I am visiting the South of France at the end of the month and am seriously considering taking a trip on the train which runs from Nice to Digne.

Has anyone done this, and would they recommend going all the way or is it better to drop off at some of the villages/towns en route?

My plan is to park (free) at Lingostiere and catch the train there rather than at Nice; is this sensible or will this relatively small train be packed by then, so that we end up standing for three hours.

Any recommended dropping off points, or points of particular interest at Digne?

A further trip I am thinking about is to the lavender growing areas in Haute-Alpes.

Although it appears that the lavender harvest is mostly over by the end of August, is it still wothwhile driving up into the Valensole Plateau (or elsewhere) at the end of August and will we still see (or smell) any lavender.

Help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

>Although it appears that the lavender harvest is mostly over by the end of August<

Sorry to say, I believe it to be totally over, due to the recent hot and dry weather.

Chemins de Fer de Provence (sp?) aka Train des Peignes et aka Ligne Digne is a delightful excursion into the hinterlands of the Alpes Maritimes and a sleepy old fashioned Provence the likes of which doesn't exist on the Cote d'Azur. It largely follows the gushing Var River valley.
I've taken this tiny train several times - once all the way to Digne but for most folks going about half way to Annot or Entrevaux, two very sleepy towns exuding the quintessential Provencal look - cypress trees shading the streets and a languid feeling at least in summer.
there are numerous hikes to take from and between stations and the CFP station in Nice, just north of the Nice-Ville SNCF station has pamplets about these.
Digne itself is a spa or sorts - a more modern town with thermal establishments and quite pleasant. But for most the at times washboard-rough train ride, at least it was everytime i took it and diesel fumes were wafting in the windows, makes this a bit too much for many for the whole three hours each way and back to/from Digne.
Yet though washboard rough, unless tracks have been improved, this is an unforgettable ride that you won't be able to shake from your mind for a long time.
I doubt the train would be full except possibly on weekends when it makes a popular getaway from Nice for hikers. In my experience this is a truly local railway with folks getting on and off at stations - unlikely you'd have to stand. That said there is parking i believe at the CFP's Nice station as well.
for another and more smooth roll by rail into Provence's backwaters try the Nice-Sospel-Cuneo mainline train trip - Sospel is a another backwater regional town - often has a thriving market and there is a fort or some fortifications to gaze at.
there are no reservations possible i believe on the Ligne Digne. Trains are few-car diesel railcars - very quaint.

Chemin de Fer de Provence - [ Translate this page ]Découvrez la Provence et la Côte d’Azur par les chemins de fer avec le petit train touristique des Pignes. Une ballade à travers les Alpes maritimes et de ...
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Informations pratiques Pour bien voyager avec les Chemins de Fer ... - [ Translate this page ]Les Chemins de Fer de Provence assurent quatre fois par jour, aller-retour, ... Les trains des Chemins de Fer de Provence ne sont pas équipés pour les ...
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Chemins de Fer de Provence (CP) - Page 1: Rolling StockThis page is one of a series devoted to postcards and photographs of the Chemins de Fer de Provence (CP), which now runs between Nice and Digne. ...
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I can't get these sights to work on my PC but maybe you can.

Thanks for the advice from those who replied.
I did have misgivings about travelling the full journey and I think this might be too long to spend cooped up.

Sorry to hear about the lavender harvest, but again you have confirmed fears that we might be too late.

Stellarossa: whaddu u think?

Anyone visiting the French Riviera who wants to get into the backwaters of Provence and see something way different from the highly developed Riviera coastline should consider taking this great train ride, rough as it may be.
And as the tracks were partially washed out a few years ago hopefully they have been rebuilt for a smoother ride - and hopefully something has been done about those diesel fumes that wafted in the open windows.