Walks & Gardens of the French Riviera

Our start point is a three-star hotel in Menton. Situated just a short stroll from the railway station, beach and shops, it is ideally located for a week of walking. In the evening, our guide will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions.

Starting from the hotel, we stop at the market where we discover local food ingredients, then take a two-minute train to Carnolès. In the grounds of the Palais Carnolès and Musée des Beaux-Arts, we find a renowned collection of citrus trees. After time exploring the gardens, we start our walk around the beautiful Cap Martin Peninsula, enjoying coastal views, where we stop for a picnic lunch. After lunch, we visit the Cap Martin olive groves then walk or take the train back to Menton.

We begin our day with a 20-minute train journey to Eze Plage, and carry on by bus to Eze, a medieval village established in the 14th century with magnificent coastal views. From here, we can walk up to the Mont Bastide castle ruins to admire amazing views before we have an hour or so to explore the Exotic Garden, which is built 1,407ft (429m) above sea level on the site of an ancient fortress in Eze village. It overlooks the Provençal hill village providing home for cacti, succulents, xerophytes and various Mediterranean species. After free time in the village, we walk down the Nietzsche path to join Eze Plage, before taking the train back to Menton. The Nietzsche path includes a lot of uneven and rocky steps which requires a reasonable level of agility.

In the morning, we take the train to Cap d'Ail, followed by a coastal walk to Monaco via the beautiful medieval village of Roquebrune.We walk down to Monaco and take a quick ferry shuttle to cross Monaco harbour. We have all afternoon to discover this small independent state, including a tour of the highlights, such as the Princes’ Palace, old town and cathedral. After, we return by train to Menton.

On your free day, you could choose to explore Menton old town. During the 19th century, the British and Russian aristocracy met here in fabulous palaces and villas. The architecture is stunning with the unique baroque style of the Saint-Michel and Conception squares plus the Saint-Michel Basilica façade. Alternatively, you could visit one or more of the eight gardens in Menton or head further afield to Nice by train or bus and visit its renowned market and the Promenade des Anglais. Monaco also has much to offer despite its diminutive size, and is renowned for the luxurious lifestyle afforded to its residents.

This morning, we take a 30-minute train to Villefranche sur Mer, walking towards the Pointe St Hospice to admire spectacular views on Golfe de St Hospice. It’s a gentle walk on concrete to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat's harbour, followed by a flat coastal path with beautiful views.We then visit the Villa de Rothschild (entrance fees included), where we explore the house and different gardens of various styles. Following our exploration, we return by train from Beaulieu.

In the morning, we take the public bus to the Serre de la Madone garden for a two-hour visit. Created by Sir Lawrence Johnston, it was turned from terraces of vines and olives into a garden bright with drifts of agapanthus and strelitzia. After our visit, a private bus take us to the village of Sainte Agnès. High above Menton town, it is registered as ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’. It hides picturesque streets and artist studios and, at 2,625ft (800m) above sea level, offers a breath-taking view over the blue Mediterranean Sea. We then take the bus or walk (a long, steep and rocky descent) back to the hotel.

After a relaxed breakfast, we say our goodbyes and begin our return journey home. If you’d like to explore a little more, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.