Rennes and Nantes
Wanderlust magazine has a neat little feature called Double Bill, where they cover two different destinations as a suggestion for a two-centre trip. And for those heading to west France, you can’t beat both Rennes and Nantes. Set in the north-west of France, the cities of Rennes and Nantes are fiercely proud of their Breton […]
Angers: the best summer city break
Ahhh, pre-pandemic travel – we didn’t know how good we had it, did we? That said, Angers is a great place for post-pandemic travel too. It’s really outdoorsy, excellent for exploring on bike and by boat, and there’s a fantastic riverside bar scene. They’re called ‘guinguettes’ and it was fun to explore so many for […]
A taste of France in six drinks
Story for National Geographic Traveller Food: link The French have had winemaking down to a fine art for centuries, but so too are they experts at creating liqueurs, spirits, aperitifs and digestifs. Each region has its libation of choice and each will tell you something of the land around you, its history, its produce and, often, the families who have been making […]
Best stopovers en route south
“Where do you stop when you drive south?” is possibly the number one question I get asked… and it’s so good to have dozens of suggestions up my sleeve. Whether you want to just enjoy a bit of luxury and switch off at a beautiful boutique hotel, or have a more adventurous stay in a […]
30 best B&Bs in France
I love a chambres d’hotes – the French answer to a BnB gives you a chance to chat to the owners, get the inside track on what the best places to visit, best restaurants, and the history of an area. This made it a joy to put together my favourite 30 in France for The […]
50 best holidays in France
Some of my recent pieces for The Times’ travel section
Family cycling on the Île de Ré
This article was originally published in The Times. Fifteen minutes into our walk around the chic town of Saint Martin-de-Ré, I realise that our decision to ‘spend day one exploring the town on foot’ is a mistake. We’re standing on a cobbled bridge that crosses the town’s mighty Vauban ramparts with two hungry children, in […]
Total Guide: Seaside France
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s August 2017 issue, I wrote more than 4000 words about Seaside France in a variety of different formats. This included: Two longer pieces on the Roussillon coast and Roscoff (including the Ile de Batz), Top tens on best seaside hotels, secret coastal towns, sun-drenched beaches, lazy seaside meals, ways to […]
French city breaks by train
Two new high-speed train lines opening in July 2017 will mean several cities in the west of France will be much easier to get to. This piece for The Times revealed the best ways to enjoy each place: Rennes Saint Malo Poitiers Toulouse Bordeaux Nantes Angouleme Read it here.
A weekend in…Ile de Ré
After a quick hop via La Rochelle airport, you can be on the Ile de Ré within half an hour. It’s a fantastic destination for a weekend, especially if you love cycling, though if you can stay longer… you won’t be disappointed. On foot, the town of Saint-Martin-en-Ré is a delight, especially if you into […]