France has approximately 180,000 kilometres of walking trails. It is one of the best countries in the world for walking. Walking in France is a heady mix of spectacular landscapes and powerful history. Many of the popular walking trails have quaint country inns dotted along them meaning you can travel light. The warmer months between May and September are obviously the better months for longer alpine type walks. There is a range of walks to suit most fitness levels and time frames however. For the serious walker, France has developed a system and classification of long hiking routes called Sentiers de Grande Randonnée. Sentier means trail and Randonée means hiking. These are designated with GR and a number and are generally well posted with red and white markings. They are dotted with strategically placed campsites and emergency refuges. Hike.fr is a good English language site on the subject of hiking in France. It may be worth considering going on an organised walking tour with one of several reputable walking tour operators: Sentiers de France Discover France Adventures La Caminade   French hiking related vocabulary: Hiking = randonee, track = sentier, backpack = sac a dos, shoes = chaussures, weather = météo, accommodation = hébergement

Here is small selection of some of the classic walks in France:

Regordane Way  (GR700) is the southern section of a historic walking route linking Paris to the Camargue (near Marseille). It runs from the village of Le Puy-en-Velay, near the city of St Etienne to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard near Nîmes, a distance of 211 kilometres .  

Robert Louis Stevenson Walk or Le Chemin Stevenson (GR 70) is named in honour of Scottish author who wrote Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In 1878 he walked with a donkey from the Auvergne to the mountains of the Cevennes, a distance of 220km.

This walk starts and finishes at the same points as the Regordane Way, but takes a different route.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a book about his journey called Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes which was his first success as an author.

The many trails of the Luberon region of Provence will inspire you.

Walk the volcanoe country of the Auvergne from Volvic to Laschamp. This unusual area of central southern France is dotted with ancient conical volcanoes creating an eerily beautiful atmosphere.  

The Way of Saint James is the ancient pilgrimage route from France to the holy Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela (Saint James of Compostela).

The tow paths of the Canal du Midi running from Toulouse to Beziers is a 240 kilometre tree lined corridor meandering through some of France's most pictueresque countryside. The Canal du Midi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tow paths that line the entire length of the canal were built for horses that were used to pull the barges along . Now they are perfect for walking and cycling. The many small towns that dot the canal have hotels and restaurants enabling you to travel light.