Walks Away
These are all circular walks unless stated, the photos are all in order left to right (although they may not have been taken on the day of the walk). If you click on a photo you will be taken to a larger image on my flickr page, where you can also click on, map, down the left of the page to find the location.
If you would like more info, or have any comments you can email me at ralph-dot@tiscali.co.uk
| FRANCE | ||||
| Château de Pierrefonds | Chateau de Coucy | Deauville and Trouville | ||
| GERMANY | ||||
| Koblenz | ||||
| BELGIUM | ||||
| Ghent | ||||
Walk, Château de Pierrefonds and Village, Pierrefonds, Oise, Picardy, France June 2008.
Used as the set for the BBC TV's series, Merlin
Approximately 1.5 mile or 2.4 kilometres
A completely unplanned walk, we were only looking for a market. We checked out where there was a local market and set off towards Pierrefonds, about eleven miles away from the campsite at Berny Riviere. When we did eventually arrive it was a small village and there was no sign of a market anywhere, in fact the whole place looked totally deserted. We drove round looking and eventually decided we would drive on to find somewhere else to shop, then, round the corner as we were leaving the village, we came across this
and headed back into the village to have a look. We parked up next to the castle on Rue Clément-Bayard and headed along the base of the castle walls in an anticlockwise direction, Here at the base of the castle we found the village centre and a very, very small market, the market wasn't worth visiting but the castle (Château de Pierrefonds) certainly was. We took two minutes to look round the market stalls, then set off walk around the rest of the village, a very pretty place and we took loads of photos to prove it. We walked away from the marketplace along Rue Jules Michelet with the lake on our left and then turned left onto Rue du Beaudon.
On Rue du Beaudon we came to a park on the left where we could get back to the lakeside so we did. We continued to walk by the lake until we came to the old disused railway Station, always sad to see, although think It was still being used as a residence.
From there we retraced our steps back to the marketplace, where we couldn't decide what to have for dinner, do we get something from the shop, to eat in the square, or do we try a cafe or restaurant. While we were thinking about it we passed a place with an outdoor seating area in a garden with a BBQ going, it smelt great, and the price list looked good, so we went in. We had a very nice lunch in the sun with great views and a couple of beers (Kronenbourg).
After lunch we though we would have a walk up to the castle and if if didn't cost too much to get in, have a look round. The main entrance was closed and we were directed up a steep hill to the side entrance we almost didn't bother but the girls wanted to go see. When we got there there was no price list but we asked some people coming out and it was free entry, so we went in.
There were signs dotted about, all mentioning Merlin, then there was a notice to say filming was in progress for the TV series Merlin, we assumed it was French, so it wasn't until we returned home and looked it up on IMDB, that we found out it was for the BBC.
What a fantastic castle, of course it looks so good as it has been rebuilt, the first castle was built in the 12th century, in the 15th century it was rebuilt and then demolition was started in the 17th Century. Demolition was too difficult, so not a lot was done, it was then it was acquired by Napoleon and finally restored during 19th century.
We spent ages wandering around the castle, most of the big rooms are open to the public and there were a couple of art displays to see but eventually, after along walk exploring the place we got tired and headed back to the car. Not a bad trip out and walk, considering we had no idea this castle even existed, what a great find, we would recommend it to everyone.
It is a big shame that next year, this place will be overrun with new tourists from the UK, all wanting to see Merlin, it looks like it is popular in the summer anyway. I am glad that we got to see this beautiful, peaceful village and magnificent castle before that happens, it will not be the same again.
Walk, Chateau de Coucy Walls, Aisne, Picardy, France June 2008.
Approximately 1.5 mile or 2.4 kilometres
Last day of the holiday for Mick and Bren and we set of to visit another Château, but this time to one we knew was there. The castle was bigger than I thought I was going to be, we drove up the hill on the south side and in through the castle gates (Porte de Soissons) then followed the signs to the car park on Rue des Épousées, near the main square. The village inside the castle walls has bars and shops etc, we decided we would try and walk around the castle walls, then make our way back to the village main square for a drink.
From the car park we walked towards the church (Eglise St Sauveur) in the southeast corner of the castle walls and from there set off in an anticlockwise direction. We walked along this section in the hot sun with wall towering above us. At the end of this part of the wall we turned left and walked alongside some tennis courts to the north gate (Porte de Laon).
Not sure the van would fit through this gate. There was a large open grassed area with young lads playing football, that we had to walk round, it was obviously part of the defences at one time . From here you can look across from the northeast corner, to the northwest corner of the castle and see just how big it is.
The next stretch of the wall is in the shade as we walked along an avenue of trees to the another gate (Porte de Chauny) and a hole cut through the wall for a road (there is a bit of wall like this in York where the A19 passes through the old Abbey walls). We continued along this road (the D5) until we came to a set of steps back up to the wall.
I must mention that there are fantastic views over the countryside, along most of this walk. Along this section we made a friend, a young goat followed us from here for about half the walk, if we hadn't eventually come to a fence and gate, I am sure that goat would still be with us.
At the east end of the castle there had obviously been a very large building, we really should have got more information on this Castle before we set off on this walk. All the way round I wondered when it was built, what had happened to it, who was restoring sections and why. The story is very interesting and it was only destroyed during World War One as an act of Barbarism (see the link at the end of this walk).
From the east end of the castle we were making our way back passed rows of defensive towers towards the gate where we had driven in to start.
Back inside the walls at the end of the walk we were very, very hot, the walk had only taken about an hour and it was just after 12:00, the bar in the square was open, so we had to have a beer (Pelforth blond) to cool down.
If we had, more time we could have explored the insides of the walls, when we are this way again I definitely will.
After the beer we had another quick look around the village, found an Aire but I am not sure we could get the van through the entrance into the village. Then it was a rush back to the site the watch the French F1GP from Magny-Cours in the van.
Link to History of the Château on Wikipedia, Chateau de Coucy
Walk, Deauville and Trouville, Calvados, Lower Normandy, France June 2008.
Approximately 3.5 mile or 5.6 kilometres
Got the scooter off the back of the van and set off for Deauville, where we parked up in one of the large car parks on Boulevard Eugène Cornuché, which runs along the sea front. We walked towards the sea and then along the sea front on the Promenade Michel d'Ornano and Boulevard de la Mer, a long boardwalk, towards a marina. Along the promenade there are sun loungers, sunshades, bars, restaurants, shops, swimming pool, crazy golf, etc, you know the stuff. Although it was midday on a warm Saturday, the a sea front and promenade were practically deserted, in the UK, the seaside would be crowded on a day like that.
At the end of Boulevard de la Mer we had to walk around the marina back onto Boulevard Eugène Cornuché and headed to the river Touques, with the town of Trouville-sur-Mer on the other side. There are some fantastic houses to see along Boulevard Eugène Cornuché. At the river we crossed over the lock gates of another marina, here there was a small boat ferrying people over the river between Deauville and Trouville. We decided we would walk the long way round over the road bridge to Trouville and later get the small ferry back.
On the way to the bridge we walked through the marina we came across the free Aire de Service, and had a chat with an English couple staying there for a few nights. Using Aires may be the only way we can afford to go to France next year, so we have been checking a few out.
Over the bridge in Trouville it was market day along the quayside, so we did some window shopping (if you can do that on a market). There were lots of stalls selling Levi jeans relatively cheaply, so I was rather suspicious that they were not genuine, anyway there was none my size in the colour I wanted. We got chicken baguettes and can of cola from a small shop and then sat on the quayside overlooking the river Touques to eat, attracting the attention of many seagulls
After lunch we walked away from the river and headed into Trouville along Rue Victor Hugo, to have a look around the shops but that didn't last long. We got as far as Rue de Paris which led down to the Promenade des Planches (also a boardwalk) and the beach. It was a lot busier than the beach in Deauville, perhaps it was just the time of day.
We had to have walk along the pier (as we usually do when we see one), we sat on the pier in the sun for a while and as the tide was out, I even climbed down for a look underneath. There was a longer pier on the other side of the river and also a new breakwater but it looked like you had to go through private property to get to the breakwater (probably wrong though).
Looking forward to going over the river on the small ferry we set off back towards the landing point next to the large Casino, only the ferry wasn't there. Instead there was a temporary bridge, that is lowered from the quayside at low tide, so you can walk back over, it is half the cost of the ferry though. We did do the walk another day and we did get to go on the ferry.
We then walked back over the lock gates and in to Deauville centre along Quai des Yachts and Rue Gambetta which takes us to the marketplace and the market. As it was also market day in Deauville we had a good look around the stalls and then the rest of the town centre before heading back to the sea front and the bike. Along Rue Désiré le Hoc and Rue Eugène Colas to the Casino on Boulevard Eugène Cornuché.
Back on the sea front there were more people than earlier but it wasn't very crowded.
Walk, Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany June 2007.
Approximately 3.0 mile or 4.8 kilometres
On a sunny afternoon we walked from the campsite (Campingplatz Rhine Mosel), over the river Mosel into Koblenz centre for a look around and possibly book a Rhine cruise. It was quite a long walk into Koblenz centre and Koblenz was a lot bigger than we thought it was going to be.
From the main site entrance we walked along Schartwiesenweg, a bit of an industrial area, then left onto Neuendorferstraße and then Schüllerplatz until we got to the bridge to cross over the river Mosel. Over the river we turned left onto Peter-Altmeier-ufer and followed the river to its confluence with the Rhine.
We had to have a climb up the huge monument at the confluence (Deutsches Eck), for some photos, there is a very good view of the campsite from up there. After a good look at the monument and a rest by the rivers, we head off to find out how much the river cruises are, for a trip out tomorrow. So from the confluence we followed Konrad-Adenauer-ufer along the Rhine this time, as it is along this stretch the boats leave.
There are many trips on offer, we do not fancy the short one hour trip but a longer one, only I have to be back in time to have food in town and get back to the site before the football at 21:00. One trip is 24€ with breakfast but is too late coming back, the other shorter is trip that gets back in time is 19.50€ but we can not make up our minds, so at the end of street and the line of sales people, we have to have a beer to help clear our minds (we never did decide and got cheaper tickets from campsite reception that night).
Having not decided, we wandered away from the river and around the shops in the centre before heading back towards the confluence.
Back at the confluence, Dot spots the city tour land train thing so we hopped on for a guided tour (always a good idea to do this before walking, to get your bearings), it was a very bumpy ride (cobbled streets), afterwards we looked for something to eat.
Luckily there was a place where the tour finished, near the big monument, it was sort of open-air self-service restaurant with excellent meet dishes, we both got pork with chips, caramelised onions and sauce (a very nice gravy). Drinks had to be ordered separately from a bar around the corner form the serving counter and then all paid for at the till, with the deposit for the bottle and glass. Must say the food was wonderful (could be because we hadn't had much to eat all day) and the views were good as well, it was a great place for a very cheap and enjoyable meal. Then, after getting our deposit back from the bar (actually you get a chit from the bar to cash in at the till), we headed for the ferry back to the campsite.
Just next to the restaurant and opposite the campsite we found the ferry the crosses back to the site for only 0.80€ each, the ferry goes whenever there are any passengers, from 08:00 to 20:00 each day, it is a lot easer than walking round.
Walk, Ghent Centre, East Flanders, Belgium June 2008.
Approximately 2.5 mile or 4.0 kilometres
Went over to reception to find out about the busses to the town centre, they leave from outside the campsite every half hour and the cheapest way to get tickets, was from the machine at the bus stop.
We got off the bus outside Mcdonalds in the centre of town on Sint-Michielshelling, the bus back is from the opposite side if the road. We were in the centre for 14:30 so we had plenty of time for a good look round and it was nice and sunny and hot, which was lucky as in our rush to get there we had not taken any warm cloths, umbrellas yes but no coats.
On arrival in the town centre we were a bit peckish, so I suggested that we walk around, find a chip shop or van and just get chips and mayonnaise, we are in Belgium after all. We walked back the way the bus came and down Pakhuisstraat to the river at Port at the Graslei. This is the part of Ghent where all the famous photos are taken but looking down on this scene from the bridge, here there were crowds of teenagers celebrating the end of exams, all very well behaved though. We turned right and walked along the river through the crowds to a bridge, where we turned left and crossed over the river. On the other side we turned right along Jan Breydelstraat then fist right and over another bridge to the Château des Comtes (Castle of the Counts), a fairytale castle.
Opposite the castle entrance on Geldmunt we came across a ticket machine for the bus, we only had one way tickets and had no idea where to get any for the return, so we got them there.
We turned right after the castle, back over the river and to a marketplace, Groentenmarkt, then left along Kortemunt passed many eating places, to St Niklaaskerk Church, about back to where we started. Here we took a left along the side of the church on Klein Turkije to a square adjacent to the Belfort (Gent's Belfry). Here we had a look at the sculptures, fountain and other artworks before turning left onto Botermarkt and left again along Hoogpoort.
At the end of Hoogpoort back at Groentenmarkt we had practically walked round the whole town centre. We had walked for about an hour and a half and hadn't found one chip shop and by this time we were famished, so we got a chicken baguette each from a very popular sandwich shop on Langemunt adjacent to the marketplace. Then sat in a marketplace, to eat them, they were very good and as we were sat close to a small bar/cafe (t Galgenhuisje), we popped in for some beer to wash the sandwiches down (we had Dentergems Wit, Haacht Witbier & Orval).
After the nice refreshing beers, we continued our rest our feet by taking one of the many boat trips, the one we chose, departed from just round the corner outside, another bar, the Bierhuis. The boat trip was very informative and had some great views, I took loads of photos, especially of the many bridges we passed under.
At the end of the tour we didn't have a drink, but continued with our walk, we only had one day to see all of Ghent centre and we would have a drink latter. We walked back along Hoogpoort onto Nederpolder and left on Bisdomkaai, passed where the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Lys used to be, before it was blocked off when the canals were built. There are plans to reopen this old channel and clearance work was ongoing. It was then right onto Gebroeders Van Eyckstraat to the river Scheldt (I think), we crossed over two bridges here and continued to the left on the opposite bank along Voorhoutkaai (we crossed over the river to stay in the sun). At the next bridge along we crossed back over, It was gorgeous day for walking in the sun but the heat does take its toll and eventually we needed a sit down and a drink. So we set off back to the bar where the boat had dropped us just a short while before, this was along Steendam to Bibliotheekstraat to Hoogpoort and eventually the bar.
It was time for a drink, we were very lucky and managed to get a seat on the busy terrace of the Bierhuis, on the banks of the river Leie. The choice of beer was amazing but I knew what I wanted, a Kwak, with the special glass and holder. Dot had a Blanche De Bruxelles and thankfully it does not taste of what the picture on the label implies.
Suitably refreshed, we walked back along Pensmarkt, eventually found a frits and mayo seller and had to have some. Then it was back into another bar in Pensmarkt for another couple of beers, a Ename and another Haacht, Witbier, we had them out the back by the river, very nice.
After this we went up on to the bridge to get the often seen photo of Ghent but I left it too late, the sun had gone down too far and the wind had started to ripple the river, oh well, always next year. By now dot was getting cold, as I mentioned before, in our rush to get there we had not taken warm cloths, so went to get the bus back to the campsite. We had just missed one, so popped into the bar opposite, just to keep warm you understand. As we were there we had a beer anyway, the beer we got was a Belgian White from the USA, didn't expect that.