Top 25 and Serie Bleue

The French equivalent of Ordnance Survey Maps

 IGN Top 25 maps cover areas of particular tourist interest, mainly around the coast, and have a map number ending in T. The maps have an overprint highlighting local footpaths, long-distance GR routes and, where appropriate, ski routes. Other tourist information includes campsites, equestrian or canoeing centres, huts, mountain refuges, etc. Map legend is in French and English. Each TOP 25 map covers an area of approximately 28 x 21 km (17 x 13 miles).

The rest of France is covered by Serie Bleue maps, which have no overprint and map numbers ending in O or E. The legend is in French only but is fairly self-explanatory. Each Serie Bleue map covers an area of approximately 20 x 14 km (12 x 9 miles), with some maps slightly larger.

Both series have similar cartography, with contour interval of 5 metres, except for mountainous areas, where the maps have hill shading and contours at 10-metre intervals. Scale 1:25000

Generally, Top 25 Maps are £8.99 and Serie Bleue £7.99.

Aude/Pyrenees-Orientales, Michelin Local Guide - Detailing the Aude / Pyrenees-Orientales region of France, this laminated fold-out map includes a complete index of place names and covers all regional specialities, heritage and traditions. It offers clear and concise mapping for stress-free travelling.

Cantal/Lozere, Michelin Local Guide

Gard/Herault, Michelin Local Guide

IGN Tourism, Outdoor Activities and Regional Discovery Maps - An extensive series of maps published by the IGN in cooperation with local authorities, ramblers' associations, cycling clubs, etc. The maps are designed to provide information on places of interest, recreational facilities, various types of accommodation, local and long-distance footpaths, bridleways, cycling and mountain bike routes, etc. Various scales, mainly 1:50,000 or 1:100,000. Some titles will have limited availability - in case of difficulty please email.

Provence No 4 - Camargue - The whole of the Camargue, famous for its white horses and flamingos, an area of approximately 60 x 43 km. This topographic map has an overprint indicating numerous recreational facilities in the area, accommodation including campsites, places of interest, GR routes, equestrian routes, etc. Map legend is in French only. Scale 1:50,000

Mont du Cantal: Planeze - Margeride - Aubrac - This map covers the area south of St-Flour to St-Chely-d'Apcher and the Monts d'Aubrac. Contours are at 40-metre intervals. Extensive overprint highlights local and long-distance footpaths, numerous sport and recreational facilities, places of interest, various types of accommodation, etc. Map legend includes English.

Beaume and Drobie Rivers in the Cevennes - Detailed map of an area just west of the famous gorges of the Ardeche, around the confluence of two of its tributaries, the Baume and the Drobie. The map covers an area of approximately 33 x 20 km. It has a contoured base with an overprint highlighting local footpaths, bridleways, sport and recreational facilities, places of interest, various types of accommodation, etc. Map legend includes English. 

Cevennes National Park - New edition of one of IGN's most popular maps covering the Cevennes National Park, with relief shading presenting the topography. An overprint highlights long-distance footpaths, bridleways, scenic routes, places of interest including ecological museums, sport and recreational facilities, gites d'etape and campsites, etc. Map legend & background text include English. Scale 1:100,000

The Natural Park of Des Grands Causses - Road map of the Grand Causses Regional Park in the western foothills of the Cevennes, centred on Millau. Extensive overprint shows places of interest, vineyards and cherry orchards, long-distance footpaths, etc. Also shown are three special car tours and a mountain bike tour of the area. Map legend includes English. Scale 1:100,000

Topo Guides with Day Walks - The extensive list of topo-guides to the long-distance footpaths in France published by the Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre has now been expanded to include guides to local walks, the PRs (Promenades et Randonnees). Each guide offers a selection of walks of various length and difficulty, overprinted on extracts from the 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 topographic survey. The text is in French. Some titles will have limited availability - in case of difficulty please email.

Several of the guides listed in the "Topo-guides to Long-distance Footpaths" series also include day walks in addition to the long-distance routes, as indicated in the description of each title.

The Department of Lozere on Foot - 46 day walks, from one to six hours long. Maps in colour. 128 pages.

The Department of Gard on Foot - 53 day walks, from one to eight and a half hours long, in the department of Gard. Maps in colour. 160 pages.

The Department of Herault on Foot - 40 day walks, from one to six hours long, in the department of Herault. Most walks are in the foothills of the Cevennes, with a few in the coastal area around Montpellier, Sete and Beziers. Maps in colour. 128 pages. 

The Natural Park of Des Grands Causses on Foot - 32 walks, from one to six hours long, in the Regional Natural Park of Des Grands Causses. Maps in colour. Numerous photos and drawings of fauna and flora. 96 pages.

Mende and its Environs on Foot - 19 walks, from one to six hours long, in the area around Mende, including a tour of the town. Maps in colour. Numerous photos and drawings of fauna and flora. 56 pages.

Grandrieu and Environs on Foot - 23 day walks, from one to seven hours long, in Grandrieu and its environs in the Lozere. Maps in colour. 64 pages.

The Pays d'Axat on Foot - 19 walks, from one to six hours long around Axat. Maps in colour. 56 pages.

Villefort & environs on Foot - 18 walks of varying degrees of difficulty and of duration from 2 to 7 hours in the region around Villefort and the Borne and Chassezac valleys. 56 pages

GRP - Les Vallees Cevenoles - Five circuits, between 45 and 71-km long, in the southern Cevennes. Maps in colour. 87 pages. Scale 1:50,000

GR 4/43/44/GRP- Gorges de Ardeche - Margeride  - Presents 11 itineraries in the region surrounded by Ales, Pont-St-Esprit, Mt Mezenc and St-Flour. With 1:50,000 map extracts. 208pp.

GR66 - Tour of Mont Aigoual - Several tours, from a day walk of 10km to a circuit of 79km, around Mont Aigoual in the Cevennes National Park. 64 pages.

GR71C/71D - Tour du Larzac - 200 km of walks in the region of the PNR des Grands Causses. The 2 GR routes are covered, also 10 short day walks. Maps in colour. 96 pages.

GR7/71/74 - Across the Haut Languedoc - Two routes from l'Esperou in the Cevennes: 307km along the GR7 to the Canal du Midi and 250km to Mazamet along the GR71. Also includes the GR74 which is attached to the GR7 south of Le Vigan, and the Boucle Pierre-Paul Riquet which extends from the GR7 at Les Cammazes to the Canal du Midi. Maps in colour. 112 pages.

GR7/72/73 - From Pilat to the Cevennes - A 275-km route along the GR7, plus variants and Tour du Chasserac. 104 pages.

GR107 - In the Footsteps of the Cathars - Covers the 220km cross-Pyrenees route from Foix in France to Berga in Catalunya, across the Col du Puymorens. Maps in colour, including extracts from 1:50,000 topographic survey from the Servicio Geografico del Ejercito, the Spanish military survey organisation. 112 pages.

Chemin de Stevenson:Cevennes

Tour of Mt Lozere

Walking in the Languedoc, John Cross - Providing 32 walks, this text covers the central part of the Languedoc, north of Beziers. Much of this area forms the Parc Naturel du Haut-Languedoc, at the heart of which is the stunning Espinouse massif, rising abruptly some 850 metres from the valley floor. Close by is the valley of Lac du Salagou, an enormous man-made lake surrounded by hills. A little further east is the valley of the river Herault, which provides the explorer with limestone gorges, caves and cliffs. All of these areas are well provided with footpaths on which it is rare to see another human being. This book aims to provide walks into these areas for hikers of all standards; some are very straightforward, others are for the very fit and experienced.

Walking in the Cathar Region, Cathar Castles of South-west France, Alan Mattingly - Walking in the Cathar Region offers 22 walks based on the once strategically important castles that dominate the foothills of the Pyrenees. The collection of walks explore the castles and other locations which featured in Cathar history (mostly the 13th century) ensuring that this is an interesting and valuable guide to this area. The three long-distance walks, Le Sentier Cathare, Le Chemin des Bonshommes and the Grande Randonnees 7 & 71, are also included. Each walk has as its focal point a castle or other location associated with the Cathars. Summaries of the historical connections of each location with the Cathar period are given, and together these relate the story of the downfall of the Cathar Church, from the massacre in Beziers in 1209 to the siege at Montsegur in 1244, which ended with the burning alive of over 200 believers who refused to renounce their Cathar faith.

Pyrenees, Landscape Series, Paul Jenner & Christine Smith - Pocket-sized full-colour motoring and walking guides with fold-out touring maps and large-scale topographical walking maps.

Landscapes of Western Provence & Languedoc-Roussillon, John and Pat Underwood - Detailed descriptions of 50 long and short circular walks. Also contains 33 picnic suggestions, routes for 12 car tours and a touring map for motorists.

Trekking in the Pyrenees, Douglas Streatfield-James -  Contains all the main trails along the France-Spain border from the famous GR10 coast to coast hike and most scenic sections of the GR11, to many shorter routes. 80 route maps include walking times and places to stay.

Backpacks, Boots and Baguettes, A Walk in the Pyrenees, Simon Calder & Mick Webb - The Pyrenees stretches 900 kilometres, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coasts, and provides some of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscape to be found in Europe. This rocky ridge rides the cusp between three cultures: French, Spanish and Basque - each having its own rich and passionately defended identity - and every year tens of thousands of visitors sample its unique delights. TV presenter Simon Calder is an enthusiastic fan of this spectacular mountain range and, being a keen walker, delights in the well-plotted hiking routes that traverse the region. Along with friend and colleague, BBC radio producer Mick Webb, he steps out to conquer the roof of the Pyrenees. They follow the time-honoured tradition of walking the G10, the preferred route of the fiercely independent -and, at times eccentric - French Ramblers' Federation. Testing a hiker's emotional resilience as keenly as his walking boots, the G10 is not for the faint-hearted. Weaving an occasionally treacherous, always exhilarating trajectory through a landscape of strong traditions and strange animals, Calder and Webb narrate an eventful and humorous travelogue that will delight keen hikers and armchair travellers alike.

The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail, Alan Castle - A guide for walking in the footsteps of Stevenson as he travelled through France’s Velay and Cevennes regions accompanied by his faithful donkey, Modestine. At 140km, this route is ideal for people new to walking holidays. Starts at Le Puy, finishes at St Jean de Gard. A great route with a historic and literary feel. Limited availability.

Walking the French Gorges, Alan Castle - 320 miles through Provence and Ardeche. Includes the famous gorges of the Verdon.

Walking in the Cevennes, Jannette Norton - This guide to walking in the Cevennes region provides 16 day-walks in the southern Cevennes (based around Le Vignan), 15 day-walks in the northern Cevennes (based around Florac), plus the 5-day trek around Mont Lozere.

The Cathar Way: The Sentier Cathare, Alan Mattingley -The Cathar Way - the Sentier Cathare - is a popular, well-waymarked trail which links several of the world-famous 'Cathar castles' of south-west France. A challenging, fascinating and rewarding route, it is not an arduous mountain trek. The trail runs for about 250 kilometres, from the Mediterranean coast, westward to the historic town of Foix. It can be walked in two weeks or less by anyone who is well-equipped and moderately fit. Good-quality accommodation is available at regular intervals along the entire length of the trail. The trail traverses the dramatic foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, a beautiful countryside which enjoys plenty of sunshine and which is rich in wildlife. The highlights of the Cathar Way are the 'castles in the sky' like Queribus, Peyrepertuse and Montsegur. These incredible medieval fortifications will forever be associated with the ill-fated Cathar 'heresy', which was brutally suppressed in the thirteenth century.

Pyrenees 2: French Central Pyrenees - the finest valley and mountain walks. Rother Guide - 50 walks in the French Central Pyrenees, from Arren to Seix. 50 maps at 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:75,000 scale. Translated by experienced British walkers from the German original.

Pyrenees and Andorra Rough Guide - The Pyrennes is one of Europe's most spectacular mountain regions with attractions and activities ranging from the magnificent Cathar castles in the eastern Pyrenees to the high-altitude lakes and hiking opportunities on offer throughout. The Rough Guide map will make exploring the region by car that much simpler with information on all the routes from the main roads to unsurfaced tracks. The map pinpoints the location of many attractions and places of interest, including spas, Romanesque churches, castles and outstanding natural features. As with all the maps in the Rough Guides series, this map is made of rip-proof, waterproof Polyart paper, durable enough to survive a trip spent in the car glove box or rucksack.

Rough Guide to the Pyrenees - The Rough Guide to the Pyrenees is the only guidebook available to the entire region, covering both the French and Spanish sides of this spectacular region, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. A full-colour section introduces the author's pick of the attractions, from relaxing in the picturesque spa towns to watching the Tour de France wind up the mountains. There are detailed listings of the best places to eat, drink and stay, from boutique hotels in Biarritz to the most remote mountain refuges. For the outdoor enthusiast there are exhaustive accounts of the walking and climbing routes available and information on the host of other activities available, including skiing, paragliding, rafting, cycling and horse riding. There is also expansive coverage of all the cultural highlights including the prehistoric cave art at Ariege and an accessible history of the region from prehistory to the current day.

Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees, Kev Reynolds - This guide provides an introduction to the Pyrenees. It offers suggestions for 170 walks, multi-day tours and moderate ascents of some of the principal summits of the Central or High Pyrenees, and includes the Pyrenean High Route - one of the most challenging mountain treks of all.

Through the French Pyrenees, The GR10 Trail, Paul Lucia - The 900km of footpath, lane and trackway which link the Atlantic coast with the Mediterranean have created one of the finest long-distance routes in France. GR10, the so-called Sentier des Pyrenees, is a walk of epic proportions, routed as it is along the north flank of a majical range of mountains. Unlike it's counterpart the GR11 on the Spanish side, the GR10 actively seeks out a number of villages lying snugly at the foot of the mountains.

The Way of St. James: France, Alison Raju - This is a walker's guide to the 740km Pilgrim Road from Le Puy-en-Velay in central France to the Pyrenees. It is the only original guide to this route in English. A companion volume by the same author, "The Way of St James" (Pyrenees-Santiago-Finisterre), continues the route through Spain from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostella (or Finisterre). As well as giving directions for walking the route the book also provides information on places to visit along the way, the history of the pilgrimage and the availability of practical facilities such as shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation. This guide contains an outline of the route along the Cele valley (53km) as one appendix and, unlike existing guides (in any language), a comprehensive listing of St. James and other pilgrim references along the way as another. There is a list of suggestions for further reading and a glossary of geographical and other useful terms. It also contains a series of sketch maps covering the entire route to aid the user in planning his or her journey.