Calanques de Marseille

Chloé our intern was in the Calanques last weekend, and wanted to share a picture: 

Click below to find out more about our self-guided walking holiday in the Calanques region:
Calanques de Marseille and Cassis

Cycling for the Country Walkers: from Arles to the sea

 We're very excited about our new self-guided cycling tour for the Country Walkers. Feeling slightly ambitious for our reconnaissance tour, Sonja and I decided to cover two days' worth of cycling in a single ride, leaving Arles towards the Mediterranean Sea.


Here we are (well, here's Sonja...) preparing our bikes in the centre of Arles, in front of the Roman coliseum:

Riding from Arles the city streets quickly give way to country roads and open fields, as we make our way into the Camargue nature park.

The park is a haven for birds -- here is one of the many herons we'd see during the day's ride:

The park also boasts numerous bull farms, raised for meat but also for "courses camarguaises", a more humane version of bull fighting where the animals are not hurt in any way...

The first half of the ride led to the lavish Mas de Peint hotel, bathed not only in luxury but also in tradition. The five star hotel is set on a 500-hectare estate where the family stills carries out farming, and whose products -- whether Camargue red rice or bull meat -- are used in its kitchens.

But unfortunately we could not stay long, continuing on our journey towards the sea, with a slight tailwind...

But the tailwind wouldn't last long. By the time we reached the magnificent sea wall we were facing 60-70km/h winds and with no respite. For  two hours. The views would more than make up for the discomfort though (isn't that right, Sonja?).

And those views would include hundreds of pink flamingoes, gracefully wading through the shallow waters...

 After 70+ km Sonja looks no worse for wear...

...and suddently the sea wall ends, reaching the isolated village of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer:

Les Jas du Ventoux

 Yesterday's walk took me high above the village of Bedoin, where the views towards the south extended all the way to the plains of the Rhône Valley.

At about 1000m in altitude on the south face of Bedoin are "Jas": centuries-old shepherd's huts, used for shelter for both the shepherd and his flocks, and a great resting spot during hikes. I visited two of them during yesterday's walk but there are many more along the slopes.

One of the many walkers' signposts along the way:

Through the cedar forest:

On my way back down the mountain I tried out a new path: La Combe de Curnier, a tight canyon that in spots is narrower than a body width (at least mine), and where I needed to twist my body to continue along the trail:

see what I mean!

Taken from the base of the canyon, these are boxwood plants that have grown vertically like trees, seeking the precious sunlight that the canyon deprives them of.

A strange waymark near the trailhead?

Almond flowers, giving off a distinct honey-smell and announcing the forthcoming spring.

The cultivated foothills of ventoux, seen from the GR91 trail.

You can find this new walk and many others in our new self-guided walking holiday:
Walk and Drive: best of Provence

village of Cucuron, south Luberon

 Yesterday I went to the village of Cucuron, nestled under the south face of the Luberon mountains. I even took part in a guided tour of the village (turning the tables for once), heading above the rooftops, and exploring the nooks and crannies of a village that remains authentic, and lives year-round.

Yesterday's hike at the foot of Mont Ventoux

r

Mimosa: behind the French Riviera, in the village of Tanneron

c

Hiking with the boss...

 Yann Delord, our company director, accompanied me on my last reconnaissance hike for our new self-guided holiday in the Calanques of Marseille and Cassis.

We began our walk in the centre of Cassis, climbing high above the coastline to Cap Canaille, which at 400m is the highest sea-cliff in France...

Once above the cliffs a magnificent cliff-edge path hovers above the coastline:

 Yann is ahead of me along the path, as always, and although he's blown out a few more candles than me he's difficult to keep up with:

The path remains high above the coastline before beginning a descent atop a rounded crest, to the village of La Ciotat, seen below:

Entering the outskirts of La Ciotat, with the fragrance of mimosa intense in a warm winter's sun.

A few specimens in the old port of La Ciotat:

Returning to Avignon's magnificent TGV station at the end of the day.

For more information about this new self-guided walking holiday: Calanques of Marseille and Cassis