On a French walking holiday you can walk from one end of the country to another thanks to the country’s advanced trail system. We take a look at a how France has turned walking into an art form:

A walking holiday in France is incredibly easy thanks to the advanced trail system that leads from one end of the country to the other. The system is 110,000 miles long and is made up of three distinctly different types of path.

The first type of path is called the sentiers de grande randonnee, or known as GR for short. These account for 38,000 miles of the trail system and are laid out in such a way that one point always connects to another. A GR path usually traverses long distances over the country, from border to border. The GR5 trail is one such example of this, and runs from the Luxembourg border, past the towering peaks of the Jura and Alp mountain ranges, all the way down to the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean coast.

The second type of trail is coloured red and yellow on a typical French map. These paths are known as GRPs or Grande Regional Paths, and are the most commonly followed on a typical walking holiday in France. There are 25,000 miles of GRP paths in the country and these often follow a circular motion, covering one particular region in detail. One of the most popular trails followed on a French walking holiday is the Chemin des Grands Crus de Bourgogne. This scenic trail follows Burgundy’s perfectly manicured vineyards and crumbling castles.

The smallest trails on a French ordnance survey map are simply coloured one consistent colour. These local paths are known as PRs and offer visitors on a French walking holiday the option of shorter, more relaxing trails. Generally it only takes a few hours to follow a PR trail, but some of the lengthier routes will need a good days trek. PRs usually lay out a scenic route from a traditional French village to a local beauty spot or place of historical importance. Villages often have more than one path leading from them, and with over 47,000 miles of PR paths, it is possible to combine a walking holiday in France with a number of scenic PR routes.

The GR and GRP paths cross through every region of France making a walking holiday such an easy prospect. It is possible to take a village-to-village route from anywhere in the country, and as almost all the land is privately owned, the trail you choose will pass through vineyards, orchards, forests and even people’s own backyards.

Gites and guesthouses are a common occurrence in even the most rural of French villages and it is always easy to find somewhere to settle down for the night. Alternatively you can book your French holiday with a specialist walking group, where routes and accommodation will be planned out for you well in advance.

If you decide to go it alone, The Féderation Française de la Randonnée Pédestre is responsible for maintaining the trail system and they publish a number of informative guidebooks with recommended restaurants and guesthouses for each trail. Sadly these books have yet to be translated to English but much of the practical information, such as addresses and contact numbers, can be understood by the English-only speaker.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries.  They are dedicated to providing the very finest walking holidays in France at the best value prices.