Chemin de Bistagne. Not the most poetic address on the peninsula, but step past the entrance and the landscape shifts completely. No more white sand, no queuing traffic. The Mediterranean forest takes over: cork oaks with their rust-red bark, umbrella pines sieving the midday light, the dry, almost smoky scent of thyme underfoot.
The Hoofty Woods circuit runs through the forested massif that backs Ramatuelle to the south, between the hills and the Pampelonne plateau. Rolling terrain, a few short and steep climbs, stretches of woodland where the mistral simply stops. In August, you will be grateful for that. The ground mixes packed earth, exposed roots and patches of limestone: proper walking shoes, not flip-flops.
What stands out is the absence of people. The trail stays inside an area of the presqu'île that is, improbably, still wild. Jays and shrikes, mostly. From one or two high points, a gap in the canopy offers a glimpse of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez before the trees close ranks again.
Practical notes: bring water (no supplies along the route), avoid the hottest hours in July and August. Parking available at the trailhead on Chemin de Bistagne. For the exact route and current trail conditions, check with the Ramatuelle tourist office before setting out.
