Arles Route Topo/Guide Book?

[Sixwheeler]

Hello Everyone, I'm proposing to walk the Arles Route in chunks as I'm currently running in a new knee. As a mountaineer I own most of the gear I'll need but would like to take just one guide book that combines a route description with a map or route plan. I'm confident enough with my French not to make too many unplanned diversions! What do you suggest and why? Many thanks. Sixwheeler

 

[Timor]

Dépends on your needs. Walked the Arles route in May and did it with two guides.

The Miam miam Dodo is the best to find albergues and accommodations and to know what services are availables in each locations. Its maps are ok if summary but distances are always under evaluated.

The "La voie du sud" by RandoEditions had a good mix of map, description of the Camino and cultural and historic info but was rather limited on practical accommodation info. Not as many options and more limited info.


Timor

 

[backpack45scb]

We did this route over three years. I suggest that you take the appropriate pages from both the Miam Miam Dodo and the FFRP Topo Guides. There is one from Arles to Toulouse and one from Toulouse. The maps in the FFRP guides are sometimes really helpful. If you read French well, the descriptive info adds interest.
You can order the FFRP guides directly from the association, and they get to the US in about a week:
http://www.ffrandonnee.fr/boutique/le-catalogue-des-topo-guides.aspx?t=gr&v=653. I did a fairly extensive writeup on one of our webpages: http://www.backpack45.com/camino2p4.html

 

[Sixwheeler]

Thanks Timor and backpack45scb, just what I needed to know. Sixwheeler

 

[newfydog]

We used the FFRP guide. Real topo maps, lots of phone numbers, and still useful if your French isn't perfect.

 

[caminka]

I used Lepere's guide. really detailed desription (in french), info on all appropriate (pilgrim) accommodation and some other options (if you buy it, it contains a voucher for the latest accommodation update from the editors), only maps were not detailed enough for my taste. but in general, there are no waymarking or route-finding problems that I remember, except in foret de bauconne.