Walking Holidays in France: Across Alps, Coast and Countryside

France is a country made for walking, whether along coastal paths with the cry of seabirds overhead, through lavender-scented fields punctuated by cicadas, or beneath towering peaks. One of the great things about walking in France, particularly for solo travellers, is that you are never alone. Walking is deeply embedded in the French lifestyle and culture. Along well-marked trails (Grandes Randonnées or GRs), country lanes and historic pilgrimage routes, walking holidays in France are very easy to navigate, in every sense!

Yet for families with children (and grandparents), not every trail is equally accommodating. Here we steer you to some of France’s most rewarding and accessible walking destinations.

Many dismiss the French Alps as too challenging for walking holidays or only popular for ski resorts in France. The fact is that the region offers hikes that are grand in view yet gentle in gradient. Here, emerald lakes, craggy summits and wildflower-filled meadows envelop trails that even younger children can manage. On top, the French Alps, largely thanks to the ski resorts, are equipped with lifts and railways, making reaching the highest summits effortless.

• Lac des Gaillands. Located just a few kilometres from the legendary Chamonix region, where the mountains intersect at the border of France, Switzerland and Italy, the landscape around the Galliands lake offers classic walks for beginners. Various trails loop around the lake, offering views of Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest mountain, without any steep climbs. Perfect for older family members or toddlers on wobbly legs.
  
  
• Plateau des Glières. With literally hundreds of kilometres of hiking and biking trails and a rolling pastoral landscape, the Plateau des Glières is a nature lover's paradise. In winter, it's popular with snowshoe enthusiasts, while in spring and summer, wildflowers and herb bushes border the paths. For experienced hikers, the three Têtes routes (Tête Noire, Tête Rond and Tête de l’Arpattaz), offer unforgettable lake and valley views.
  
  
• Le Semnoz. This plateau above the picturesque Alpine town of Annecy provides soft fjord-like views over Lake Annecy, and easy, well-maintained circuits. Crêt de l’Aigle and Crêt de Châtillon have high-altitude loops that are relatively easy. In summer, you may even meet herds of jingly-jangly cows.

Getting around: Public transport links major towns, but may have limited schedules in more remote valleys. A car will provide maximum flexibility.

Moving away from the French Alps’ dramatic verticality, Provence is a study in soft slopes, centuries-old paths that link hilltop villages and legendary coastlines. For laid-back walking holidays in France, you will encounter short, lovely strolls that are full of colour. Think fields of purple lavender and nobbly vines under clear blue skies, lunch waiting on a terrace in ochre-hued villages, and la mer so magical that Charles Trenet wrote a song about it.

• Luberon Villages circuit. This popular, braided network of gentle footpaths for walking or cycling connects a clutch of charming, historic villages such as Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes and Ansouis, which is often described as one of France’s most beautiful villages. Many trails are under 5 km and traverse vineyards and olive groves. They form a quintessential Provence walking experience, especially if you pack a picnic lunch of bread and local cheeses to bring along.
  
  
• Sault to lavender fields. This divinely fragrant short walk, part of the longer Lavender Route (Routes de la Lavande), begins at the hilltop village of Sault and takes you through surrounding lavender fields. The route is marked by signs explaining lavender cultivation, and you can extend the journey to the Sault plateau for panoramic views. Aim for July to early August when the blooms are at their best.
  
  
• Gorges du Régalon. For something a bit more strenuous, the 3-hour hike through a spectacular gorge in the Luberon region offers a shaded, riverine path that feels like you have stepped into a secret world. The first swathe involves a fair bit of rock scrambling, so make sure you dress accordingly and take care of your knees!
  
  
• Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer. If you're flying to Nice to begin your walking holiday in France, you can hit the ground running by doing the moderately challenging but breathtakingly beautiful 8-km coastal walk from Nice to the village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Once there, check out the little-known murals by artist Jean Cocteau at the pretty pink Chapelle Saint-Pierre down by the waterfront.

Getting around: Local trains and buses, particularly along the Cote d’Azur, are reliable and cheap. You may want to hire a car for more remote, mountainous areas. 

If you and your family delight in sea breezes, soaring seabirds and the drama of ocean lashing against rocks, Brittany’s coastal paths are for you. France’s most famous walking and cycling route – the 2,000-km-long GR34 – is stitched along the shoreline, but many sections are surprisingly easy and child-friendly.

• Saint-Malo city walls and beach promenade. A brilliant introduction to walking for younger kids: flat paths, dramatic views of the sea, turrets to explore and the ancient walled town as a backdrop, all in just under 2 km. The most popular entry point is the Porte Saint-Thomas.
  
  
• Pléneuf-Val-André to Cap Fréhel. If you're travelling with young ones, choose the gentler parts of this classic coastal route, such as the Sables d'Or les Pins area. The Plaine Garenne circuit offers incredible views of the sea and Cap Fréhel without tackling the major climbs.
  
  
• Pointe du Raz. The well-defined and perpetually windswept loops near this iconic headland are suitable for older children who enjoy a bit of wild terrain.

Good to know: If your wanderings include beaches or estuaries, check tide tables as the sea in Brittany moves fast! 

Dividing France from Spain, the Pyrenees mountains are associated with rugged peaks, tough alpine tracks and remoteness. But they also harbour gentle valleys, flower-strewn pastures and mirror-still lakes that are perfect for family exploration.

• Lac de Gaube. A family favourite, this trail circles a high altitude, pristine lake set against a backdrop of soaring crags. Gentle gradients and clear signage keep the outing relaxed. If you don’t want to drive all the way, you can leave your car at the Pont d'Espagne and take the cablecar over the waterfalls to the final ascent in a chairlift.
  
  
• Hautacam trails. Near the ski area of Hautacam, these rounded grassy slopes and wide paths are suitable for all levels. Often featured in the Tour de France, the scenery is stunningly pastoral.

Getting around: Limited public transport in the French Pyrenees makes a car essential. 

If waterways, medieval villages and shaded woodland paths speak to your heart, the Dordogne delivers at a slow-walking pace, combining nature with history. Forget steep climbs. Here the joy is in easy ambles beside riverbanks, through forests and between castles.

• Castelnaud-la-Chapelle Loop. A moderately challenging, 15-km walk starting at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, one of the region’s most iconic villages. En route, you'll enjoy wide views of the valley and rivers, and pass by the lofty Château de Castelnaud (opening times vary according to season), a fortified, 13th-century castle that's now a museum of medieval warfare.
  
  
• Towpath walks. Look for signs for chemins de halage (towpaths) along the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. Originally used to drag barges, they make for flat, scenic walks by the water, generally with swimming spots on the way.

Getting around: Consider renting a barge and exploring the region via its famous waterways. Even for novices, they are surprisingly easy to handle! 

Let the journey continue. Read more about the best holidays for families in France and get our tips for planning a trip itinerary that everyone will enjoy.