Between Niolon and La Redonne, the Côte Bleue coastline lines up the best of Mediterranean walking: trails at the water's edge, coves with no road, stone viaducts and the train to get home. Here are the routes we recommend, from gentlest to most committed.
The walks at a glance
| Route | Duration | Distance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niolon to La Vesse | 5 min | 500 m | Very easy |
| Niolon fort loop | 1 h 30 | ~3 km | Easy |
| Customs officers' path to Méjean | 4 h one way | ~10 km | Moderate |
| La Redonne to Niolon | 2 h 45 | 7 km, 510 m of climb | Hard |
Warming up: La Vesse and the fort
Niolon to La Vesse barely counts as a hike: five minutes of steps and path, and you have changed calanque. It is the pre-swim stroll, mask in one hand, towel in the other.
The Niolon fort loop is the first real walk: a well-marked trail climbing above the village to the fort, with the bay of Marseille and the Frioul islands as the panorama. Doable as a family, ideal at the end of the day when the light settles over the bay.
The classic: the customs officers' path to Méjean
The centrepiece. From Niolon station, the customs officers' path follows the coast westward, blue waymarks, stringing the calanques together: La Vesse, Figuerolles, l'Érevine, then Méjean. Allow about 4 hours and 10 km one way, swimming stops not included, and skipping them would be the real mistake.
L'Érevine deserves the long stop: a cove of green water, an islet facing it, not a single building. It is the postcard of the wild Côte Bleue, and it can only be reached on foot or by paddle.
At Méjean, two options: retrace your steps, or walk on to Ensuès-la-Redonne station and take the train home. The rail follows the coast: every hike can become a loop.
The athletic one: La Redonne to Niolon
For seasoned walkers, the full route the other way round: train to La Redonne, then back on foot to Niolon. 7 km, 510 m of accumulated climb, 2 h 45 of sustained walking. After l'Érevine the path turns airy, unsecured in places: avoid it if heights trouble you, and with young children.
The equipment, non-negotiable
The Côte Bleue trails are rocky, exposed and short on shade. The minimum:
- Closed shoes with proper soles (flip-flops are the number one cause of falls)
- 1.5 to 2 litres of water per person
- A hat and sunscreen
- Swimwear underneath: swimming opportunities do not announce themselves
In summer, leave early and avoid the hot hours; on days of high fire risk, access to the hills may be restricted. Our season-by-season advice covers all of it.
And on the way back, the house is 300 m from the station: that is the whole idea.