France offers walking and hiking enthusiasts a lifetime of options. In a land filled with picturesque villages, abandoned châteaux, medieval towers, ancient chapels, fresh food markets and Michelin-starred restaurants, a network of well-maintained walking paths will take you almost anywhere.
Somewhere among those walking paths is one with your name on it—a walk that incorporates all the magic you are dreaming of, whether that be fairy-tale castles and most beautiful villages; wide open spaces or rugged coastlines; or an easy, flat walk (or cycle) along a canal.
Several years ago, after spending a few hours wandering around the ‘most beautiful village’ of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain (where the movie Chocolat was filmed), I returned to the car park on the edge of the village and gazed across the fields. A few miles away, a church steeple poked its head above a cluster of stone houses nestled into the side of the hill. Where was it, I wondered, and how could I get there?
The obvious answer was…to walk!
Almost a decade, and many thousands of footsteps later, I Love Walking in France guidebooks now cover five long-distance walks:
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du Puy,
The Coast of Brittany,
The Burgundy Canal,
The Midi Canal,
Martel to Rocamadour, and
The Chemin de Stevenson (guidebook coming soon).
Presented in a light, easy to read format and illustrated with dozens of photos, I Love Walking in France guidebooks include comprehensive information covering distances, accommodation, suggested itineraries, practical tips on transport options, market days, available services (where to find a pharmacy or ATM) and much more.
“My partner and I are excited to travel with friends this year to walk the Cahors to Eauze section of the Chemin de Saint-Jacques. Thanks to your PDF guide that we purchased, our planning has been a breeze.”
Ryan Walsh on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
I Love Walking in France guidebooks are written to answer all the questions I (Melinda) find myself asking—
- What will the scenery be like?
- Where will I find accommodation?
- How far apart are the villages?
- Can I have my luggage transferred between villages?
- Where will I find an ATM, a pharmacy, a grocery store?
- Where and when are the fresh food markets held?
- Which villages are connected by train or bus services, or is there a local taxi?
- Are there any museums or interesting sights that I should allow extra time to see?
- Are there any most beautiful villages that would make the perfect stop for a rest day or afternoon?
An I Love Walking in France guidebook will help you to plan out an itinerary that suits your timeframe and fitness level, and to find a bed for the night—whether you prefer to plan six months in advance or the morning before!
“We have lived in France, visited regularly over 35 years and done a lot of independent walking along roads and trails generally using local maps. What has been lacking is a publication in English that combined sensible general advice on walking in France with detailed instructions on routes and facilities on interesting off-road trails.
I think Melinda Lusmore has achieved this in her website and publications. She has compiled a series of practicable and beautiful walks combined with geographical instructions and a wealth of good advice. She has been very helpful too in our direct email contact.
We are already planning one of her walks later this year and will report on our experience. We have always loved France and know it has unlimited, small, unsung wonders in the rural areas. Go and find them!”
Coral Hoggett on The Burgundy Canal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How often is the guidebook updated?
I Love Walking in France guidebooks are updated in January/February each year.
If you purchase a guidebook but are not able to complete the walk before the new edition is released, let me know at melinda@ilovewalkinginfrance.com I will email you a discount code to download the updated guide at no cost!
Updates to content which occur throughout the year are posted on the pages below:
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du Puy,
The Coast of Brittany,
The Burgundy Canal,
The Midi Canal,
Martel to Rocamadour, and
The Chemin de Stevenson (coming soon).
Is the guidebook available in paperback as well as PDF format?
No, the guidebooks are only available in PDF format. You’ll receive an email containing a link to download the guide which can be saved onto your phone, iPad, laptop or any electronic device. This provides easy access to website links so that booking accommodation, checking bus timetables and confirming the opening hours of Tourist Offices and other attractions is a breeze!
What’s in the guidebook that’s not covered on the website?
It’s true, you’ll find a lot of information here on the website, including:
- What to expect on the walk
- Map of the path and its location in France
- My suggested itinerary, including tips for sightseeing and market days
- A list of all the towns and villages where you’ll find accommodation and the distances between them
- Practical tips for walking safely and considerately
Inside an I Love Walking in France guidebook, you’ll also find—
- A complete packing list covering all the essential items you’ll need to take and a few optional extras
- Useful French phrases to help you book a taxi, book a room, ask about breakfast, order dinner, buy a train ticket and understand directions
- Dozens of photos
Each village has a dedicated section covering:
- Population (because a village of 35 will not have an ATM not matter how badly you need one)
- Accommodation—hotels, chambre d’hôtes, gîtes and campgrounds… including website links
- Available services—cafés, bakeries, grocery stores, doctors, pharmacies, banks and ATMs
- Train and bus services, including website links to check or download timetables
- Taxi phone numbers
- Tourist Office location and website
- Market days and other festivals
- A brief history of the village and details of museums, churches and other attractions
Does the guidebook include walking notes?
No. For up-to-date information on routes and elevations, I recommend carrying a TopoGuide, the guidebook published by FFRandonnée, the organisation that maintains all walking paths in France. (TopoGuides include topographic maps showing the path, nearby roads and villages and the lay of land. You’ll find a description of the TopoGuides and a comparison with the Miam Miam Dodo guidebooks here, including instructions for navigating the French online book stores.)
Do you have a refund policy?
Bien sur! If you are not completely happy with your I Love Walking in France guidebook, please email me at melinda@ilovewalkinginfrance.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
“Thanks for a very informative guidebook. I am a novice walker in my fifties and was quite anxious about setting out on my first walk in France. This guidebook, with the lovely photos and information, really smoothed the path for me and helped to eliminate any anticipatory fears and concerns. Like you, I am now able to say I LOVE WALKING IN FRANCE and am planning a return trip!”
Rita Wise on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy
START PLANNING NOW
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy (2020 edition)
450 pages (five guidebooks) covering 750 kilometres (470 miles) over 39 days of walking. Purchase individually or save US$14.96 when you purchase the bundle of five guidebooks.
Or purchase individually
The Coast of Brittany from Camaret-sur-Mer to Audierne on the GR 34 (2020 edition)
94 pages covering 159 kilometres (99 miles) over 10 days of walking.
The Burgundy Canal (2020 edition)
145 pages (two guidebooks) covering 240 kilometres (150 miles) over 12 days of walking. Purchase individually or save US$5.99 when you purchase the bundle of two guidebooks.
Or purchase induvidually
The Midi Canal from Toulouse to Carcassonne (2020 edition)
79 pages covering 105 kilometres (66 miles) over 5 days of walking.
Martel to Rocamadour (2020 edition)
75 pages covering 130 kilometres (81 miles) over 7 days of walking.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING…
Sam Lees on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac
This book covers a 163km section of the GR65, The Way of Saint James, a world famous1500km pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella in Spain. Melinda writes a cheerful and amusing story as she enjoys the numerous villages en route with their historical and gastronomic delights. The text is enhanced with many outstanding photographs taken by the author and her daughter.
Whether you are a pilgrim or just enjoying the sheer pleasure of long distance walking in France you will find this guide book a very useful (almost essential) companion. The book is not track notes and is made to be used with TopoguideRef 651 and/or the IGN topographic maps for the area.
As an e-book it is full of essential web links which will save most users many hours of web searching, taking a lot of ‘the grunt’ out of researching the walk. To me this was perhaps its most appealing attribute.
While the book suggests an itinerary of eleven days the trip can be easily tailored to meet the walker’s needs as contact details are provided for all accommodation close to the path. A table summarises the services in each village while the village descriptions start with the details of services available. There is information on train bus and taxi services and even services to transport your luggage each day.
For those who may be new to the joys of long distance walking in France Melinda’s guide books provide a basic packing list and many useful hints.
Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac guide should be the start of your walking adventure along the GR65.
Richard Winter (The Sixwheeler Chronicles) on The Midi Canal from Toulouse to Carcassonne
For me, the holiday planning is an important part of the holiday and generally starts in the early winter of the year before the holiday. Now I realise that this approach doesn’t suit everyone and that there are plenty of people who would happily do away with most of the planning and just get on and enjoy the holiday. If you are one of these people, this is the book for you.
No messing around on the internet looking for train timetables, accommodation, routes, things to do or see, places to eat or places to drink; it has all been done for you, all you have to do is read the book and then get on and make your bookings, it even has a section of useful French phrases and sayings to help you with the booking process. I have to say that as I get older it becomes more and more tempting to follow this course.
Melinda Lusmore has gone to the trouble of taking a holiday on your behalf to make your holiday easy and successful; she has walked the walk and found all the useful things along the way to make your holiday more enjoyable, even to the extent of listing local taxi companies in case you get footsore. That’s what I call attention to detail.
Seriously though, if a walking holiday along a French canal appeals to you, and it does to me, this is the book to have downloaded on you smartphone. I know I would.
Jackie Barnes on Martel to Rocamadour
“Once I realised that France had a walking trail system, I was excited to plan a walking trip in France. However, I was a bit concerned about finding up-to-date information dealing with distances, lodging and highlights of each town. Melinda Lusmore’s, “I Love Walking in France- Martel to Rocamadour” guidebook has completely covered all aspects of travel by foot; from necessary maps, clothing to bring, sleeping and eating options, as well as transportation concerns. After reading this guidebook, I feel very confident my trip will be amazing. Her enthusiasm for walking and exploring small French towns is evident throughout the pages of her guide. I look forward to reading all the guides in her series.”
Joanna Yates on The Burgundy Canal from Migennes to Pouilly-en-Auxois
“As an experienced walker in both England and France, I gave up hill walking a while back in favor of walks along waterways. They have the advantages of less strenuous walking, the near impossibility of getting lost, and the beauty of being in sight of water every day. My last walk in France was along the Burgundy Canal, between Pouilly-en-Auxois and Dijon. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to walk more of the canal and that’s when I discovered Melinda’s website and her guide for the route I was about to plan for myself.
I know how many planning elements must come together for a successful long-distance walk and after reading Melinda’s guide, it’s clear she knows, too. It will benefit both novice and experienced walkers, is well-organized with all the bases covered and beautifully illustrated for inspiration.
You’ve saved me a great deal of work, Melinda, and done it so much better than I could have myself. Many thanks.”
Barbara Reid on The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy from Aumont-Aubrac to Figeac and Figeac to Cahors
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading your guidebook. I am most impressed with the information packed pages on each individual town along the way; the efficient list of facilities would be most helpful. The inclusion of relevant websites on each area is good—it saves doing a lot of research and reinventing the wheel.”
Brenda Tolentino (Dish our Town) on The Burgundy Canal from Migennes to Pouilly-en-Auxois
Melinda is my #1 source for walking tours in France. Before I found her, I didn’t know what GR paths were. We’re a family of New Yorkers, and love a good long walk. These walking paths are now, on our must-do list in France, thanks to Melinda. Although, we may cycle parts of this walk, it’s great to know, especially traveling with our 11 year old daughter, what exactly to expect.
Melinda details everything one may need to start this amazing walking tour of the Burgundy Canals: Distances, Village population and history, rest stops, luggage drop off and pick up, hotels, gites, restaurants and much more.
I very much appreciate all the distances listed between the villages. It helps me time my walk/cycle and make sure my daughter is hydrated and fed. Melinda thoroughly details what to expect and how to match every family members’ expectations. I also appreciate the history she teaches us about the region so I can make the walk into a fun education for all three of us.
GET STARTED
The Chemin de Saint-Jacques du-Puy (2020 edition)
450 pages (five guidebooks) covering 750 kilometres (470 miles) over 39 days of walking. Purchase individually or save US$14.96 when you purchase the bundle of five guidebooks.
Or purchase individually
The Coast of Brittany from Camaret-sur-Mer to Audierne on the GR 34 (2020 edition)
94 pages covering 159 kilometres (99 miles) over 10 days of walking.
The Burgundy Canal (2020 edition)
145 pages (two guidebooks) covering 240 kilometres (150 miles) over 12 days of walking. Purchase individually or save US$5.99 when you purchase the bundle of two guidebooks.
Or purchase induvidually
The Midi Canal from Toulouse to Carcassonne (2020 edition)
79 pages covering 105 kilometres (66 miles) over 5 days of walking.
Martel to Rocamadour (2020 edition)
75 pages covering 130 kilometres (81 miles) over 7 days of walking.
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