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| Day 5 - Leaving Breil sur Roya (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | |
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Route summary |
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£595.00 (2008)
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7 nights
2 Half Board, 5 B&B |
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Medium - Hard |
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4 - 6 hours per day |
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What previous customers have
said about this walk
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“All in all, an excellent trip! Very well organised and a lot of fun - we've recommended it to all our friends.”
“Spectacular scenery, flowers and bird watching (look out for Royal Eagles near Berghe!) and lovely food.”
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“More richly varied, beautiful and dramatic than we could have anticipated.”
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“The route was masterly as usual but with a stroke of genius at the end”.
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Walking holidays, tours and vacations in Alpes Maritimes, South of France.
Villages perchés to Belle Epoque Menton
After a spectacular railway journey you start your walk in one of the most remote parts of France. The medieval villages of Tende and La Brigue offer the chance to explore fascinating winding alleyways and old town houses, as do the villages perchés high over the Roya valley and the town of Saorge which climbs steeply up the valley side.
Visit the ancient towns of Breil and Sospel and stay in the astonishing mountain-top village of Ste. Agnes, with views across to the Mediterranean. Finally arrive in Menton itself, Belle Epoque faded splendour now being restored to its former glory, and a stroll down the promenade before dining well in one of its restaurants.
7 night options: Classic Route (3 nights in La Brigue, 1 in Sospel), or the Sospel option (2 nights in La Brigue and 2 nights in Sospel), with a day off walking in this charming medieval town, or combine the two for an eight-night holiday. | | |
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Richard Petitjean
Richard came to the Côte d’Azur to study tourism and has lived here for 24 years working as a licensed Tour Guide. Since 60% of the French flora is represented in this area, Richard’s keen interest in botany is put to the best possible use. |
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Hours per Day: 4-6
(some shorter options, and one longer one, with rest days as needed)
A medium to long walk, of between 11 and 17 km per day, intended for the regular long-walker, though rest days and shorter options using the Roya valley train and/or local taxis are possible. | | |
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| Terrain |
Difficulty: medium - hard
Well-marked paths and good signage; some steeper paths on days 2-4.
Richard Petitjean knows the paths well and all are on the excellent IGN series of maps (provided). Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 520m per day. | | |
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| Our recommended start dates |
| September 2008 |
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 |
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| October 2008 |
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25
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For other possible start dates see chart below |
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Day 1 |
Arrive in La Brigue - we recommend the railway journey from Nice as a mini-highlight, as much looping inside the mountain as clinging to the side of the valley. Freshen up, wander round the old village and eat well tonight. |
| Day 2 |
Around La Brigue. A circular walk. Over to Tende, to get lost in its maze of medieval alleys and have a glass of something before returning to La Brigue. (4 hrs, CUSs 520m)
Note: Those choosing the Sospel Option should walk EITHER day 3 or 4 below, using the train to transfer as necessary. |
| Day 3 |
La Brigue to Fontan Gare. A steepish walk through woodland to the hamlet of Granile (a good stop for a picnic). An afternoon through magical leafy glades far above the Roya to the villages perchés of Berghe, before returning down to the Roya at Fontan. (6 hrs, CUSs 620m – plus a visit to Saorge if you are missing out Day 4 below). Alternatives – 7½ hrs great hill walking. (CUSs 760m) |
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Fontan Gare to Breil. From the station, wind up the old corniche to unforgettable Saorge, where you may be tempted to stay for an early lunch before a tough afternoon walk to the old town of Breil. (5 hrs, CUSs 700m) |
| Day 5 |
(Classic Route) (day 4 Sospel option). Breil to Sospel. Up onto the valley sides again to the hilltop village of Piène Haute for lunch, then the Sentier Botanique of the Gorge de Bévéra before arriving at the medieval town of Sospel. (5 hrs, CUSs 500m) |
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Day 5 |
(Sospel Option) - for free spirits or the determinedly relaxed a chance to explore the little town in more depth with the aid of an excellent guide book (included), or some free walking advised by Mark and Patrick, your hosts, who will give you suggestions and directions. |
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Day 6 |
Sospel to Ste. Agnes. Through the Mediterranean woodlands to the Col de Castillon for a picnic, then along forest tracks to a final thrilling approach up a cobbled path to Ste. Agnes, high above the Mediterranean. (5½ hrs, CUSs 500m) Alternative - taxi ride plus 2½ hrs. |
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Ste. Agnes to Roquebrune (and Menton). Your final walking day along the mountainside to the beautiful vieux village of Roquebrune where we recommend a celebratory lunch at the Restaurant des Deux Frères, overlooking the Mediterranean, and a train to Menton or (if you're still in walking mood) a stroll along the seaside path of Cap Martin, the full promenade of Menton, and your comfortable hotel. (2½ hrs to Roquebrune Gare, 4½ hrs to Menton, CUSs 150m) |
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Day 8 |
Depart hotel (or choose to stay further nights). | | | |
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| Where you'll stay |
| All en-suite unless otherwise stated | |
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Night 1 & 2 (and 3 Classic Route)
La Brigue : (HB)
Comfortable family-run hotel with good restaurant | |
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Night 3 (Sospel option) or 4 (Classic Route)
Breil: (B&B)
Basic rooms above a bustling village cafe | |
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Night 4 (Sospel option) and 5
Sospel: (B&B)
Spacious rooms in a villa near the old town | |
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Night 6
Ste. Agnes: (B&B)
Simple accommodation, bustling restaurant and fabulous views from the terrace | |
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Night 7
Menton: (B&B)
Right on the promenade overlooking the sea, a family-run hotel of quality in the best position in town | | | |
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Total 7 nights in shared room, all breakfasts, luggage transfers, 4 picnics and 3 evening meals (Classic Route)
Savings and supplements
Single Room Supplement £135
Lone Traveller Additional Supplement £15
3rd person and over £65 off per person
3+ bedded rooms - call us for savings
Shorter breaks
6 nights (miss night 2) £530; SRS £103, LTAS £13; 3rd person+ £55 off pp
5 nights (1 night in each hotel) £495; SRS £90; LTAS £11; 3rd person+ £45 off pp
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Additional night in Sospel (to combine both options) |
£32 (sgl.suppl. £10) |
| Further night B&B at end of holiday |
£50 (sgl.suppl. £40) (sea view rooms) |
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Arrange locally
Local train/bus/taxi as required |
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| Day 1- The church at La Brigue | |
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| Day 2 - Tende (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | |
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| Day 2 - Tende, your second medieval town | |
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| Day 3 - Nearing Granile (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | |
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| Day 4 - A tributary of the Roya | |
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| Day 4 - Saorge (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | |
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| Day 4 - Saorge again | |
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| Day 4 - Saorge again! | |
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| Day 4 - Stream to ford (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | |
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| Day 4 - the approach to Saorge | |
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| Day 5 - Sospel, the bridge to the Old Town | |
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| Day 6 - First views of Ste. Agnes (Don and Kerry Helmrich) | | | |
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Fly to Nice
(All flights are subject to change at short notice - please check carefully before you book your holiday)
From:
Belfast Aer Lingus, Easyjet;
Birmingham bmibaby/BMI;
Bristol Easyjet;
Cork Aer Lingus;
Dublin Aer Lingus, Ryanair;
East Midlands Airport bmibaby/BMI;
Edinburgh Easyjet;
Exeter Flybe;
Heathrow BA;
Gatwick Easyjet;
Leeds-Bradford Jet2;
Liverpool Easyjet;
London City BA/Air France;
Luton Easyjet;
Manchester Jet2;
Newcastle Easyjet;
Southampton Flybe;
Stansted Easyjet
Typical rail journey
London: 06:30 Eurostar to Paris (N) transfer by metro to Paris (L) for 11:50 TGV to Nice Ville, to catch 17:55 to La Brigue, arrive 19:57. ~12.5 hrs.
Menton: 20:14 Night train to Paris (A) arrive 07:45, transfer by metro to Paris (N) for 10:13 Eurostar, arrive 10:35. ~16.5 hrs.
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| Getting to the start of the walk: |
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The first hotel is in La Brigue, and the last on the coast in Menton. Best airport is Nice.
NICE AIRPORT:
Land by: 16:00 (no time limit if using taxi)
Outward: Bus then train: 3½ hrs (c. €26)
Allow 2 hrs from touchdown at Nice airport to train departure time from Nice-Ville. Aim for arrival in La Brigue between 18:00 & 20:00 if possible.
For train times (Nice-Ville to La Brigue) on your day of arrival check the website: www.ter-sncf.com.
OR
Taxi the whole way from airport rank: 2 hrs (c. €75 pp)
Return: Bus 1 hr (c. €20)
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Taxi the whole way from Menton hotel to Nice airport: 40 mins (c. €35 pp)
Return flight earliest: 11:00
Nearest railway stations:
Start: La Brigue
Finish: Menton
IMPORTANT: Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you | | |
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- The “Villages perchés” of the Roya valley
- Dramatic alpine scenery
- Saorge, its winding alleys and underground passages
- The flora of the Gorge de Bévéra
- Painted chapels and Renaissance altarpieces
- Chamois, ibex, moufflons, boars, birds of prey
- The Belle Epoque charms of Menton
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"All in all, an excellent trip! Very well organised and a lot of fun - we've recommended it to all our friends."
"Thanks for all your support, it's been terrific and made the difference between us booking and not. There are other unaccompanied walks available but the service received by you and your colleagues was so good we didn't feel the need to explore any of the others. Also, the brochure is excellent."
"This was the most fabulous holiday I have ever had, ever!"
"Thank you, from us all, for fixing it all for us - a great holiday."
"A thoroughly enjoyable week's walking in a most picturesque area - and we never had a drop of rain!"
"It was one of the best holidays we've ever had, we'd never tried the walking between hotels thing before and it was great to have luggage carried for you, that went without a hitch. Spectacular scenery, flowers, bird watching (look out for Royal Eagles near Berghe!) and lovely food. Maps with route marked on them are excellent. Route notes overall very helpful as well, it makes you feel looked after in a foreign country. Thanks very much for a great holiday - we're still talking about it."
"I've just been looking over the photos of the holiday - I can't remember a set of photos where either of us smiled so much!"
"What did you tell them about the appetites of British walkers?!? Some of the lunches could have fed an army - or at least the general's staff."
"You have done a brilliant job in designing the walk and guidance notes."
"The logistics went like a dream, and Richard's walking guides were absolutely perfect."
"More richly varied, beautiful and dramatic than we could have anticipated."
"This must be the perfect eco-holiday - a very sustainable footprint and most enjoyable."
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