on is the signpost La Loubière, follow the track to Beaumes. Next one, after another kilometre is Les Aplanats, with signpost to Beaumes. Look out for a left turn sign, Chemin de Bel Air, then further on you take a right, Chemin des Bernardins. At the next cross roads there is a sign for cyclists to turn right for Beaumes. Take this road – this time ignore the crosses on the posts – and you are back on the Chemin de Rocalinaud straight down into Beaumes.
About 11.5 km, 3.5 hours. Knock off an hour and 2.5 km if return via Lafare. La Roque-Alric is well worth a visit and there are good views back to the south and to the Dentelles to the west.