The hamlets of the Jaur, Olargues.

The hamlets of the Jaur. No markings. Just a lovely ramble following little tracks and returning on the voie verte. About 8- 9km. Allow a couple of hours. Parking at Olargues on the bypass road. This parking spot is beside the river Jaur and in itself a glorious location and a favourite swimming spot for locals in the summer. Now turn left and walk a few yards up the road to reach a little track on your right between a couple of houses. This little road winds up the hill beside the stream to Le Cros. Keep right at the first junction, left at the next and left again once you reach where it turns into a newly concreted road up to the hamlet itself. There is lots of cherry blossom up here and watch out for orchids too. Once in the hamlet turn right onto the road, we then kept right on a little track in a pretty dip. Taking the next left uphill path to the road near La Fabregue Haute. We kept right and went past Les Castagnes taking the road down to the beautiful Priere de st Julien. If you turn right here you can visit the priory and rejoin the road further down.This is a nice place for a picnic. Just before the road D908, you will see a little path to your right which will take you up through trees to the voie verte. If you miss this don't worry, a few yards down the main road are some concrete gateposts, take the second track here to rejoin the route. Now you have an easy and very lovely walk down the cycle/walking route back to Olargues. The birdsong was particularly wonderful here, almost like being in an avery. The views on this walk are just gorgeous, a little peace of heaven, up to the Espinouse, Caroux and across to the Avant Monts. Cherry blossom, wildflowers and streams everywhere. Deliciously beautiful, like eating iced buns on a Sunday. If you want to walk the voie verte or enjoy a cycle ride in the area you may like to stay in Olargues. It's such a lovely place. I can recommend this lovely place to stay for either B/B or with a wonderfully cooked evening meal of local ingredients. It's run by a lovely couple. Speaking both English and French and it's right in the centre of the village in one of the lovely little lanes. http://www.olargues.co.uk/

Peyriac-de-Mer, Aude.

Our second walk of the day over on the other side of the Etang. We drove over the causeway to walk along the shores edge and up onto the top where the views are wonderful in all directions. The walk continued by turning left at the top and taking the little path along the edge through the rosemary and then trees to a place where you can if you wish climb up to the high point or continue on to where the path turns left again and then returns down to the Etang once more. The birds were beautiful all around the area. Pelicans, egrets and waders. Beautiful. I was even treated to a few orchids, but mostly it was a day for rosemary, thyme, turpentine and bay; a smelling deliciously in the warm sunshine. 23c. A nice easy circuit with no difficulties, taking about 40 minutes.

Mestre to Cabo, along the Levada Nova, Madeira.

Our last glorious walk in western Madeira today. Another wonderful levada walk. Very peaceful and beautiful on this side of the island. A wonderful spot to enjoy our last day of walking.

We walked from Mestre to Cabo along the Levada Nova in remote western coast of Madeira. Stunning scenery and a gloriously warm day too. The walk passes a few houses at the start and then make a series of bends into deep ravines, woodland of pine, laurel and eucalyptus trees before reaching some wonderful sea views and two more massive dips into the hills where you look up to the Serra do Paul. The are some small waterfalls too which make for rather pretty viewing.    

A very pretty walk with lots of wonderful birds singing; mostly madeiran blackbirds and robins. Lots of wagtails about too and buzzards in the valleys. In the levada edges there were many lizards enjoying the warm sunshine, butterflies and dragonflies too.

Then we went down to the beautiful coast nearby. 

Levada Nova, Prazeres to the Atalhinho water house, Madeira

The Levada Nova today. Walking in the cloud for some of the time as the clouds blow in from the sea and up the mountain sides. We walked from the village of Prazeres to the Atalhinho water house, near Estrela da Calheta. The forest were beautiful, old pine, eucalyptus and lily of the nile along side the levada. We enjoyed a couple of coffee stops and a picnic at the water house. Martin said it was his longest walk yet. Wait until he sees what I have lined up for tomorrow!

The animals were waiting to be blessed today at the church. Just so lovely to watch and listen to. After the blessing the precision went off to bless all the farm animals in the menagerie in the Quinta Pedagogica, accompanied by women singing and the crowds. 

Upton Country Park, Poole

A beautiful walk and picnic at Upton country park today. There are a couple of parking areas which are £2 voluntary donation. Toilets and cafe are near to the main car park. From here you can either follow the nature trail, playtrail or a longer walk through the park. We started from the walled garden and followed the path down to the beautiful Shoreline walk around Hole bay. Here you can enjoy watching many different birds. There is a farm with cows on the central fields which my granddaughter enjoyed seeing too. The path turns into a boardwalk and bears right along a stream stream to join a wider path at a gate. Turn right and pass a wild lake are (Grove lake), then you can decide to either turn left over a bridge to the meadow or continue through Grove woods. Taking the meadow path you will find a great picnic area and stepping stones across a stream back to the woods and the car park. It takes about an hour and a half to walk around the whole park.