Been meaning to do this for over 10 years now. As it chucked it down yesterday, it was much fresher, so set the alarm for 6:00am, off for an early ascent.
Turned out it was more like 7:10am when I finally left, but probably just as well, as the run up from Nice up the vallee de la Tinee was feckin cold being in the shade all morning.
Nice views up the valley though, looking up to some of the precariously perched little villages. This one is Bairols and has to be one of the hairiest roads I've driven the car up round here.
Further up the road, still in the shade, so stopped at the excellent little bakery in La Bolinette. If anyone is coming down from the Col de la Bonette heading south then turning over the Route des Grandes Alpes at Valdelblore/La Colmiane, then this is worth the little detour as it is 1km south of the turnoff.
They only really do four non-bread products here. Sausage rolls, apple turnovers, apple tarts, and brioche. So, I've got half the selection mmmmmm
Looking north to St Etienne de Tinee with the Cols beyond.
Of course, when it hasn't rained for months, then ye get a biblical downpour like we had last night, then some rocks are gonna come loose..
So, on up through St Etienne, then across the Pont Haut, when you see this sign. Instead of going right, up the Col de la Bonette, turn left for St Dalmas
Nice little road winds up to the village, with spectacular views beyond.
Straight through St Delmas, then you see the sign for the Col de la Moutiere saying that in 11kms the road runs out so it's a gravel path for the last 3kms...bring it on
Stunning morning, and I'm starting to warm up in the sunshine now
Looking back down onto St Delmas
Quite a different feel to La Bonette. This is much more wooded, whereas the Bonette seems very open and bare to me.
Same spot as above, looking back down the Col. Road is very narrow and I didn't see one other car or bike on the way. Only passed 4 mountain bikers coming down from the top.
Up near the junction, there's a casemate from WW2, like the ones on the Bonette.
Looking back down the road from the casemate.
View up the wee path. Hard work at over 9000 feet...puff puff
Still in remarkably good nick. Went down the stairs, 3 levels underground, and there's a maze of corridors, rooms, showers, toilets etc, all pretty unvandalised, however, the iPhone torch isn't that hot, and there were deep shafts which had no covers on them, so thought I better not get stranded in somewhere only 3 cars a week pass...
Machine gun turret in clear blue skies. Was peaceful today...
Shortly after the casemates, the tarmac runs out and it's a gravel track. Pretty good nick considering the savage winters up here, and nothing that would put me off taking me car up here.
Feckin lovely weather though. Track has a couple of deep drainage ditches, but nothing a super offroader like me couldn't handle View looking back down the Col
Looking over to the military buildings you pass on the northern ascent of La Bonette from Jausiers, so nearing the tarmac
Last wee climb before joining the road
Went back north a bit so you can see the sign from the other end (coming up from Jausiers/Barcelonette).
This is the view down from the monument thingy at 2802m, looking down onto the Col de la Moutieres, so now, next time you're there, you won't need to ask "wonder where that road goes"
Always looks a bit "Lunar" up here to me
Heading down the south side again. Classic example of a glacial valley. Errr according to the wee sign just left of the bike
Looking back up the Col to the old military camp on the south side
Stopped in Isola village for a coffee on the way down, and noticed the local village war memorial. Must have had a devastating impact for small communities like these
Now this is another wee road I've always wanted to do. Just south of La Bolinette (remember the baker?) there's a tiny road off to the right (West) the D59 up to Ilonse, which is white with dotted lines on the Michelin maps, with red dots on the other side, so always fancied a look. This is on the way up the D59, looking back across to the Route des Grandes Alpes climbing up to Valdeblore, and St Martin Vesubie in the background.
Cracking wee road with spectacular views....recommended
So, stopped in Ilonse, and the only way to the top is to walk. Well, it is a mediaeval village, so not built for cars or bikes Went out to the viewpoint which has amazing views across the Vallee de Tinee
Like this, looking out north-east
Lots of info here
Climbing up to the Col de Sine, looking back on Ilonse
Down the other side to the village of Pierlas
It's a real shame these pictures can't convey the scale of this place. Gorgeous wee road. Never saw one single car in over 20 kms.
Finally, back across to the 'main' road in the vallee de Cians
Turned right to Puget-Theniers, then turned right up to the Col de St Raphael with a rough plan to cut across to the Route Napoleon then home
Voila
Interesting signs up here
Obligatory shot of the Route Napoleon with feck all traffic on it
Looks good up ahead too
Left the Route Napoleon, then scooted down through Mons. Stopped here for a wee breather as me arse was numb having been on the bike for nearly 8 hours by this stage. 400kms done today.
That was a cracking rideout though, best I've had in a while.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did
Turned out it was more like 7:10am when I finally left, but probably just as well, as the run up from Nice up the vallee de la Tinee was feckin cold being in the shade all morning.
Nice views up the valley though, looking up to some of the precariously perched little villages. This one is Bairols and has to be one of the hairiest roads I've driven the car up round here.
Further up the road, still in the shade, so stopped at the excellent little bakery in La Bolinette. If anyone is coming down from the Col de la Bonette heading south then turning over the Route des Grandes Alpes at Valdelblore/La Colmiane, then this is worth the little detour as it is 1km south of the turnoff.
They only really do four non-bread products here. Sausage rolls, apple turnovers, apple tarts, and brioche. So, I've got half the selection mmmmmm
Looking north to St Etienne de Tinee with the Cols beyond.
Of course, when it hasn't rained for months, then ye get a biblical downpour like we had last night, then some rocks are gonna come loose..
So, on up through St Etienne, then across the Pont Haut, when you see this sign. Instead of going right, up the Col de la Bonette, turn left for St Dalmas
Nice little road winds up to the village, with spectacular views beyond.
Straight through St Delmas, then you see the sign for the Col de la Moutiere saying that in 11kms the road runs out so it's a gravel path for the last 3kms...bring it on
Stunning morning, and I'm starting to warm up in the sunshine now
Looking back down onto St Delmas
Quite a different feel to La Bonette. This is much more wooded, whereas the Bonette seems very open and bare to me.
Same spot as above, looking back down the Col. Road is very narrow and I didn't see one other car or bike on the way. Only passed 4 mountain bikers coming down from the top.
Up near the junction, there's a casemate from WW2, like the ones on the Bonette.
Looking back down the road from the casemate.
View up the wee path. Hard work at over 9000 feet...puff puff
Still in remarkably good nick. Went down the stairs, 3 levels underground, and there's a maze of corridors, rooms, showers, toilets etc, all pretty unvandalised, however, the iPhone torch isn't that hot, and there were deep shafts which had no covers on them, so thought I better not get stranded in somewhere only 3 cars a week pass...
Machine gun turret in clear blue skies. Was peaceful today...
Shortly after the casemates, the tarmac runs out and it's a gravel track. Pretty good nick considering the savage winters up here, and nothing that would put me off taking me car up here.
Feckin lovely weather though. Track has a couple of deep drainage ditches, but nothing a super offroader like me couldn't handle
View looking back down the Col
Looking over to the military buildings you pass on the northern ascent of La Bonette from Jausiers, so nearing the tarmac
Last wee climb before joining the road
Went back north a bit so you can see the sign from the other end (coming up from Jausiers/Barcelonette).
This is the view down from the monument thingy at 2802m, looking down onto the Col de la Moutieres, so now, next time you're there, you won't need to ask "wonder where that road goes"
Always looks a bit "Lunar" up here to me
Heading down the south side again. Classic example of a glacial valley. Errr according to the wee sign just left of the bike
Looking back up the Col to the old military camp on the south side
Stopped in Isola village for a coffee on the way down, and noticed the local village war memorial. Must have had a devastating impact for small communities like these
Now this is another wee road I've always wanted to do. Just south of La Bolinette (remember the baker?) there's a tiny road off to the right (West) the D59 up to Ilonse, which is white with dotted lines on the Michelin maps, with red dots on the other side, so always fancied a look. This is on the way up the D59, looking back across to the Route des Grandes Alpes climbing up to Valdeblore, and St Martin Vesubie in the background.
Cracking wee road with spectacular views....recommended
So, stopped in Ilonse, and the only way to the top is to walk. Well, it is a mediaeval village, so not built for cars or bikes
Went out to the viewpoint which has amazing views across the Vallee de Tinee
Like this, looking out north-east
Lots of info here
Climbing up to the Col de Sine, looking back on Ilonse
Down the other side to the village of Pierlas
It's a real shame these pictures can't convey the scale of this place. Gorgeous wee road. Never saw one single car in over 20 kms.
Finally, back across to the 'main' road in the vallee de Cians
Turned right to Puget-Theniers, then turned right up to the Col de St Raphael with a rough plan to cut across to the Route Napoleon then home
Voila
Interesting signs up here
Obligatory shot of the Route Napoleon with feck all traffic on it
Looks good up ahead too
Left the Route Napoleon, then scooted down through Mons. Stopped here for a wee breather as me arse was numb having been on the bike for nearly 8 hours by this stage. 400kms done today.
That was a cracking rideout though, best I've had in a while.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did
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