THE
GRADE OF WALKING
The
walks are designed for mixed abilities with pack animals in France and Italy (donkeys and mules)
and support vehicle back up for those who find a 15 mile day
too long. We have many people who have never been on a walking
holiday before who often need reassurance. In this respect
pack animals play an important part as they travel at the
back of the group at the speed of the slowest walker. You
can safely be assured that the nervous walker will not hold
the group up! We normally walk as a complete group stopping
for rest breaks and to look at birds and wild flowers that
are exceptional in France and Spain from March to June. Most
botanists like to come about mid April/May when numerous orchids
are still in flower.
AGE
& NON WALKERS
We
have no upper age limit however we insist that eighty year
olds and older come accompanied by a partner to keep an eye
on them. Occasionally for one reason or another we find someone
cannot manage the walking. In this case they are transported
by the support vehicle on each leg joining the group at their
next meal.
These
walks are not suitable for children unless it is a private
family group
BOOKINGS
The
booking will be secured only when the booking form has been
signed and the deposit has been received. If this confirmation
is not received within the time then it will be assumed that
the booking will not go ahead unless you inform that further
time is required. Options may hold space for up to two weeks
unless advised otherwise at the time of booking.
AIRPORTS
OF ENTRY
Toulouse
Blagnac is the normal entry airport. It can be reached via
Gatwick (BA) and Heathrow (Air France) and Stansted (Easy
Jet). If plane times are awkward for the midday pick up from
Toulouse Blagnac then we do recommend staying the night in
Toulouse. Rome airport for Italy and Biarritz for the Basque-Pyrennes. For further information on Toulouse please click
here: TOULOUSE.
NON
GROUP AIRPORT COLLECTION
We
can arrange for collection from Bordeaux € 195 or Toulouse
€ 155 or from rail stations at Agen € 105, Montauban
€ 105 and Cahors € 57. Taxi fares are per single
journey - we need a week's notice for all but Cahors, which
can be at two days notice. All prices mentioned are subject
to change. For further details please contact us on jdt.walks@club-internet.fr
ARRIVAL
AND/OR DEPARTURE BY PRIVATE CARS
Arrangements
for parking cars will be advised on request but poses little
problem. For the Haut Quercy walk this will require a taxi
fare (approx.€ 120) to join us from dropping your car
off on your arrival day.
ARRIVAL
AND/OR DEPARTURE BY RENTAL CARS
Most
major car rental companies are represented in Toulouse and
Bordeaux. Some also in Cahors but for this you need to book
well in advance.
ARRIVAL
AND/OR DEPARTURE BY TRAIN
It
is a practical possibility to arrive by train. Waterloo (Eurostar)
- Paris Nord - Paris Austerlitz - Cahors. Good for non-flyers!
Leave Waterloo about 8.30 a.m. arrive Cahors about 7.30 p.m.
(French time 1 hour later, journey time 10 hours). Journey
from Cahors station to first 'auberge' for the DORDOGNE QUERCY
walk is about an hour and a half. For the HAUT QUERCY walk
you will need a taxi which we can supply at a cost of €
120 (about one and a half hours also).
Further
train information may be obtained from www.voyages-sncf.com
PAYMENT
& CANCELLATION TERMS
You
should advise immediately and in writing of a cancellation.
We expect full net payment 42 days prior to the tour departure
date. In the event of cancellation our terms and payment requirements
are as follows:
Up
to 42 days prior to the tour departure date: The net deposit
42 - 29 days prior to the tour departure date: 50% of the
net tour price
28 - 15 days prior to the tour departure date: 75% of the
net tour price
14 - 00 days prior to the tour departure date: 100% of the
net tour price
CANCELLATION
BY THE WALKING PARTY LTD
We reserve the right not to operate any tour on which there
are insufficient bookings 8 weeks prior to departure. Full
payment including the deposit will be refunded.
HEALTH
& GENERAL INSURANCE
It
is essential that every person coming to us is fully covered
by insurance for all eventualities. This must include holiday
cancellation, possessions, money, personal liability, death
or injury, legal expenses, personal accident and full medical
cover. All UK residents are advised to carry completed E111
forms; details available from the Post Office. There is a
reciprocal health service agreement between all EU member
countries and experience has proved that in the case of emergency
hospitalisation an authorised E111 speeds matters up considerably.
Officially, once in possession of this document it remains
permanently valid although we understand that some authorities
in Spain and France do not accept this document if it is over
1 year old.
Please
see details of our Special
Travel Insurance Package.
CONSULAR
REQUIREMENTS
You should check the requirements for your country.
BED
AND BATH ARRANGEMENTS & TELEPHONE NUMBERS
LE
VERT Tel: 33-(0)5 65 36 51 36 Fax: 33-(0) 65 36 56 84
You
will visit Le Vert on: All walks offered by us.
Total of 6 bedrooms, 3 with twin beds and 3 with double beds,
all with own bathroom. Bernard and Eva Philipe are wonderful
hosts and do their utmost to make you feel completely at home.
Bathrooms with bath or shower. We will normally occupy the
whole of this restored Manoir. Cuisine very popular with the
locals and absolutely excellent. Swimming pool.
MOULIN
DE LABIQUE Tel : 33-(0)5 53 01 63 90 Fax 33-(0)5 53 01
73 17
You
will visit Moulin de Labique on the: Quercy-Perigord week.
4
double bedrooms and 2 twins all with bathrooms en suite. This
C18th water mill has been beautifully restored by Monsieur
and Madame Passebon. The bathrooms are wonderfully spacious.
A good walk from the famous bastide town of Monflanquin, this
is an ideal place to start the weeks walk. Swimming pool.
Excellent choice of gastronomic delights cooked by Madame.
CHATEAU COUANAC Tel: 33-(0)5 65 31 52 32
You
will visit Chateau Couanac on the: Haut Quercy / Prestige
Gastronomy/ Painting Week.
A
large C16th chateau/estate once belonging to the Prince Bishops
of Cahors and now belonging to the d'Armagnac de Castanet
family who are your hosts. Accommodation is in the outbuildings
that have been beautifully restored by the family and turned
into simple gîtes that are large and full of character.
A majestic chateau set in 600 hectares of sheep grazing pastures
and surrounded by massive oaks. A wonderful introduction to
rural France. All gites are with showers and loo only. 4 doubles.
2 twins. Swimming pool.
LA
PELISSARIA Tel: 33-(0)5 65 31 25 14 Fax: 33-(0)5 65 30
25 52
You
will visit La Pelissaria on the: Haut Quercy / Painting Week.
La
Pelissaria in the foreground
A
charming C16th century hotel situated below the cliff hanging
church at St Cirq Lapopie; known as one of the prettiest villages
of France. 10 bedrooms of character: 6 are doubles of which
3 can be twin-bedded. All have bathrooms en suite. Swimming
pool
LA LEOTARDIE Tel 33-(0)5 53 82 95 62 Fax: 33 (0) 5
53 82 95 63
You
will visit La Leotardie on the: Treading the Grape / French
Gastronomy Week
A
lovely C18th chateau set in the heart of the Dordogne and
a few kms from the pretty village of St. Georges de Montclar.
A beautifully rural setting in extensive grounds with 8 charming
bedrooms, each with shower & w.c. There is a lovely old
kitchen where Diana & James will do the cooking and entertaining,
with a large sitting room leading off with a roaring fireplace.
Swimming pool.
GRAND
HOTEL TERMINUS Tel: 33 (0) 5 65 53 32 26 Fax: 33 (0) 5
65 53 32 00
You
will visit the Grand Hotel Terminus on the: Quercy Perigord
/ French Gastronomy / Prestige Gastronomy.
A
charming classical bourgeois town house hotel in the middle
of Cahors, covered in creeping ivy. There are 20 bedrooms
all with television, en suite facilities and comfortable beds.
The restaurant of the hotel, 'Le Balandre', has an international
reputation for its 'gastronomique' cuisine.
DOMAINE
DE ST GERY Tel: 33 (0) 5 65 31 82 51 Fax: 33 (0) 5 65
22 92 89
You
will visit the Domaine de St Gery on the: Prestige Gastronomy.
A
beautifully restored stone farm house situated in the middle
of rural Quercy with beautiful views down to the village of
Lascabannes. Owned by Patrick and Pascale Duler. (Patrick
has been trained by Alain Ducasse and is one of the great
chefs of the area. His specialities are truffles and foie
gras and we will be dealing with these subjects the two mornings
we are there). 6 bedrooms in the charmingly restored out-buildngs.
All with facilites en suite. Swimming Pool and Gymnasium!
HOTEL
DES BEAUX ARTS Tel: 33 (0) 5 34 45 42 42 Fax 33 (0) 5
34 45 42 43
You
will visit the Hotel des Beaux Arts on the: Painting Week.
Situated
in the heart of Toulouse on the banks of the Garonne river
and by the oldest bridge in Toulouse, the Hotel des Beaux
Arts has 19 bedrooms all with television and bathrooms en
suite. It has a wonderful restaurant in the 'Belle Époque'
style - with fantastic oysters if anyone is interested!
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