When we first started taking Kit for walks here in the South of France we never quite knew where we were and weren't allowed to go. There are thousands of vineyards, all unfenced; miles of walks, some marked, some not; and the odd path saying chemin privé. In England the idea that you might walk around someone else's vineyard seems, well, unthinkable really.

 

"Trespass, private & property" are three words that leap to mind. But here in France it doesn't seem to work like that. You don't just wander through people's closed gates of course but taking a stroll in the countryside is pretty hassle-free.

At our chambre d'hôtes, Le Couvent Roujan , we have hundreds of people to stay who fancy a walk but don't feel confident in striking out just anywhere. We're hoping that Chateau Malaudos might hit the spot for them. Not too far away, downhill on the way back, and all rather beautiful. A marked public walk actually runs along the edge of the amphitheatre vineyard so you can take a longer stroll right there as well.