Walking Holidays
Fresh air and peaceful countryside
We move your luggage between hotels
All you need to carry are the bare essentials and you're not humping around a heavy load.
For those looking to join a group guided walk we have single centre holidays in Savoie and the Auvergne which operate through both summer and winter. In winter you are loaned the necessary skis or raquette snow-shoes. A qualified guide escorts you each day.
France has both scenery and culture in abundance, and our holidays really do capture the essence of France. If you're interested in wine, châteaux, bygone times, rolling hills or dramatic coastlines, accompanied of course by some very pleasant walking, there'll be something in here for you.
Walking Grades
EASY - 4 to 6 hours
Between 6 and 12 miles per day on undulating terrain over tracks with easy inclines which are rarely steep.
MODERATE - 5 to 7 hours
More noticeable hills, up to 14 miles per day, sometimes rough underfoot and some steep ascents with up to 750m change in altitude.
MORE CHALLENGING TREKS - 6 to 8 Hours
May require a little more stamina and experience with distances of up to 16 miles and up to 1000m change in altitude. These Treks, and in particular the Pyrenees, inevitably require a head for heights, good map-reading skills and a sense of adventure. In remote areas there are occasional nights in more basic accommodation.
Our Walking Holidays
Sparkling Champagne
Bubbly sensations, gourmet restaurants
Drinking Champagne in Epernay is like listening to Mozart in Salzburg - to celebrate your visit to Champagne in the manner it deserves we have chosen 3-star hotels of character and charm with fine foods. With just a few short climbs - the walk is moderate.
Venture into the Vosges
Pagan walls and castles of Mont St Odile in Alsace
A picturesque hike on the slopes of Mount St Odile passing many old castles and the ancient Neolithic walls as you follow tracks on changing terrain of through woodland and vines.
Château to Château
Famous names and hidden gems
An easy walk through the garden of France, along the limestone banks of the Loire. Turn inland through vineyards and flower-decked villages to take in some of the region’s enchanting châteaux. The grade is easy and navigation is simple and even the longest day has flat gradients.
Loire Prestige à Pied
Enchanting châteaux and picturesque villages
The Loire is renowned for its châteaux, and you have the chance to live like a king yourself as you walk from château to château. We grade this walk as easy, following pathways alongside the river and through vineyards, rewarded with gourmet food at the end of each day.
Wine List Wanders
From vineyard to vineyard
A 45 or 58 mile walk through a string of villages reading like a wine lover’s wish list, covering much of the Côtes de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits. A relatively flat region with just a few climbs the walk is easy to moderate, passing through rolling vineyards.
Burgundy Prestige à Pied
Rolling vineyards and ancient châteaux
A luxury holiday staying in prestigious hotels and converted châteaux. Walking is relatively easy to moderate along fairly even earth tracks and quiet lanes with vineyards all around. Undulating hills necessitate some short climbs but with compensating views!
Classic Cognac
Discover the classic Cognacs of Charente
The walking is gentle following the River Charente as it meanders from Angoulême to Cognac through a peaceful landscape of vineyards. Plenty of opportunity to sample some of the great names of Cognac and complimentary tickets to visit Hennessy Cognac.
Tranquil Dordogne
Mystical rivers and hidden valleys
An exciting landscape of green fertile valleys and dramatic cliffs dominated by the Dordogne river which meanders past vineyards, pretty villages and brooding castles. The walk is graded moderate as distances are longer with a few climbs rising 150 m.
Dordogne Prestige à Pied
Spectacular Dordogne combined with special hotels
Spectacular views as the walk takes you through the splendid scenery of the Quercy Natural Park past rocky overhanging cliffs with wonderful views across the Dordogne River - graded a moderate walk as there are some steep sections.
Volcanoes of the Auvergne
Wooded hills and lunar lakes
The dramatic landscape is full of contrasts: barren yet lush, rolling yet rocky. You’ll be walking on a whole range of surfaces, from narrow woodland tracks to country lanes. We grade this walk as moderate.
St Bonnet and Beyond
Group walking in the Auvergne
Available in summer or winter (with raquettes or cross-country skis) walks are led by English speaking guides and you can choose the ‘Sportif’ brisk pace or leisurely ‘Tranquille’. Unwind in this peaceful rural haven in a uniquely un-touched landscape.
Stevenson Trail 1st Stage
In the footsteps of one man and his donkey
In 1878, Robert Louis Stevenson published, “Travels with a Donkey”, an account of his intriguing journey accompanied by his donkey, Modestine. Starting at the southern end of the Massif Central, the walk takes you across the Cévennes to the edge of the Midi.
Stevenson Trail 2nd Stage
Follow the Pilgrims Way, perhaps combining both stages (13 nights)
The walk is moderate, with a few long climbs. Conditions underfoot are good, well drained, though often rocky. The landscape is ever-changing, tiny villages, valleys and woodland give way to desolate boulder-strewn plains.
Untamed Cévennes
Dramatic landscapes and remote beauty
The rugged Cévennes offer stunning and dramatic scenery: steep tree covered slopes, cascading streams and remote granite strewn plains. This easy to navigate moderate walk allows you to experience the majestic beauty of the Cévennes without too much exertion.
Secrets of Savoie
Group walking in the Alps
These holidays are available both summer and winter. Staying only twenty miles west of Mont Blanc, you can be sure of some stunning views and a genuine experience of Alpine life. The grades are selected to suit the group.
Catalan Coast
Rocky coves and orange groves
Frontier battles gave way long ago to the simple fishing and agriculture which prevail today. An easy walk becoming moderate in places with several steep climbs. There is little shade from the Mediterranean sun, so bring a sunhat. Stunning views, friendly people and unique culture.
Cathar Castles 1st Stage
Trek of the Cathar Castles from Tuchan-Quéribus to Quillan
Trek through the foothills of the Pyrenees past mystical Cathar Castles, through beautiful and changing landscapes from craggy rocks to lush green meadows. You stay half-board in friendly chambre d’hôtes and small hotels where you’ll discover local cuisine and Languedoc wines.
Cathar Castles 2nd Stage
Continue from Quillan to Foix via Montségur, perhaps combine both stages (12 nights)
Discover the unique history, wonderful food and wine of this fascinating region, and gorgeous scenery of meadows, vineyards, and distant snowcapped peaks. Follow ancient trails to discover precariously perched ruins of Cathar castles and stay in small unspoilt Pyrenean towns and villages.
Van Gogh’s Provence
Shimmering light and olive groves
Wonderful buildings, charming village squares, the smell of herbs growing wild under your feet, all the right ingredients for some great walking along quiet lanes and stony tracks. The grade is moderate because the distances are longer than usual.
Provence Prestige à Pied
Scented pines and dazzling skies
Charming accommodation that adds a touch of luxury to the delights of walking in Provence. Wander through pretty village squares, past vineyards and fields of sunflowers, over remote hill sides and along canal towpaths with the smell of wild herbs in the air. The grade is moderate.
Captivating Corsica
Trekking on an untouched island simply waiting to be discovered
This trek combines dramatic scenery with natural beauty: rugged cliffs, scented pine forests, crystal waterfalls and deep gorges. The ancient mule track will guide you through pretty mountain villages to the turquoise waters of the western coast. Moderate with some more strenuous sections.
Breathtaking Brittany
Celtic crosses and rocky inlets
This south-western tip of Brittany stretches into the waters of the Atlantic. Sandy dunes and marshes give way to dramatic cliffs as you approach the stunning Pointe du Raz headland. Walking around 7 hours each day mainly along coastal paths with the odd climb this walk is graded moderate.
Seine Valley Secrets
Ancient woodland and ruined abbeys
One or two steep sections to negotiate each day as you rise from the river valley, taking in forest tracks through glorious woodland, towpaths along the slow moving Seine and quiet lanes leading past romantic ruined abbeys. The route is way-marked almost throughout its length.
The Opal Coast
The wind in your hair and wonderful views
This is a perfect introduction to experiencing walking in France: a picturesque seaside town, sandy beaches, undulating hills and plains with stupendous views. You don’t even need a car! Travel as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais or Boulogne and let us do the rest.
Inspiring Provence
Discover the inspiring beauty of Vence and its artists
Many artists have adored Vence, St Paul de Vence and Nice. This truly is classic Provence and as you follow in the footsteps of Matisse, Chagall, Renoir and Dufy, you will understand the magic of this special place. “When I realised I would see that light every morning, I could not believe my good fortune”
Picardy Pastures
Ancient towns and rural idylls
The medieval town of Laon offers panoramic views of the peaceful greenery and woodland that make for pleasant and undemanding walking through gently rolling countryside. The grade is easy, with short distances between hotels.
Mulberry March
Peaceful villages and evocative memorials
A pleasant walk across flat countryside following the route taken by the British 5th Division - through the pretty seaside town of Arromanches famous for the Mulberry harbour used for landing troops and vehicles during the war. We grade this walk as easy.
Want to know more?
Why not give us a call and we'll help you pick a holiday that suits you.
