Happy Xmas and New Year

Today in the forest

Wishing all Brittany Walks' members a very happy holiday season, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

LAST WALK

BWs' luck with the weather held on our last walk today. After a rainy morning we had a dry afternoon for a gentle perambulation in the forest around the Roche cintrée and along the Argent valley to the Chaos in Huelgoat. Tex was definitely Dog of the Day. Long-standing members joined me for lunch beforehand to celebrate all our many walks and the friendship we have found together. Thanks to everyone, those who could only stay for lunch, those who walked afterwards and to many absent friends, epsecially Kay and Steve and Lesley and Derek, who were in my thoughts today. Eleven years is a long time to have explored Brittany together, and I will never forget all the fun, laughter and cheerful spirit which have made it all worth while. Not goodbye, but au revoir until some new adventures in 2016.

Brittany Walks - the end, after 11 years

The walk in Huelgoat on Monday November 16th will be the final Brittany Walk, as I've decided all good things must come to an end. After 11 years of organizing a regular programme of walks, I now need more time for my own work on landscape and my own walking: I'm currently preparing a new book of Finistere walks which will be published next spring.
Many thanks to the hundreds of people who have joined us over the years, often finding new friends in the process and always good company for an afternoon in beautiful scenery. I am grateful for all the messages of thanks I've received in the last week from 'old' and more recent supporters, reminding me that all my effort and commitment to promote walking in Brittany have been worthwhile. That is certainly how I will remember the experience.
Although there will be no more walks, I intend to continue the short breaks which have been so successful, with a visit to the island of Ouessant in the spring, and there may be occasional visits to places of interest and courses, which have also proved popular.
Anyone wishing to be on the mailing list for such events, please let me know. I will be starting a completely new list, not using the old BWs one, so you need to opt in to receive messages. For the moment this blog will remain in existence, but I hope to have time to give the Brittany Walks website more attention and have regular updates of interest to those who love walking in Brittany.
Thank you and happy walking wherever you are.

Landscape course

A lovely group of people gathered at L'Autre Rive today for the Breton landscape course. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and would like to thank the participants for their contribution to a fun time. Sorry, forgot to take a photo....
My exhibition of texts (together with four artists) on the same subject at the same venue continues until Friday November 6th.

Best Huelgoat walk!

 Today we enjoyed a superb autumnal stroll in perfect walking weather on a new route through a very remote part of the forest, before returning past the Mare aux Sangliers and Arthur's Grotto. Many thanks to Annie for the photos and to all who came along. TEX was impeccably behaved and Dog of the Day (at last).

Walk on Wednesday 21st October

Our next walk (under 8km) is a new route in Huelgoat, covering some famous sights and some less well-known paths. Nothing difficult but boots advisable if after wet weather. We meet in the large parking area beside the main road (route de Berrien) near the Intermarché supermarket. Start 2pm prompt.
Booking please to brittanywalks@orange.fr

Sunny in Quimper

We were very lucky with the weather today. Quimper was bathed in sunshine throughout as we rambled around the old town with its beautiful historic houses and Gothic cathedral, and then along the river to the earliest area of settlement at Locmaria for a Romanesque church and medieval style garden. Lovely afternoon, thanks to everyone. Fleur gets Dog of the Day just for turning up.

Next walk: October 21st
One day Landscape of Brittany course: November 2nd (change of date)