The Alpes Maritimes inland from the busy Cote d'Azur is a paradise for cyclists.

For road cycling, the roads are very quiet with fantastic scenery and a wide variety of terrain, from the wide plains of the Var to the fiercely mountainous roads to the north. Surfaces are generally very good and there is a variety of circuits available from Les Basses Beaumettes to take in some of the nearby cols.

The area is also excellent for mountain biking (VTT). There are lots of forestry tracks (of a wide range of steepness) and a chair lift at La Mouliere (thirty minutes drive) to take you to the top of the most southerly ski resort in the French Alps. For further information about the chair lift at La Mouliere / l'Audibergue tel. 04 93 60 45 39.

You can hire mountain bikes through the Mairie in Caille tel. 04 93 60 31 51 or in Castellane from Camping La Colle for 10E for half a day, 9 -14h or 14 - 18h. 15E for a full day or from the Hotel Les Canyons du Verdons. Please look further down the page under the heading - Off Road Cycling.

For cyclists at our self catering apartment we provide:

• A shopping service so that you don’t have to carry heavy shopping on your bikes. Just email us your shopping list the week before and we’ll do it all for you. This will cost 10% of the value of the shopping.
• Tools and a lockable garage for cycle repairs.
• Cycling itineraries written by previous cycling guests to help you make the most of your visit. If you let us know what height gain and distance you would like to do, we can suggest tailor-made itineraries.
• Detailed maps of the region (1:25,000 and 1:100,000). For your information, we are on sheet 3542ET on the IGN 1:25,000 series and sheet 61 of the IGN 1:100,000 series.

Read on for comments about cycling in the region, together with some possible itineraries. Les Beaumettes is at the junction of five quiet roads which gives lots of scope for making cycling loops. We are 40 mins by car from the Verdon Gorge which is possible to cycle round in a day, the shorter Route des Crêtes circuit is particularly spectacular. This fantastic panorama photo shows the route des Cretes on the left and the south rim on the right hand side of the photo. The following suggestions are just to give you an idea of what is possible; there are lots more alternatives.

Robin Haynes, September 2006

Is a grand place to be, well poised for any outdoor pursuits from the Pepsi-Max-take-it-to-the-limit variety to a picnic somewhere peaceful. Your local Resto was very fine as well - wild mushroom soufflé in particular. Obvious attractions to cycling down your way - the settled weather, immaculate road surfaces, low traffic volumes, drivers mostly far better attuned to cyclists' needs than in UK and diversity of scenery and routes all combine to make it a fabulous venue for road cyclists of all ambitions. Nowhere in UK gets near it. Your location also has access to some of the classic Alpine cols - in 3 days cycling, Simon completed 4,160 metres of ascent including the highest road in the Alps. In 7 days on the bike, Brodyck notched up 10,644 metres including 5 cols over 2,000 metres high, I wheezed my way up 11,631 metres of ascent and Derek (who drank enough wine over Friday lunch to impair his decision making capabilities and ended up going over Col Laval rather than sitting at the gite) just a whisker under 12,000 metres. Few other places in Europe make that sort of tally possible.

Road cycling around St Auban

Robin & Liz Blackburn Jan 2005

This is a mountainous region, all loops will involve a long climb at some stage.

It has an advantage over the central Alps in having many quiet roads and stable weather.

Described routes were all cycled on double chain ringed (36 - 50) road bikes with 11 - 25 rear sprockets.  Gradients are not massively steep but the hills are long.

Surfaces are excellent. 23x700cc tyres are ideal. Generally no potholes, but occasional surface grit, agricultural mud (near farms) & rock fall debris (in cuttings & tunnels).

The weather is fairly settled so spare clothes are not normally necessary.

Very, very cold on shady north facing slopes during winter with occasional surface icy seeps & snow.

Very, very hot on south facing slopes in summer.

Do not rely on villages for shops or water.  Be self contained!  This is a rural area not catering for tourists in every settlement!  Shops in larger habitations close 12 noon - 3pm.

The roads are very quiet.  But, do not think of cycling near Grasse….super busy!

Numerous small roads exist with endless possibilities for extensions to rides.

Day 1: Les Beaumettes - Col de Bleyne - Thorenc - Malamaire - Les Beaumettes

Distance: 44km

Ascent: 400m

A varied cycle with an introductory col and some fast cycling on smooth roads.  Best cycled clockwise as this gives a shady ascent and smoother descents.

Easy smooth ascent to la Faye du Mas junction.

Take right turn, and start the ascent of Col du Bleyne. Early morning mist can provide some stunning views.

Only major ascent of the trip. Rough surface with hairpins to Col. Shady, so coolish in summer, icy in winter.

Smooth fast descent to D802  (do not cut corner via Thorenc-Station, v narrow rough road, difficult navigation)

Right turn along level easy road to Malamaire via Valderoure

Right turn along D2211. Smooth surface, easy ascents, fast descents.

Right turn at camp site and back to Les Beaumettes

Day 2: Les Beaumettes - Clue de St Auban - Brainconnet - Sigale - Aiglun -  le Mas - Les Beaumettes

Distance: 63km

Ascent: 1200m

Classic scenic tour of the region with great high level views.  Strenuous climbs, not too steep, but quite long.

Easiest cycled anti-clockwise as ascent broken into stages but majority of descent in one 15km stretch of narrow twisty rougher road.

Best cycled clockwise as above & described below as descents are all smooth 2-way roads.  (Don’t worry about the final ascent till you’re there!).

Short tunnels but lights not necessary.

Smooth level road to St Auban.

Right turn & descend through the Clue on D2211.  Watch for rockfall debris on road.  Shady, so icy in winter.  Worth stopping to look at the river.

Right turn to Brianconnet at bottom of descent.

Smooth surface, easy angled ascent through trees to Brianconnet.

Contour hillside and rise to col at Maupoil.  Good surface wide road.

Straight across junction on D2211a.

Very fast, straight descent on good surface through trees to les Collongues. Shady, so icy in winter.

Ascend gradually then descend easily to D17 junction.

Take right turn signed Sigale.

Pass ostrich farm on left.

Small ascent through narrow clue (worth a stop).

Good views at top of climb.  Easy angled descent.  Bench seat on right approx 1km after top.

Drinkable water fountain in Sigale.  Fill bottles!

Fast descent on good road out of Sigale

Take right turn on apex of 2^nd hairpin to Aiglun.

Single track. Rougher surface.

Scenic river after le Colombier. (swim?)

Ascend to Aiglun.

Descend hairpins & tunnel to bridge (worth a stop for view & food).  Watch for debris on road around tunnel.

Long, long ascent via le Mas (don’t take valley bottom road) to D5 col. Nothing too steep, but it does go on somewhat! A very sheltered road on a south facing hillside.

Smooth easy angled descent to Les Beaumettes.

Day 3: Les Beaumettes -  La Foux - La Batie - La Chaudanne - Demandolx - Soliehas - St Auban - Les Beaumettes

Distance: 53km

Ascent: 1100m

A very scenic tour of the area with undulating riding & one big hill on super smooth surfaces.  Very quiet roads (even N85).  Could be extended to take in lunch or market at Castellane (at a cost of a further 6km and 100m or so more ascent).  2 short tunnels, lights not necessary.

Best cycled clockwise for smoothest easiest descents.

From les Beaumettes, follow D5 towards St Auban.

Left turn at campsite junction.

Easy angled small ascents & descents on smooth surface past les Lattes & la Foux.

After 10.5km, take right turn signed la Batie & Castellane.

Small hill then easy undulating ride to la Batie.

Right turn on N85.

Steepest climb of the day to a small col, then long fast descent to Chaudanne.

Take right turn on a big leftward bend, poorly signed to Barrage de Chaudanne. (if you reach the valley bottom, you’ve gone too far!).

Smaller road along reservoir side.  Watch for debris on road, especially through 2 short tunnels.  Shady, so icy in winter.

Good rest stops on side of reservoir.

Long ascent starts as road leaves reservoir.  Surface improves, good climbing gradient & views.

Right turn on D102 to Demandolx.

Continue ascent through gentrified Demandolx and up rougher surfaced road to col at Vauplane Stade de Neige junction.

Straight over col with more great views during fast descent to Soleilhas.  Watch for grit on hairpins.

Straight through Soleilhas on very narrow streets.

Continue easily along flat valley bottom to St Auban.

Right turn (ignore no right turn sign!), cross river, pass fire station & take left fork at campsite junction to return to Les Beaumettes.

Recommended by local cyclists

Brianconnet - Entrevaux – Ubraye – St Julian du Verdon – Demandolx

Distance: 95km

Ascent: -

Cycle through the Clue de St Auban and follow the main road to Brianconnet then turn left taking the D2211 over the Col de Buis (1199m). Follow the signs to Castellet St Cassien, when you get to La Serre, turn left and take the D911 to Entrevaux.

Entrevaux is a medieval town, well worth a visit and a pleasant lunch stop. Then take the D610 out of Entrevaux, the D6 becomes the D10, follow the signs to Ubraye (981m). If you really like cycling up hill you can continue up to Le Touyet (1230m). From Ubraye continue on the D10 to Rouainette. The D10 joins the N202, turn left and go over Col de Toutes Aures, through Vergons to St Julien du Verdon. Then take the D955 towards Castellane. At the diving centre turn off left onto the D102 and follow the hair pin bends up to Demondolx, over Col de St – Barnabe (1365m) then down to Soleilhas and back to St Auban along the D102.

Col de Bleyne – Gourdon – Cipieres - Greolieres

Distance: 95km

Ascent: -

From Les Beaumettes turn left onto the D5, turn right over Col de Bleyne. At the top of Col de Bleyne (1439m) you can turn left and go to the top of Montagne de Thorenc (1644m) for an excellent view. At the bottom of Col de Bleyne, cross over the D2 and continue on the D5. 1km after Col de la Sine (1108m) turn left onto the D112 towards Gourdon. Go across the Plateau de Caussols and down to Gourdon (739m).

Gourdon is a spectacular old village, perched on a cliff and makes an excellent lunch stop.

Turn left at Gourdon on the D3. After 2.5 km turn left onto the D603 to Cipieres (778m). Turn left into the square in Cipiere – the bar is right in front of you!!!! Carry on past Cipieres on the D603 down to the bridge over the St Pomp (674m), then up the hill to the D2, turn left to Greolieres (839m). Greolieres is a lovely little village, well worth a stop. Carry on up the D2 through the cuttings in the cliff used in the James Bond Golden Eye film. (If you want an extra bit of up hill, the view point on the way to Greolieres les Niege is well worth a visit. Turn right onto the D802 to Greoliere les Neiges, after five hair pin bends the road flattens out, after another 3km, there is a sign post to a view point on the left. This view point gives spectacular views down into the Aiglun valley).  Turn right onto the D5 over Col de Bleyne (1439m), enjoy the free wheel back down the north side, turn left at the bottom, and after 3km turn right to Les Basses Beaumettes.   

Extension to the Aiglun loop

If you are doing the circuit clockwise, then after going through the Clue de St Auban, and after passing through Brianconnet, turn left and climb over the Col de Buis (1199m). At the junction at the bottom of Col de Buis (792m) turn right and go to Castellet St Cassien. Then go over Col du Trebuchet (1143m). Stay on the D10 through le Grande Cheinet, through la Rochette, through St Pierre to the Pont des Miolans. Turn left at pont des Miolans onto the D17 to Sigale. Continue to Aiglun then back to St Auban.

Extension to either the Aiglun or Entrevaux rides

After cycling through the Clue de St Auban, turn left up to Le Prignolet, then up to La Sagne (1181m), on the cycle back down, turn left just before Le Prignolet, the road contours along the hill side, past the nudist colony to rejoin the main road, turn left towards Brianconnet

Other useful information and photos of cycle touring in our area can be seen here.

Off Road cycling

You can hire mountain bikes at Castellane at Aboard Rafting, for 10 Euros for half a day and 20 Euros for a full day.

The hills around Les Basses Beaumettes are generally wooded with lots of forestry tracks and other steeper tracks, giving endless scope for mountain biking.

Pensier Oriental (1595m)

(following the track which criss crosses the hill in the photo opposite)

Turn left onto the D5, after 2km turn right onto the forestry track, follow the forestry track till the D2211. Cross the D2211 and take the forestry track on the other site of the road. Follow the track all the way up onto the ridge of Pensier Oriental. Follow the footpath down the other side of the ridge until you come to the top of the old ski station, follow which ever piste you want, down to the village. Go past the trout ponds. Past the campsite. Just after La Defends turn left and follow the track up the valley, over the hill side and back to Les Beaumettes.

L’Audibergue (1642m)

L'Audibergue is a ski station in winter and five of its pistes are used for mountain bike descents in the summer. By clicking on visualiser la carte on this walking map you can see some of the descent routes. To get you to the top the chairlift runs here during the summer on weekends in June and September and every day in July and August, 10.30h - 17.30 h. The Zi -Zi Riders website gives an account of their descents of three of the pistes, and if you find French a bit indecipherable then have a look at their photo gallery instead. The site VTT net also gives an account of several descents plus photos. This l'Audibergue photo gallery is also worth a look and includes an essential French phrase for all mountain bikers by Bob le Fou! A nice day out can be spent doing the tour of L'Audibergue, for a map and account click on Tour of L'Audibergue. L'Audibergue also makes an excellent launch point for some longer expeditions. The eastern crest of the mountain gives a fine descent, and from there it is possible to head out onto the Caussols Plateau, or to head north via forest tracks over Castellaras and Col de Bleyne.

Arpille (1686m)

From Les Beaumettes cycle up to Hautes Beaumettes. The road then becomes a track. Bear left as soon as you get into the trees, then right when you get onto the ridge. At route marker 119 turn left and go to Col de Baratus, after stopping to look at the view, cycle back along the higher track to join the track that you were originally on. Contour along the side of Arpille. At route market 110 bear left, the track climbs up onto the shoulder of the ridge. The track then bears sharp left and winds its way up onto the summit. On the way back down, as you contour along the front of Arpille, look out for route marker 115, turn left here and cycle down the long shady track to the main road, turn right on the main road, after half a km turn right onto the rough track up through the trees which will bring you out just above Hautes Beaumettes, free wheel all the way back down to Basses Beaumettes.

Lachens (1715m)

Lachens has a single track tarred road up one side and a dirt track down the other - perfect for a mountain bike circuit. Although this link is to a flying website if you scroll down the page there is a helpful map showing this mountain biking circuit.

Cheiron (1777m)

You can also mountain bike up the Cheiron from Greolieres les Neiges at any time of the year and at any time of day or night as the photos on this photo gallery show.

The Rando Oxygene series also gives details of Circuit des Mujouls, Circuit du Peyron, Plaine de Caille and Baou Mourine at Escragnolles, all possible trips whilst staying at Les Basses Beaumettes.

With all of the above make sure you click on visualiser la carte to get a map of the route.

Another version of the Plaine de Caille route and other excellent mountain biking info can be found on this site.

The website Adventure Cycling Association has extensive listings of sites, books, maps, and routing information, to help you plan for and become more informed about bicycle travel all over the world.