After some discussion, I decided on a variant route that takes you over a ridge and some light scrambling. The route is shorter than the main GR20, but offset that against the time taken to scramble a chain of summits

I really enjoyed this day, the scrambles were in no way spoilt by the light rain. Once on the western side of the ridge, the going was easy descent. After a turn the refuge is visible on the distance below.

The camp is coralled by fences (to protect the site from wild pigs). Inside – grass! So far, we have pitched tents on fine gravel so this felt like luxury. Fixed tents lined the edges and I put mine in the middle-right. The shop made decent coffee and marvelous very hard cheese (made on site). It’s perfect mountain cheese, this stuff doesn’t melt, weep or go off in the heat. And it was hot. I laid myself out in shade while a German couple did wild contorted stretches next to me.