The Beautiful Lot Valley in the South of France - Wonderful South of France holidays and active breaks; walking, canal cruising, fishing; French hotels & French campsites

Santiago de Compostela pilgrim trail (GR65) follows the river Lot for hundreds of kilometres: From the 9th-century and throughout the Middle Ages, the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim trail to the shrine of Saint James in Galicia, north-west Spain, was a must-walk. Take one of the four ancient French routes, the Via Podiensis (GR65), which crosses regions close to the Lot Valley, such as the uplands of the Gévaudan and Rouergue, and the fertile plains of the Quercy and Agenais. The best-known stretch in the Lot runs from the plateaux of Aubrac to the city of Cahors.

Begin at Aubrac – this is where pilgrims would be welcomed at the ‘Domerie’ by the head of the community with board, lodging and foot washing (a symbol of spirituality and hospitality). You can still see the Domerie (Templar’s shelter) with its fine tower and Romanesque 12th-century church, though it’s unlikely there will be a foot-washer in the vicinity.

From here, the descent from the plateaux to the lush valley is quite sharp. Espalion, with its pretty pink sandstone bridge, is the ideal spot for a picnic lunch of saucissons and cheese.

Then, follow the route through Conques in the Aveyron. Pilgrims always stopped here to worship at the relics of Saint Foy in the Saint Foy Abbey-Church, built by Conques monks in the Romanesque style. The highlight is the western portal’s Last Judgement tympanum – a 12th-century carving of 124 figures. Onwards to medieval Figeac in Quercy. Wander this old town, with its amber-stone buildings with gothic arches and open-lofted balconies, called ‘soleilhos’.

Arriving in Cahors, head for the cathedral. In its shady cloisters, seek out a carving on the base of one of the columns – a humorous depiction of a quarrel between two pilgrims.

Chemin de Stevenson (GR70) or Stevenson Trail: Literary pilgrims following the donkey-steps of Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish author of Treasure Island, and Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes.

Stevenson set off on the 22 September 1878, accompanied by his donkey, Modestine, who didn’t always do as she was told. Beginning at the foot of Monastier sur Gazeille in Haute Loire, it took Modestine 12 days to cross the Velay, the volcanic plateaux of lower Auvergne, Gévaudan, Mount Lozère and the Cévennes to reach St Jean du Gard – a total distance of 250km. The itinerary is recounted in Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes.

One of the highlights of the journey runs through the Lot Valley, from Chasseradès to Mont Lozère. You too can hire a donkey or find some two-legged friends to accompany you.

Contact
Association sur le Chemin de Robert Louis Stevenson
Donkey hire, accommodation, information.
48220 Pont de Montvert
Tel/fax: +33 (0)4 66 45 86 31

Web: http://www.chemin-stevenson.org

A week’s walk - or even a weekend’s walk - at the unhurried pace of your very own donkey through the magnificent Lot and Célé Valleys in the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses de Quercy. You’ll walk no more than 3-5½ hours a day, but need to be fit and have some walking experience. Your overnight stays include dinner and, depending on the stop, will be at hotels, B&Bs or ‘Gîtes d’Étape’. There’s a swimming pool at two of your overnight stops, and a supervised beach at a third; other stops have easy access to lakes or rivers or municipal swimming pools, etc.

Here’s what’s planned for you:
• Day 1: Crégols to St-Cirq-Lapopie (10 km): you’ll learn, in the morning, how to master, look after and guide your donkey. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic lunch to eat before setting off on your afternoon’s walk over the Causse. Dinner is planned for you in the centre of what is one of France’s most beautiful villages; your overnight stay is in a ‘gîte d'étape’
• Day 2: St-Cirq-Lapopie to Cabrerets (11 km) you’ll be walking along the towpath from Ganil to Bouziès. Dinner and overnight stay at a family-run hotel on the banks of the River Célé
• Day 3: Cabrerets to Marcilhac-sur-Célé (16 km) following the Pilgrim Way to Santiago de Compostela (known as “le chemin de St Jacques”); overnight stay at a chambre d'hôtes (French-style B&B), and dinner in a restaurant in the centre of town
• Day 4: Marcilhac to Espagnac-Ste-Eulalie (16.5 km), along the crest road on “le sentier de crête du Val Paradis”; dinner and overnight stay at a ‘gîte d'étape’ in a restored former priory
• Day 5: Espagnac to Cajarc (17.5 km) walking across the Gréalou Causse with its lunar landscapes; dinner and overnight stay at a 3-star hotel
• Day 6: Cajarc to Limogne (18 km) across the Causse, staying overnight at a ‘gîte d'étape’; you’re free to choose where you eat in this lively little town
• Day 7: Limogne back to Crégols (15 km) a beautiful route to end your journey and take your leave of your friendly 4-legged companion!

Your donkey: a donkey can happily carry loads of up to 40kgs - whether luggage or luggage and young children. So rucksacks must be carefully packed and limited to a maximum of 10kgs per person (i.e. a weight you could carry on your back).

Available: from 01 April to 31 October 2006; minimum 2, maximum 16 persons.
Price: 7-day/6-night holiday: 389 Euros per person (sharing double room); 210Euros per additional person. Weekend: 92 Euros per person (based on party of 2); 50 Euros per additional person.

Important to note:
This walk is of average difficulty and can be done by anyone who is fit, healthy and accustomed to some physical exercise; children must be at least 4 years old. There's always a lake, swimming pool or race at the overnight stops.

Remember that summer heat adds considerably to the effort
7-day/6-night option: can start any day of the week except Wednesday & Thursday
2-day/1-night option: not available in July & August

Booking reference: LLRANEBAT
The price includes: hire of your donkey (to accompany up to 4 persons) and food for it at each stop; your ‘carnet de route’ with all information needed for your journey, including maps and useful tips
7-day/6-night option: 3 nights at ‘gîtes d'étape’ (days 1, 4 & 6), 2 nights at hotels (days 2 & 5) and 1 night at a B&B (day 3); dinner on 5 evenings; breakfast on 4 mornings; 2-day/1-night option (not available in July/August): evening meal on day 1 and overnight stay at a ‘gîte d'étape’; breakfast and picnic lunch on day 2
The price does not include:
* picnic lunches (7-day/6-night option)
* holiday tax (to be settled on site)
* hire of towels and bed linen at the ‘gîtes d'étape’ (can be organised in advance - check with us)
* dinner on day 5; breakfast on days 1 and 6
* booking fee (between 8 and 15 Euros, depending on length of stay
* optional travel insurance including cancellation (2% of total cost of your booking)

Supplements: Additional overnight accommodation per person (sharing double room) in a hotel either the night before you start your walking holiday or the evening you get back: from 38 Euros to 46 Euros (depending on time of year). 5 picnic lunches (days 2 to 6): 53 Euros per person.

To find out more and to book:
Loisirs Accueil Lot
Tel: +33 (0)5 65 53 20 90
Email: Loisirs.accueil.lot@wanadoo.fr

Web: www.reservation-lot.com

Your terrain? The valleys and crests of what is the largest volcano in all Europe. This is an unaccompanied walk for 2 to 13 people. You’ll walk between 4½ and 7¼ hours per day, in loops with gradients of between 600 and 1000 metres, staying at 2-star hotels and chambres d’hôtes (French-style B&Bs) carefully chosen for their warm welcome; all accommodation and restaurant bookings are made in advance for you. Transport of luggage can be organised if you wish. Pets are not permitted. The programme: Day 1: check-in late afternoon for dinner and overnight stay in Mandailles. Day 2: set off for Thiézac (overnight stay) via the Col du Pertus and Puy de la Poche. 4½ hours walking; +520m gradient. Day 3: walk to Le Lioran (overnight stay) via the Chaos de Casteltinet, the Roman Way along the Cantal crests, Le Puy Gros, l’Arpon du Diable and Plomb du Cantal (1855m); 7¼ hours walking; +1130m gradient. Day 4: 4¼ hours walk back to Mandailles via the Cirque de Rombière, Puy Griou and Col du Gliziou; +450m gradient. Day 5: 6¾ hours walk to Le Claux via the Col de Cabre, Fours de Peyre-Arse and Puy Mary; +820m gradient. Day 6: 5hrs 40mins walk to Le Falgoux via Suc Gros and ‘La Montagne de l’herbe’; +500m gradient. Day 7: return to Mandailles via Roc d’Hozières, the Col de Redondet and Puy Chavaroche; 5¾ hours walking, arriving at Mandailles late afternoon; +950m gradient.

Available: from 15 June to 10 Sept 2006
Price per person (sharing double room): 419€ (party of 2-13 people) 7-day/6-night walking holiday with full board (bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner) from dinner on day 1 to after lunch on day 7.
The price includes: use of IGN map of the area and detailed walking map/guide (‘topo-guide’).
The price does not include: drinks, costs of cable car, cancellation insurance, travel insurance, booking fee (13€); transport of luggage; personal equipment (walking shoes, sun glasses, windproof clothing, etc.)
Extras: transport of luggage between overnight stays: 2-4 persons: 211€; 5+persons: 265€. 4-day/3-night option: 235€ for 2-13 people; luggage transport: 106€ (2-4 persons) or 140€ (5+persons).
Alternative accommodation option: staying in ‘Gîtes d’Étape’ (stopover gîtes with dormitory facilities) and ‘Burons’ (mountain huts): check details with us
To book and find out more:
Destination Cantal - Green France
Tel: 00 33 (0)4 71 63 85 15
Email: cantal@greenfrance.com
www.cantal-tour.com

For details click here