Kitsambler, Thankyou for that! I don't think that between the two of us we would have thought of that! We had budgeted on 6 1/2 weeks away , with 5 or so on the walk and another week visiting Barcelona from where we return to Perth. It would mean a few more trains but it's worth a serious think about ![/
Plan for rain and cold. Get the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook to see the kind of accommodations you can expect. It won't be like the Camino Portugues, and it will be far different from Spain. You do need to call ahead in France, particularly in March. Much will be closed until April, even mid-April. Hosts do not sit around waiting for drop-ins. I found sufficient blankets that my lightweight sleep sack was fine for me (I like to be a bit cold when I sleep). Heat will be reluctantly turned on, or non-existent in gites d'etape. Remember that everything is closed Sunday and Monday, so be prepared for self-catering and shopping. Bon chemin.
March is a problem. Most places are closed.
The high parts of the trail might be snowed and impossible to hike like Aubrac
Do you plan on snow/cold weather hiking?
You have to call NOW and find out which if any are open and if open will they turn on the heating.
In general you will need high boots,warm hiking clothes,rain gear.
The trail is well marked and there is no need for geolocation devices
Thank you also Falcon! The French route sounds like such an enigma on the outset- so beautiful in its naturalness, yet the necessities are not so easily dispensed as the other routes. I have been at the Alliance Francais learning French for the past 4 months and will continue until we leave so I will at l sat have some basics down pat- it sounds like I might need to be asking for the heat to be turned on! being so cold worries me, and I like to be very warm when I sleep, so I think my ultralight down sac will definitely need to be in my pack! I will definitely start emailing some places at the outset so thanks for that. I have the Miam Miam Dodo book from 2015 ( hopefully not too much has changed - I was going to do this walk a few years ago and had to cancel - postage if the book to Australia was pricey!)
So much to look into! It was so easy being spontaneous in Portugal!