Taking it easy

Exciting ways to get away from it all

Am I the only one who finds the word “hiking” intimidating? For me it has always conjured up images of crampons, ice-axes, carabiners and frostbite. So, when I’m invited to join a small group on a hik

The Canal du Rhône à Sète in the south of France stretches 98km from the Rhône river to Sète on the Étang de Thau. There are no locks to worry about, making it an excellent choice for less experienced

When it comes to entertaining friends, it is hard to top Château de Chambord as a spectacular party venue. Set in a vast forested estate larger than the City of London, this flamboyant royal residence

For those who prefer not to follow the crowd, we reveal some of the best, but relatively undiscovered places to enjoy in the country’s chicest region

France