With Loire Valley Breaks walking holidays, we don't have standard itineraries - we prefer to design a personalised, flexible holiday which suits your needs and wishes, based on a plentiful selection of way-marked walking routes in the area.

Based in the St Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyards, you will stay in high quality en-suite accommodation.  Breakfast is included, with evening meals as an option 4 nights a week.  All holidays include our emergency back-up, our friendly service and local knowledge to help ensure your holiday is perfect.  For routes which don't start from our doorstep, transport to the start point (and back from the finish point too!) is included.  We can also provide use of bicycles for some or all days of your stay if required.

Your self-guided walks will be easy to follow with our route packs, including large-scale maps (even for way-marked routes), detailed route notes and information on places of interest along the way.  In addition, for days when your route doesn't pass by enough 'civilisation' for any lunchtime needs, we include a picnic lunch for that day's walk.

Many walking holidays are linear with several overnight stop-offs – to ensure you get to see a wide variety of places on your holiday.  Our central location means you can do this from one base – no luggage transfer and no problem if you want a day off – you don’t have to walk to make it to your bed for the night!  

Our routes travel through the vineyards, along the Loire , past châteaux, exploring local forests, villages and historical towns - at your own pace, stopping as and when you want - you will discover the area's rich heritage and warm welcome.  The routes take you, on quiet lanes or tracks which meander through the local countryside, through villages to provide café/bar stops, or maybe a boulangerie for your lunchtime provisions.

Sample Routes:

There are plenty of quiet yet interesting way marked routes of varying distances in the locality. All the routes will suit adults and children alike as there are few with any gradients to speak of – the only consideration for us is how far you want to walk and what you would like to see en route!

Most of our way marked routes are between 8 and 18 km, although if you enjoy walking at speed or want to go further then this is of course, possible.

Our favourites include:

The Home routes – walks around and through St Nicolas de Bourgueil - our village -  through the forests and the vines, a great walk of 14km with fine valley views. Alternatively, walking along the valley floor through the vines – a pan flat route of 17km.

The windmill route – a round trip of 18km taking in the Loire itself and winding through small islands along the river, churches and windmills aplenty – with a great riverside café as a bonus!

The Bacchus route – a superb 11km waymarked route taking in the market town of Bourgueil, with plenty of wine tasting stop offs and great panaromic views.

The Villandry circuit – a 10 km walk that takes in the river and of course, the world famous chateau and its gardens.

The fortress route through Chinon – a great 16 km walk in the steps of Joan of Arc through medieval and fortified wine growing town of Chinon , taking in the chateau with its magnificent views along the Vienne river as well as the surrounding vineyards and countryside.

The St Martin trail – 15km of pure vista, along the banks of the Loire, crossing over to one of the prettiest riverside villages in the region –a photographic heaven!  

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