Walking holiday in France

Richard53

I quite fancy a car-free walking holiday in France, probably leaving the car at the port and getting the ferry over to St Malo, Roscoff or Caen. We're getting on a bit, so not interested in massive mileages or crossing mountains, but some nice scenery and decent paths would be welcome. We know the area fairly well, but have only visited by car or bicycle. Walking would be a new thing for us, and we have no idea on the availability of paths etc. Ideally, it would be a multi-day tour staying in different hotels/pensions, rather than a one-centre holiday with day trips, but we are open to ideas.


Any suggestions?

knightstyle

There are lovely walks along the coast on the Cherbourg peninsular.
http://www.manche-tourism.com/long-distance-footpaths
I would take the car with all your gear over to a place to stay in the middle of where you decide to go.
You can rent a log cabin on many campsites, they are called huttes.
PM me if you need help with ferry discount.

missbiggles1

Details on the Grandes Randonees (long distance paths) -

http://www.gr-infos.com/gr-en.htm

All towns/communes will have details/maps on the shorter local footpaths.

hollydays

As well as the above gr trail
There is the grp trail and the lovely sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers’ paths ) which custom officers used to haunt looking for smugglers


http://www.brittanytourism.com/to-see-to-do/nature/walking
And
http://www.gr-infos.com/gr-en.htm

Eg the custom officers trail gr34 Dinard to pleuneuf -val-andre



Also st Malo to Dinard
http://www.walkingeurope.info/walks/walks/walk_descrip/6076/

Richard53

Lots to go at there; many thanks for the suggestions.


My daydream is a walk of 8-12 miles per day along paths or quiet roads, finishing each night in a small hotel or pension, perhaps for a total of 10 days*. I would like to leave the car in the UK for cost reasons, as we won't be bringing more than we can carry in a backpack each anyway. Ditching the car and going it alone is part of the appeal. But that means walking straight from the ferryport or getting public transport to a better area, so maybe the extra for the car will be worthwhile.


*Probably the best holiday we ever had was a cycle tour of parts of Holland on the same basis, but with longer distances.


Thanks all, ideas much appreciated.