Far from the madding crowd

FRANCE

GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAYS IN Auvergne, Loire, Normandy, Jersey and Brittany

The Auvergne is one of the most remote districts in France. With its deep green valleys, tranquil streams and old grey stone houses, it has a rugged appearance and is a perfect place to absorb French rural life.

The fertile Loire Valley is rich, both in produce and in history and is home to some of the country's finest wines. During our time in the Loire Valley, we discover some of the area's glorious past. We ramble through sleepy villages, towns and hamlets, often built on the sites of Gallo-Roman settlements. We walk through orchards and vineyards, past Roman remains and magnificent chateaux.

Normandy, the land of Calvados, Camembert and cider, just can't help looking like it is posing for a picture postcard. Rolling hills so green they make your eyes squint. Mont St. Michel is amongst the most unlikely, extraordinary sites on the surface of the earth. What makes it so exceptional, besides bearing some of the finest examples of gothic architecture ever produced, is the location of the "Mount" itself. The so-called Bay of Mont St. Michel sees the largest tides in the world with up to 12 metres difference between high and low! As a result, the bay changes twice a day from a flat sandy beach to the ocean. We walk barefoot across the flat sand banks towards the "Mount" which we spend time visiting at the end of our walk.

The Channel Islands, mainly Jersey, Guernsey and Sark are within a short ferry ride from St. Malo and a very inviting destination for our free day. Landing on the island, one is immediately overwhelmed by the strong insular identity. The Channel Islands are a part of England just off the coast of Normandy. Somehow it can be said that they feel even more British than the UK itself. Blessed by a particularly mild climate, they are host to numerous vegetable farms and lush gardens.

Brittany offers an outstanding setting for some wonderful walking; a rugged coastline swept by the rough Atlantic Ocean. Above the cliffs, massive granite headlands covered in heath extend back to sun-drenched forests and picturesque villages. The spectacular coast occasionally interrupted by long sandy beaches, rivers and hidden bays, surprises walkers time and time again. The movement of the huge tides provides a fascinating spectacle.

OUR HOTELS & CUISINE

Based in the medieval village of Salers, our comfortable and friendly family hotel offers guests a quiet garden to relax in, and a swimming pool. The dinners here are truly "Auvergnat".

In the Loire our family run hotel is located in the middle of the village of Chenonceaux and not far from its famous castle. The hotel is made up of various buildings with gardens and a swimming pool. Our hotel restaurant takes pride in presenting a polished repertoire of traditional dishes that include duck salad, chicken breast in a delicate chervil sauce and liquorice parfait. It is the only restaurant we know serving a pre dessert before the dessert!

Our Hotel in Saint Malo is situated two steps from the main beach and surrounded by a large blooming garden. Being just 20 minutes distance from the old downtown of Saint Malo, it has;an excellent restaurant of traditional French refined cuisine as well as a spacious heated indoor swimming pool with hydro massage jets.

Our hotel in Brittany is pleasantly located on a large white sandy beach just out of the little resort town of Morgat. The hotel was originally built at the turn of the 20th century by the "Peugeot" family as a diversification from their already brisk tyre manufacturing business, at a place where they had often spent their holidays. Our rooms all have sea views. The large terrace overlooking the beach is ideal to relax and sip drinks while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the well-sheltered Morgat bay. We dine in our hotel as well as local restaurants.

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