Sunday 10 August 2014

Col de la Haute Beaume 1268m

Well, a discovery for me. The Col de la Haute Beaume isn't even marked as a col on my well-used cycling map of the area (IGN Top100 No.157), but I liked the look of the road (the D28) to cut the corner from La Faurie on the D1075 through to the D93 and the Col de Cabre. It certainly looked col-ish on the map, and a little way after Creyers, there was the sign telling me that the Col de la Haute Beaume was 'ouvert'.

Again, like the Col de Miscon, this is a minor col (a narrow, gravelly road with virtually no traffic), but it's a very pleasant ascent and descent.

But the real joy is in the views: looking back after Creyers you get a view back across a lush valley to some of the high Alps; and after the col you get amazing views of both the valley to the south east, and of the road up to the Col de Cabre.

The footnote for this ride is that I'd come from the Col de Grimone, along the D1075-E712: probably not a road you'd want to cycle every day, or if you're of a nervous disposition, because of the amount of traffic, though this was a Sunday in the height of summer. It was much less busy at Easter, and on a weekday last August.

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