Travel Information

Arrival: Between 5p.m and 7p.m on first day.

First hotel: At Cordes sur Ciel 3 Km from Cordes - Vindrac station (car parking available free of charge). Cordes - Vindrac is about 1hour by train from Toulouse.

Travel: by air to Toulouse daily direct flights on British Airways, flight time 2 hours. Please note that this flight usually leaves at around 6am! Frequent trains, journey time approx 5 to 6 hours, faster on TGV. Or take the car by ferry or tunnel Dover-Calais then 900Km drive to Cordes via Paris and Brive.

Nearest Airport Toulouse. Take the airport bus to Toulouse Matabiau rail station (30min, not included) and train to Cordes - Vindrac (1hr 25mins included in price for those clients taking the Air Travel package). Taxi to Cordes (5mins; about 7 Euros per person not included). You will receive up-to-date train times for your date of travel, or alternatively you can visit Rail Europe's website at www.sncf.com.

End of Tour: Tour ends at Cordes after breakfast on day 7. Taxi to station and train to Toulouse (1hr 05 min).

Season: May to September

Fitness

This walk should present no difficulties for anyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to walking. Being able to cope with warm weather is also an advantage.

Day stages

In the region of 15km/9.5 miles to 25km/16miles per day with average altitude gains of 300m. 4 to 6 hours walking per day.

Waymarks

The trail is well waymarked, with yellow and red on the PR trails and white and red of the GR trails.

General Information

Baths: it is not normal for your room to have a bath, the main reason being that it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers.

Breakfast: in countries such as France are usually coffee and toast/croissant, if you want more for breakfast then we would suggest you purchase some food the night before. It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are staying with.

Single Supplements: are payable on most of our tours. The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities as double/twin rooms.

Language: Note that you will not necessarily come across people speaking English. Remember you have left home to find things different, bring a phrase book, try to learn a bit of French!

Luggage: When staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to your room awaiting your arrival. However don’t be surprised if your luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is in 2 Chambre d' Hotes and 4 nights in hotels in Cordes, Puycelci and Castelnau de Montmiral. 1 picnic lunch is included in the tour cost. Travellers are really part of the family rather than hotel guests on 2 nights in this tour, with genuine home cooking and the ingredients often straight from the garden. Dinner on nights 1, 5 & 6 is not included.

q       Night 1:  This lovely 2*hotel combines the charm of a mediaeval building with modern comfort.  The hotel is close to the old covered market place at the top of the old town (Hautes-Cordes).  All the rooms have en suite facilities, TV and telephone.  Bed and breakfast only is included.

q       Night 2: A former farmhouse in a remote location with 3 rooms for guests. The family also runs the nearby stables. Mme Aharchahou speaks good English. Bathroom facilities are shared. Evening meal, breakfast, and packed lunch are included.

q       Night 3: M. et Mme. Lacombe are renowned as very entertaining hosts. The accommodation is in one of several  houses. Washing facilities are rather cramped and there are no en suite facilities. Evening meal and breakfast are included.

q       Night 4: Located inside the walls of the Bastide town of Puycelci, this 3* hotel has been welcoming  guests since the 18th century.  All rooms have ensuite facilities.  Evening meal and breakfast are included.

q       Night 5:  A small hotel in an historic building in the old arcaded square of Castelnau de Montmiral. Bed and breakfast is included. Dinner is available in a nearby restaurant (not included in tour price). Occasionally night 5 may be spent at another Chambre d’Hotes.

q       Night 6. On your return to Cordes, you will stay in the same comfortable 2* hotel as on the first night of the tour. Bed and breakfast only is included.

q       Night 7. [Only for those taking the 1-night Albi extension] A small well-managed 2* hotel conveniently situated in a quiet location just across the square from the train station and an easy 15 minutes walk from the old town centre and cathedral. Alternatively we can arrange accommodation in a 3* hotel in the old town itself, but for the 3* option there would be an extra charge.

Outline Itinerary

q       Day 1: Arrival at first hotel in Cordes, an amazing medieval town of cobbled streets, which is perched on a hilltop high above the surrounding countryside. It is a bastide town, founded in what was then (and still is) a remote rural district in the 13th century; lacking a name, it took its name from the great Spanish city of Cordova.

q       Day 2: Cordes to Roussayrolles. 15km/9.3miles (4.5hours). Before leaving Cordes, there is time to explore the lovely covered market, ancient streets and carved facades of the old buildings. Then wind your way down through the Porte des Ormeaux to Les Cabannes and across fields and an ancient stone bridge, skirting a little vineyard. Scattered farms and shady woodland lead you to Roussayrolles. You turn right at the old stone cross to arrive at your destination at Les Clauzels, an isolated farmhouse overlooking a great expanse of forest on the south side of the Aveyron valley.

q       Day 3: Roussayrolles to Penne. 20km / 12.5miles (5 hours). Bidding farewell to your friendly hosts, return to the old stone cross and pick up the GR signs. Passing abandoned water mills, climb through a pinewood to arrive at the massive Dolmen de Vaour at an ancient crossroads. On a little hill above the village of Vaour are the ruins of the Commanderie and stables of the Knights Templars who had a base here during the crusades. Your path takes you along a wooded limestone scarp with splendid views across the Aveyron gorge. Arrive at the little village of Penne, clustered below the ruins of the castle.

q       Day 4: Penne to Puycelci. 20km / 12.5miles (5 hours). Wander through the village and up to the castle, perched on its queer jutting promontory, as though it has grown from the rock, and admire the view. Then descend to the Aveyron Bridge and continue yesterday's walk along the scarp. Having re-crossed the River Aveyron, climb up and explore lovely old Bruniquel, with its C13 and C16 castles. Your path then climbs to take you through the ancient forest of Gresigne, which has many varieties of holly, some unique to this region, and the marks of prehistoric man. You emerge at the old Bastide town of Puycelci.  

q       Day 5: Puycelci to Castelnau de Montmiral. 20km / 12.4miles (6 hours). Cross the green valley of the River Vere and climb through the village of Laval to follow the edge of a wood. Follow the GR signs through vineyards, climb through a wood to the ruins of Lagarde. Head along a ridge with views of Castelnau de Montmirail as you approach it.

q       Day 6: Castelnau de Montmirail to Cordes. 24km /14.9m (6 hours) or 20km / 12.4.m (5 hours). An easier day in the flatter country initially through the vineyards of Gaillac to the little town of Cahuzac-sur-Vere. The finish is hillier, past the Chateau de Clayrac to a stunning view of Cordes as you approach it and a satisfying finish as you return to complete the circle at your starting point.

q       Day 7: Depart Cordes

Albi Extension

q       Day 7: If you are taking the Albi extension, a taxi will collect you and your luggage from your hotel in Cordes and drive you to Albi. On your way into the town you will cross one of the fine redbrick bridges over the River Tarn. After checking in to your hotel you can explore the town on foot, including the magnificent and fortress-like mediaeval red-brick cathedral and the former bishops' palace which now houses the worlds biggest collection of works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who was born in Albi. There are pleasant riverside walks along the Tarn.