For Independent and Self Guided Walking Holidays in the Limousin, central France
Links
The circular routes below range from 2km to 40km, taking between half an hour and 10 hours. The walks are graded according to difficulty, elevation and mixture of footpath and country lane content. Sights of interest along the routes are also marked on the maps. Walks are usually well waymarked with colour codes painted on trees and signposts.There are 3 departments in the Limousin region; Creuse, Haute-Vienne and Correze.
Click here for walking routes in the Creuse.
Click here for walking routes near us in the Haute-Vienne.
And here for the Correze.
Types of Trails
There are 3 different classifications of nationally recognised trails
- GR (Grand Randonée): Registered hiking trails that often run across the entire country
- GRP (Sentiers de Grande Randonée de Pays): Registered regional trails that will take you around a particular region on a circular route over several days
- PR (Sentiers de Promenade): Walking and hiking trails for short circuits that may be completed in less than a day
Look out for waymarks like these anywhere from trees, posts and signs to rocks and road surfaces:
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Meaning of waymarks:
Maps
IGN maps are the French equivalent of the Ordance Survey maps. They can also be purchased from many newsagents and bookshops in France, Waterstones or online at http://loisirs.ign.fr/cartes.html
IGN Series Bleue (blue) maps cover the whole of France and have a 1:25,000 scale. These are very detailed but do not cover hiking trails. The Top 25 sub-series show hiking trails, are on a larger scale, covering more territory and have an OT or ET suffix.
Top 100 IGN maps have a 1:100,000 scale and are excellent for planning hiking trips as they show the GR and related connector trails in red with trail notations.
Walking Tips
The beauty of walking is that there are no rules, just common-sense:
- Wear adequate clothing and footwear for the time of year, expected weather and type of walk.
- A base layer is a worthwhile investment as it will keep you warm and dry by wicking moisture away from your skin.
- Layering offers flexibility to adapt to changes in weather conditions and body temperature.
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket and overtrousers recommended if the weather is less than perfect.
- Comfortable, broken-in walking boots are essential. Preferably leather for winter walking, when waterproof gaiters, hat and windproof gloves are also recommended.
- In fair weather, wear suncream, sunglasses and a hat to shield your head and face from the sun.
- Walking poles can provide stability and increase speed.
- Always carry a map, compass, water and snacks. You should also take a small first aid kit, a torch and a whistle.
- Avoid walking in extreme weather.
- Allow plenty of time for the walk so you finish well before it gets dark.
- Choose a walk suitable for all members of your group. During the walk, closely supervise children.
- Always keep to marked trails.
- The European emergency number is 112 or, for the hearing assisted, 114.
Outdoor Ethics
- No littering
- Be considerate to everyone you meet
- Protect wildlife
- Guard against risk of fire
- Avoid making unnecessary noise
IGN Series Bleue (blue) maps cover the whole of France and have a 1:25,000 scale. These are very detailed but do not cover hiking trails. The Top 25 sub-series show hiking trails, are on a larger scale, covering more territory and have an OT or ET suffix.
Top 100 IGN maps have a 1:100,000 scale and are excellent for planning hiking trips as they show the GR and related connector trails in red with trail notations.
Walking Tips
The beauty of walking is that there are no rules, just common-sense:
- Wear adequate clothing and footwear for the time of year, expected weather and type of walk.
- A base layer is a worthwhile investment as it will keep you warm and dry by wicking moisture away from your skin.
- Layering offers flexibility to adapt to changes in weather conditions and body temperature.
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket and overtrousers recommended if the weather is less than perfect.
- Comfortable, broken-in walking boots are essential. Preferably leather for winter walking, when waterproof gaiters, hat and windproof gloves are also recommended.
- In fair weather, wear suncream, sunglasses and a hat to shield your head and face from the sun.
- Walking poles can provide stability and increase speed.
- Always carry a map, compass, water and snacks. You should also take a small first aid kit, a torch and a whistle.
- Avoid walking in extreme weather.
- Allow plenty of time for the walk so you finish well before it gets dark.
- Choose a walk suitable for all members of your group. During the walk, closely supervise children.
- Always keep to marked trails.
- The European emergency number is 112 or, for the hearing assisted, 114.
Outdoor Ethics
- No littering
- Be considerate to everyone you meet
- Protect wildlife
- Guard against risk of fire
- Avoid making unnecessary noise
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