Day
1 After meeting up with with James and the rest of the
group at Toulouse airport you will be driven to your first
accommodation. En route we will stop at the pretty pink Hotel
les Thermes for a light lunch in the medieval village of St
Antonin Noble Val seated on the banks of the river Aveyron
under the formidable Roc d'Anglars. A visit in the afternoon
with James to know more about this extraordinary town restored
by Violet le Duc in the nineteenth century and described by
him as a museum of medieval architecture. We will drive on
to Chateau Couanac owned now by the d'Armagnac de Castenet
family and once owned by the Prince Bishops of Cahors. It
is a splendidly majestic chateau that greets you after a short
drive through the large oaks of the estate. There is time
to wind down before dinner with tea and a wander at leisure
through the grounds with the grazing sheep. We will spend
two nights in their simply and beautifully restored gites
(shared facilities) and eat traditional French gastronomy
cooked by Madame d'Armagnac herself.
Day
2 The first days walk will be a good stretch through the
surrounding causses seeped in ancient history. We will meander
between drystone walls and look at interesting gariottes,
dolmens and wells which are landmarks of this well grazed
causse, before returning to Couanac for the first of Diana's
picnics beneath the oaks and maples of the Couanac Estate.
After lunch a stroll around the grounds for those keen on
walking otherwise you can take it easy, read, paint, swim
and just enjoy your surroundings at leisure. Dinner at Couanac.
Walk: 7 miles
Day 3 The first day with Daniel and his donkeys. We
leave the majesty of Couanac for a walk through the causse
with its typical stone walled paths and wonderful flowers
before we arrive in the middle of nowhere for a lovely al
fresco picnic with Diana in a pasture surrounded by lombardy
poplars and cliffs. A big hill in the afternoon and soon you
find yourselves in the medieval cliff hanging village of St
Cirq Lapopie. This has an outstanding position over the river
Lot and is surrounded by iron red and manganese blue cliffs.
It is sited as being one of the most beautiful villages in
France and as we are there off season it is a truly magical
experience, especially at night. You stay at La Pellissaria
where you will spend the next three nights in easy comfort
and with wonderful views. Dinner at L'Oustal in St Cirq Lapopie.
Walk: 10 miles
Day 4 We cross the river Lot and walk up to get outstanding
views of the river valley. Donkeys will be in tow again with
all the kit and masses of drink. We walk to the sixteenth
century Chateau of Cénévières where we
will picnic on the terrace perched above the river overlooking
the Lot valley and across to the hilltop village of Calvagnac.
A privileged visit with the owner Monsieur de Braquilanges
whose family bought it from the Gordons of Scotland at the
time of the Revolution, before we wander back along the river
valley, keeping an eye out for kingfishers, to return to St
Cirq. Dinner L'Atelier, St Cirq.
Walk: 11.5 miles with vehicle option
Day
5 We drive to St Sulpice from where we walk with donkeys
and kit for the 'Four Bridges' walk along the cliffs and down
the Célé valley littered with lofty poplars
and chequered with fields where corn can be seen stacked in
stooks. Lunch 'Chez Pierrette', in the historic village of
Marcillhac, for a delicious local feast on her terrace beneath
the cliffs. This is where Pompidou regularly ate when on holiday.
Its beautiful Romanesque abbey overlooks the river. A chance
to take the afternoon off at St Cirq to relax; paint, read,
swim etc. Otherwise we set off in the afternoon towards Sauliac
where the last of the stone bridges spans the babbling brook.
Drive to St Cirq. Dinner L'Atelier.
Walk: 4.5 miles + optional 4.5 miles
Day
6 We walk to Bouziès along the tow path, carved
into the cliffs alongside the Lot, where slid the heavy barges
trailed by slow horses and which is a famous part of the equally
famous Chemin de St Jacques. We then meet up with our vehicles
and drive along roads chiselled through the cliffs before
reaching the hustle and bustle of the market at the ancient
city of Cahors. Excellent haute cuisine at the Rendez Vous
before a drive through the Quercy Blanc landscape. We shall
visit the famous medieval masterpiece of the Pont Valentré
and the tiny bastide of Castelfranc before arriving at Le
Vert, Mauroux where you will stay for your last two nights.
Walk: 3 miles
Day
7 A drive in the morning to be dropped off for a long
walk through the gentleness of the Quercy Blanc. We will pass
through pastures full of orchids and other wild flowers and
should hope to see the golden oriole, hoopoe and hear the
nightingales, black caps and other warblers and larks before
arriving at Chateau Figeac to be welcomed by Diana before
a table laden with local produce. We eat and drink here in
plenty. A short talk about the Chateau, then a drive to a
charming fourteenth century frescoed church before returning
to Le Vert for tea.
Walk: 7 miles
Day
8 You leave in the morning for Toulouse airport and your
journey home.
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