NEW – classic French landscapes in the Dordogne

Close your eyes and think of France. Are you seeing medieval villages, a towering chateau, rolling fields and forests, gently flowing rivers? A fresh baguette with some pungent cheese, and maybe a bottle of local wine?

The Dordogne region of central France has all this, and more. Our new walk here concentrates on the Middle Dordogne, beginning on the river at Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, and weaving through the countryside southwestwards as far as Belcastel. Along the way you will return to the river several times, staying at waterside inns, and will also discover some of the tributaries such as the steep-sided river Ouysse. In the hills above are quiet footpaths through bucolic countryside, crossing the limestone causse to the next impossibly beautiful village. One of the highlights is the ancient pilgrimage centre of Rocamadour, where buildings seem to cling to the cliffs overhanging the valley.

We have selected some traditional inns for you to rest your head (and your feet), and some hotels with a little more luxury – you’ll even stay in a former chateau. Fortify yourself with some regional French cuisine, including a Michelin-starred restaurant at journey’s end. And the wines of the area are beginning to gain a reputation worth exploring.

The walking is graded medium, though you can shorten some of the days by riding part way with the luggage in the morning. There are also shorter versions of the 7-night route, if time is pressing for you.

See more details of the holiday on our website here, or give us a call to find out more from our staff who have walked the route.

It’s National Parks Week in the UK, a festival that champions the natural wonders of these specially protected areas of beautiful Britain.  We thought that as well as reminding you of our two self-guided walking holidays that pass through National Parks in England – Devon and the Yorkshire Dales – we’d take a look at some other Parks on On Foot Holidays’ routes in Europe.

Follow the Lycian Way through Turkey’s Beydağları Coastal National Park, via mountains, ancient ruins and perfect beaches on the way to the lonely lighthouse (Lycia – Mountain and Sea).

In the south-east corner of France, walk through the valleys and villages perchés of the Mercantour National Park on our Alpes Maritimes holiday. If you’re lucky, you may see a chamois or marmot here.

In the lush green valleys of the Peneda-Gerês National Park in Northern Portugal, you’ll find communities continuing a lifestyle that is centuries old.  Here the farmers keep long-horned cattle, fed on maize stored in distinctive granite espigueiros.

There’s a similar character to the stone villages of the Vikos–Aoös National Park in mainland Greece, where the villagers are fiercely protective of their way of life and heritage. Get to know them while exploring the stunning Vikos Gorge.

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to enjoy a short railway journey in a beautiful location! Several of our self-guided walking holidays include a chance to take a ride on one of Europe’s heritage or scenic railways.

The UK is rightly proud of its steam railways, often running on lines that have been taken out of standard use and are now run largely by volunteers. Take a short cut with the South Devon Railway through leafy Devon towards the sea to get the full nostalgic experience.

Take a local train on the famously beautiful Settle – Carlisle line while passing through on our Yorkshire Dales walk. There are scheduled daily services, and the occasional trip by a steam train. 12 miles north of Settle the line crosses the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct.

In the French Alps, the cog railway at Montenvers eases the route down from the Mer de Glace, giving the knees a rest for the descent. At the top of the line are stunning views of the glacier and surrounding mountains.

Try the vintage electric tram from Sóller to the Port of Sóller, or the historic train that plys the scenic route between Sóller and Palma, both accessed from our route in Mallorca. The timber-clad train carriages pass through the Sierra de Alfàbia, with lots of tunnels and a five-arch viaduct along the way.

And you can finish the Amalfi Coast walk with the Circumvesuviana railway from Sorrento back to Naples. It’s a cheap and functional line that just happens to link the extraordinary sights of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum.