During June, I am biting the bullet and venturing out on the road -- on the back of a motor bike! with a small group of friends to explore the north-eastern part of Spain.
I am looking forward to the experience, with a little trepidation, but then, whilst driving through the Lot and Dordogne valleys last week, I came across a group of horse riders in Domme, one of the most beautiful bastides in the Perigord, on the crest of a hill overlooking the Dordogne River. I started talking to David, their very charming leader/guide and was immediately convinced by the group's smiles and enthusiasm -- and that after they had done three days of riding -- that there cannot be a more enjoyable way to spend three or six days discovering the beauty of a country.What a brilliant idea! Discovering a country on horseback! Definitely my next project (IF I survive the motorbike trip through Spain!)
This specific group was making full use of the long weekend and doing a circuit of the bastides of the Dordogne valley. But there is wide choice of rides one can do throughout the year. Most of the rides stretch over 6 days/7 nights, most long weekends have a 2-3/day/3 night ride, and there are also longer rides of 9 to 15 days - these mostly in countries other than France, such as in Morocco, Canada, Senegal and Iceland.
Once I have tried one or two of the shorter rides in France, I am definitely going to attempt the Morocco ride -- it looks superb!
Some of the rides in France are:
The chateaux around Bordeaux -- including of course tasting some of the best wines, such as Pauillac, St Estephe, Mouton Rothschild --- who can complain of a stiff back and a sore derriere after that?
There are also rides through the Chateaux of the Loire Valley, the Dordogne Valley and the CatharesLa Guyenne -- visiting the vineyards of Bergerac and Montbazillac and the rich history and culture of the area
Le Perigord Vert This ride goes through the lesser known but exquisitely beautiful area of the Perigord, including a visit to Brantome, the Venice of the Perigord
The Basque country The region between mountains and sea with its lovely little villages of white houses
The riders stay in a variety of little hotels on the way, or in chambres d'hotes (B&B's), or rental cottages -- and in certain cases in tents. At lunch time the caravan/truck with all the luggage and material waits for the group -- ready and prepared with a lovely canopy on the side, a long table and chairs -- the table colourfully set with a delicious meal and either champagne on ice or an excellent wine of the region.Click on Link:
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