Suggestions for walks in France accessible by bus or train

[Murgyman]

Just that, really. Husband and I will be in France from mid-May to the end of July. We have nearly 2 weeks in the middle that's not accounted for and would like to do a walk of about 150 km. The tough part is that we want to base ourselves somewhere and catch transport to where we left off the previous day. Is anyone aware of an area with walking paths that also has decent transport? If it helps, we'll be in the Charente for the first half and Rouen for the second.
Thank you!

 

[mspath]

Murgyman,

You might enjoy walking along the Loire River and visiting the grand châteaux. Check out this link in English for more info re hiking along the Loire on the GR3 in the Touraine département. Bus and train stops as well as accommodation possibilities are cited.

Wherever you and your husband do walk in France bon chemin!

 

[Murgyman]

Thank you, @mspath - that sounds like a very nice little walk! I'd love to see Chenonceaux. And thank you for the link to the GR3.

 

[Pafayac]

I suggest to begin Podiensis:
- Start from Le Puy (accessible in train)
- Walk at least until Conques
- Then you can stop getting a train at Decazeville, or walk until Figeac, or walk until Cahors (but this means more than 150km from Le Puy). In each of this towns you will find a railway station.

 

[MinaKamina]

The GR 360 Tour de Saintonge goes around Saintes in Charente-Maritime. With Saintes as a starting point you will probably find a lot of buses.

https://www.gr-infos.com/en/gr360.htm

 

[Barbara]

Will you do this as pilgrims with a credential? If so you might consider starting in Poitiers on the Tours route and using the local association's very nice accommodations.
Saintes would be about right for distance but although it would be very easy to return from there doing an out and return each day would be harder.

 

[HeidiL]

Last month, my husband and I walked out of Paris on the official route towards Orléans. There were SO many train stations and bus stops...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thank you, @mspath - that sounds like a very nice little walk! I'd love to see Chenonceaux. And thank you for the link to the GR3.

The website @mspath has suggested brought back good memories of a car trip in that area when I visited a handful of chateaux in the area. Chenonceaux was a highlight and I remember being charmed by Villandry's gardens; formed like pieces of quilts. The Loire river valley is a great option.

 

[donnercruiser]

My wife and myself followed the route "Dieppe - Rouen" what is marked as a GR and a camino. This way follows a traintrack, so you can easy plan how to get back to accomodation. From Rouen the way leads to Chartres.
https://www.cheminscompostelle76.com/

 

[TMcA]

Based on just a little experience, my wife and I have found that areas in rural France are readily accessible by public transportation. We reached an isolated spot on the Via Podiensis (the Le Puy route) via train and bus. The website <<Rome2rio >> can help you verify this.

If you wish to have a supported hike, meaning transfer of your heavier things and just walking with daypacks, I suggest looking at the services of la Malle Postale. They offer such transport on many routes and this may give you some ideas about where to walk. Several years ago I read that the coastal hike in Brittany was voted as the most popular in France. (Voted by whom, I don't know.) I believe this is the GR 21 (Grande Randonnée 21).

Bon chemin.

La Malle Postale

Transport of luggage and people on many hiking trails

www.lamallepostale.com

 

[Murgyman]

Wow - you guys are marvellous! So many great suggestions
Thanks, @TMcA, for the coastal Brittany suggestion. Trouble is, I wouldn't want to stop after 2 weeks. That's one heck of a beautiful coast...

 

[JabbaPapa]

Mediterranean coastal routes are great for this, though I'd agree that the Loire Valley hikes are quite fantastic !! -- just not sure public transport from stage to stage along them will be so easy.

Maybe look for hikes that coincide more or less with certain busy train or bus routes ?

In my experience, the Mediterranean routes do have the kind of compromise of this sort -- though I'd say no further West than Béziers nor further East than Fréjus. Marseilles is avoidable due to copious local bus lines.