Walk amongst sunflowers in Gascony

Explore one of France's last remaining 'secrets', the Gascony region, filled with enchanting landscapes. On this rewarding yet gentle walk, you have all the ingredients for a wonderful, and very relaxing, holiday. Indeed, given the leisurely pace of the walking, the easy access from Toulouse and the warm hospitality of the hoteliers, this makes an ideal first walk. You'll follow the GR long-distance path through the rolling, open countryside of the Baïse Valley, where you'll pass through sleepy hamlets, vineyards, orchards, small woods and remote farms.

Discover a landscape of different hues of green and yellow - from the golden cornfields and vast fields of sunflowers whose heads bob gently in the warm breeze, to rolling pastureland punctuated with small copses. You'll also experience cultural treasures such as the delightful towns of Condom and Lectoure, the abbey at Flaran and the collegial church at La Romieu. You'll also come across the fortified 13th-century village of Larressingle, described by some as a miniature Carcassonne - it is guarded by a medieval castle and also has a beautiful Romanesque church.

Accommodation:

Ferme de Flaran, Valence-sur-Baïse As its name suggests, this friendly auberge has been converted from an old farmhouse. It has an outdoor pool, and serves excellent food.

Logis des Cordeliers, Condom This simple hotel, complete with an outdoor pool, is well located to explore Condom. As your stay is on a bed and breakfast basis, you are free to take your pick of the town's various restaurants.

Hotel de Bastard, Lectoure Do not be put off by the unfortunate name: this is a smart hotel (complete with a pool) run very professionally by owners Monsieur and Madame Arnaud. We include breakfast only in our arrangements so that you are free to dine where you wish, though it is well worth sampling the hotel's own superb restaurant on at least one night (please tell us when you book if you wish to dine here so that we can reserve a table for you).

Chambres d'Hôtes Bénazit, Bénazit
With just four rooms, this delightfully spacious, high-quality inn is housed within an enormous converted barn of exposed beams and stone walls and boasts wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. You will be warmly welcomed by owner, Eric Thamers, who also cooks your dinner. The large garden includes a swimming pool, and there are bikes on site for guests to borrow, plus a baby grand piano and a telescope to keep you amused in the evenings.

Traveller Reviews of This Trip

Another excellently prepared holiday from Inntravel. The journey there and back was very well-planned – giving enough, but not too much, time between trains. The walking was easy – but with lovely routes on varied terrain and with beautiful views. Mr V Dodd, Nottingham, 14/06/2011

Overall this was a brilliant holiday - the scenery, the weather and the food were really good. Inntravel’s organisational skills are what made it so successful. There were wonderful views on the walks - particularly walking towards Lectoure. Mr Fletcher, York, 01/10/2010

This is our first Inntravel holiday and we were very impressed and pleased with holiday and service. We plan to book again next year. Dr C, Lancashire, 15/07/2010

One highlight was a spontaneous game of boules with a French couple in the square of Marsolan, en route to Lectoure… but there were so many highlights; all the hotels, the countryside, the weather (if occasionally a bit hot) and an orchestral concert in the cathedral in Condom. Dr C, Aberdeen, 10/08/2009

For more reviews of this trip, see: Reviews of Walk amongst sunflowers and abbeys in Gascony