High Point Holidays Walking Holidays Brochure 2016 High Point Holidays Walking Holidays Brochure 2017 | Page 23

Beautiful Brionnais: Secret Hills of Burgundy T Independent Walking his unique walking holiday takes place in the Brionnais, a secret region of Burgundy. In the shadow of the high Beaujolais hills, the green and picturesque hills of the Brionnais lead you towards the mighty Loire Valley. With a patchwork of fields, you'll pass from beautiful secluded valleys with babbling streams to open ridges with great panoramic views. This secluded region also has fine architectural treasures to rival some of the more popular parts of Burgundy. Delightful villages, immaculately maintained and decorated with lovely floral displays, harbour remarkable fine Clunisan churches and abbeys, as well as chateaux such as Clayette and Semur-enBrionnais, one of the prettiest villages in France. Walks: day-by-day Day 1: Arrival – Welcome, pick up from Lyon & transfer to Brionnais. Day 2: Clayette - St Christophe-en-Brionnais Pass through Clayette with its wonderful chateau, before heading west into rolling countryside. If the weather is fine you can count 17 church towers dotted in the hills and valleys. Pass through Vareilles, before following a ridge to the rustic villages of Amanzé and Oyé. 15—24km, +330m Day 3: St Christophe-en-Brionnais - Anzy-le-Duc Pass through St Christophe with its 500 year old cattle market. Cross a number of delightful valleys and ridges & pass through the pretty village Briant adorning a hill top position. Great views as you pass over hills before descending to the beautiful village of Anzy-le-Duc with its priory & church. 21km, +330m Day 4: Anzy-le-Duc - Iguerande Visit the ridge top village of Semur-en-Brionnais, classed as one of the prettiest villages in France, with the oldest chateau in Burgundy and a beautiful historic church. Afterwards cross a number of pretty valleys before descending to the pretty village of Iguerande, overlooking the Loire Valley with great views. 14km, +320m ♦ Beautiful rolling countryside with a patch- work of vibrant green fields and hedgerows ♦ Great Burgundy hospitality at your lovely guest houses ♦ Immaculate historic villages with fantastic early medieval architecture ♦ Wonderful views from open ridges ♦ Historic town of Charlieu and the hill top village of Semur en Brionnais Day 5: Iguerande - St Nizier sous Charlieu Pass through the local vines a mixture of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon gris; in days gone by 4000 hectares here were once covered in vines, witness to the sunny nature of the climate in the Brionnais. Great views throughout the day. 19.5 km +300m Day 6: Charlieu - Chateauneuf Visit the historic town of Charlieu, & its pretty streets with a mix of stone and wooden frame buildings, and its Benedictine abbey where you can admire its gothic cloisters. After, pass through the well preserved perched village of Chateauneuf. 17.5km, +350m Day 7: Chateauneuf - Clayette Head towards the higher hills which border the Beaujolais region. Beautiful rolling hills in a sleepy rural scene, accompany your climb. Chance to reach the Medieval chapel sitting at 710m on the hill known as Dun. Relax and enjoy the wonderful views. A pretty descent takes you back to your first guest house near La Clayette. 17 - 22km, +410m or +610m At a Glance GUIDED / INDEPENDENT Price: See Price List Grade: Profile: Dates: March October Day8: Departure - Transfer to Lyon after breakfast Accommodation Price P/P Walking Profile Holiday Profile What’s included What’s not included See Price List or Web Site for details 6 walks moving between guest houses. The distances on some days are relatively long. The days average nearly 18km, with a number of relatively small ascents during the days cumulating in an average of 330m per day. Some days include options allowing you to increase or reduce the difficulties. 7 nights in a mixture of charming good quality small guest houses in historic properties. They include chateaux, restored farm houses and former wine makers properties. Example: Chateau de Grandvaux is a unique guest house in a 15th century chateau. Starts every day of week subject to availability. 7 nights: 6 days independent walking moving between guest houses Airport and station transfers from Lyon, 7 nights' Full Board accommodation. All breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches & 7 evening meals. Walking notes and maps, transport of luggage between guest houses. Travel to Lyon, France; lunches on the day of arrival and departure, one evening meal, any excursions or entrance fees, travel insurance [email protected] 11 23