Via Liguria- Nantes to Reims

[roving_rufus]

I had kind of being toying with walking to Rome from Ireland at some point, but the Loire Atlantique pilgrims have gone further with the Via Liguria from Nantes to Reims. Details of what they have done so far at

Haltes pélerines

Bienvenue sur le site de l’association Les haltes pèlerines en Loire-Atlantique & Via Ligeria. Vous trouverez sur ces pages, des informations pratiques sur les chemins pèlerins traversant notre département, vers le Mont-Saint-Michel depuis Clisson, vers Rome depuis Nantes mais aussi vers...

www.haltespelerines44.fr

(And from Ireland there is a marked pilgrim route from Cherbourg to Mont St Michel, and a marked route from Mont St Michel to Nantes on a camino route to Santiago- so its looking more straightforward!)

 

[timr]

I like the sound of that!
And you could then pick up the VF very nicely in Reims.
Everyone's route as far as Reims is a bit ad hoc. I know there are efforts to establish an official route....
Will be interested to hear if you decide to go.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.

​

 

[Tassie Kaz]

I like the sound of that!
And you could then pick up the VF very nicely in Reims.
Everyone's route as far as Reims is a bit ad hoc. I know there are efforts to establish an official route....

Ad hoc?...I'm sure you mean the 'painstakingly-researched-mapped-out-followed-to-letter-with-ne'er-a-wrong-turn-dead-end-or--aimed-at-Google-maps-or-the-Raju-Cicerone-Guidebook' route to Reims?

Joking aside, it was hugely enjoyable making My Own Way across France. I was actually disappointed when as the trail progressed there were less opportunities to go 'ad hoc'!

 

[timr]

Ad hoc?...I'm sure you mean the 'painstakingly-researched-mapped-out-followed-to-letter-with-ne'er-a-wrong-turn-dead-end-or--aimed-at-Google-maps-or-the-Raju-Cicerone-Guidebook' route to Reims?

Joking aside, it was hugely enjoyable making My Own Way across France. I was actually disappointed when as the trail progressed there were less opportunities to go 'ad hoc'!

Indeed. We agree 100% on that!

 

[roving_rufus]

Given the rules of marked GR routes in France, it makes far more sense to ignore the "official " route for the GR145 in places and get creative- it definitely opened up some new adventures ( and cut serious mileage)- only once did I really find myself having a problem. It was why I kind of loved Raju's guide (though found it frustrating in other ways) written before the Gr145 became official. And the VF in France definitely made me more willing to find my own way than following signs and guides.
And having walked from home to Dublin last summer, this summer is Cherbourg to Nantes at which point I will finally have to decide whether to head east on Via Liguria for Rome or south and head for Santiago.

 

[mspath]

When and if you do get to France do check out this French donativo
.Chaîne d'Hospitalité Locale
Those who offer such hospitality do so for the pleasure of meeting/greeting pilgrims as well as helping them find their way.