A friend of mine set up the Wayfarers walking company in 1984, offering week-long walking holidays in some of England's most beautiful places. I worked for them in the early years, driving the car between bed and breakfasts with the luggage and meeting the walkers for a picnic lunch. Some of the walks took place in the wettest conditions England had seen for years, which led to a bit of tension over the one hairdryer that we carried way back then (don't worry, walks are better equipped these days). It was huge fun and the spirit of camaraderie at the end of each week -- particularly if a lot of mud was involved -- was extraordinary.
From trudging around the Cotswolds, Wayfarers have expanded and now offer walks all over Britain, Europe, the U.S.A., and other parts of the world. In France, they go to Cézanne's Provence, Burgundy, Le Pays Basque, the Loire Valley and the Dordogne. They walk throughout the year, but in September and October when they offer all the French walks, the days are still long, light and clear, the fall colors are gorgeous and the countryside is largely free of other visitors.
Groups are small, walks are graded, and life-long friendships are forged. It's quite the best end-of-year treat I can think of and I thoroughly recommend all walkers to book a tour.
Practical Information:
174 Bellevue Ave
Newport
RI 02840
Tel: 800 249 4620/401 849 5087
www.thewayfarers.com
Image: Walking with the Wayfarers in Provence
That sounds like a really cool experience. How much ground do you generally cover in a day?
The Wayfarers’ Walks vary in mileage from 6-14 miles per day, depending on which walk you select.