www.savilerow-style.com
Saville Row Banner.jpg
FOR MEN WHO KNOW BEST

HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF FRANCE

travelvolcanos.jpg

Volcanos in France? Hardly a strong attraction for British tourists, nor even one that most would have known about. Yet they are a a particular facet of the Auvergne region, dominating the skyline in this central part of France over some 25 miles and known as the Chaîne des Puys.

Happily none is live – so they say – and more British visitors are being encouraged to put on their walking boots and tramp these other-worldly peaks. They would be following in the footsteps of the man who first told the world about them, British geologist George Scrope, whose research and books in the 1820s to 1850s were the first widely published descriptions of the Chaîne des Puys. His analysis laid the foundation for many of the basic principles of volcanology still recognised today. Not a lot of people know that. auvergen-tourism.com

travelcycle.jpgThe Auvergne was one of the French regions that came to London recently to encourage more British visitors. At a tourist fest in the City of London, with nice French wine and croissants, each region set out its stall and its attractions, with experts on hand to provide inside gen on what tourists might enjoy.

Above, the rounded chain of long dead volcanos in the Auvergne, and cycling up them, for energetic visitors, left.

With nearly 20 million Brits visiting France each year, it makes it not only a top destination for British holidaymakers but also, as our nearest neighbour, the country that we should know most about.

But though Paris is the first love for many travellers, the South of France and the ski resorts other centres that have long attracted British tourists, the delights of much of the country are nowhere near so well known. The stallholders were there to enlighten us.

With its long coastline facing our shores, and our historic links with the region, it should mean that we know more about Aquitaine than that it produces wonderful wine around Bordeaux, and that travelboat.jpg the Dordogne  is something of an ênclave of British expats. Now, it is being promoted as an eco-tourism centre, offering walking, biking, boating and gliding activities and some rather more leisurely and peaceful canal trips, with plenty of small guesthouses tucked away at reasonable prices. auvergne-tourism.com

Above, canals provide one of the best ways of exploring the hinterland, and this one offers luxury accomodation. hotelbarge.com Below,all kinds of sailing in Corsica.

Going from south to the north, the cemeteries and the monuments to those who fought and fell in the Great War provide poignant visitor appeal for the Nord-Pas de Calais and Normandy regions. Despite the passage of time, increasing numbers are making pilgrimages to these remembrance sites of the First World War, and more are expected as we approach the 100th anniversary of its outbreak in 1914. Bookings need to be made well in advance to secure accommodation at small travelcorsica.jpgattractive villages away from the sites, was the expert advice. northernfrance-tourism.com

We may know that Napoleon was born in Corsica but precious little else about this Mediterranean island. British visitors have been few – though they are increasing -  and it has the Med’s usual sun, sea and history, as well as donkey rides, a jazz festival and a range of mausoleums. Its more quiet, more leisurely than other Med hotspots, and protected marine zones offer a wealth of flora and fauna. visit-corsica.com

Credited with being the first to appreciate the potential of Nice in the 18th century, English visitors continue to enjoy this and other sophisticated centres along the Cote d’Azure, though the rest of the world has long since out-numbered us. Yet the Promenade des Anglais remains as reminder of the days when the English wintered here – and today’s fast trains from Paris mean it is easy to follow in their style and go by rail. nicetourisme.com

Whether choosing the comfort and ease of Eurostar to get across the Channel, or the vastly improved ferries or the cheap or expensive air options, a holiday in France has renewed appeal over those far-away places with strange-sounding names that are harder to get to. Long haul has lost its glamour and the neighbours are friendly. For more info on all the regions go to franceguide.com

 

 
 

2013

:: SAVILE ROW Style Magazine ::

 
 
contact Home - Contents in brief
   
  Tails win in new London Swing
   
  Savile Row success in New York
   
  Keeping the City in trim
   
  Latest lightweights are cool
   
contact White replaces Ivory as top shirt
   
contact Formal shoes go brighter
   
contact Many Shades of Colour
   
contact The unknown France beckons
   
contact Culture - London fizzes
   
contact Get ready for Summer
   
contact

Savile Row's latest arrival

   
contact

Keeping shoes shining

 

 

contact Compendium - Links to the best brands and services
   
contact Contact - Details and registration
   
contact Tailors of Savile Row - listing of top tailors and interviews
   
contact Archive - Back Issues
 
     

:: HOME AT SEA ::

 

FOR those who want to be alone, there’s a magical property available through Unique Homestays, on its very own little island and reached by high wire bridge from one rocky crag to its door.

travelhouse.jpg

Situated near Newquay, on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall that was once famous for its pilchards, the house is surrounded by water at high tide, and buffeted by wind and spray when the Atlantic is frisky. Staying here is like being at sea without the worry of being seasick. But if the weather outside is awesome, the inside is pretty splendid too, a haven of luxury in the eye of the storm.

It has been featured in TV travel films before now but has been completely refurbished. Recommended for honeymooners, it is also good for a party of up to 6 guests, and a chef can be laid on for those who don’t want the bother of cooking. There are good restaurants nearby, including Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen.

This sort of exclusive luxury comes at an exclusive price. It goes from £2,145 for a couple up to £4,575 for six for a week in August. Go to www.uniquehomestays.com for this and other very special holiday properties throughout the UK.