PeterHorrocks

Hi jtpj777

Its not my walking website I just contribute (free) for the Alpes Maritimes page as I've found the walking so amazing in the area and wanted to bring it to peoples attention. The website owner is a friend of mine Jonathan Smith he is a real walking expert and offers guiding and training services. Do consult him for the Lakes and Dales (I lived there for ten years and did plenty there), he's done all the Munroes in Scotland too.

If ever you would like any pointers for walks in this area just let me know. I try and add any worthy ones to Jon's site whenever I do them and have a moment to write them up.

Best

Peter

jtpj777

Thanks, Peter.

Will certainly try some of the listed walks this winter.

Regards

Jack

kerouac

What I find miserable on the Côte d'Azur in the winter is the ambience. The place is designed for sunny warm weather and most of the locals are miserable when there is a cold wind or a few days of rain, and they love to complain about it. As for the tourists, they are few and far between outside of the warm months, so lots of the restaurants are closed or more than half empty. I find it depressing, but some people might like it.

kerouac

Here is an article about the weather in February 2015: http://tinyurl.com/pjqvovd

PeterHorrocks

Hi kerouac

I don't agree. Many of the locals take off to places in the mountains in the summer to get away from the masses. In winter they look forward to skiing, walking, biking etc and not being stuck in traffic or wilting in the heat. Plenty of smiling faces round our way in winter and people have a bit of time for you.

Yes there are places which "close down" like St Tropez most days, but plenty which don't especially Nice, Cannes and Monaco.

Best

Peter

jtpj777

Kerouac,,

Can't agree with you regarding the Cote D'Azur in winter.

The Cote D'Azur was originally a winter sun resort and, although you could be unlucky with the weather, the chances are that you will have some mild, sunny days to walk and have lunch.

I agree, the French often speak about the weather and those in the South are quite intolerant of weather that those of us from colder climes may find perfectly fine (I live in the north of Scotland, so know what I'm talking about!).

As far as things closing down and miserable faces? Think you have been visiting the wrong places: most places on the coast stay open and, in my experience, there are no more miserable faces than anywhere else (surely less than in Paris?!).

The number of tourists in the area in winter is undoubtedly fewer than in summer (a bonus for most); however, I wouldn't say they were, "few and far between".

PS Is your link to the weather item meant to suggest that this is representative of the Cote D'Azur's weather in winter? I would suggest that it was newsworthy for exactly the opposite of that?!

pariswat

I quite agree with Kerouac's comments if you read the whole sentence.

The loclas are miserable WHEN there are a few days of ...

Nice, Cannes and Monaco are indeed always alive, but many of the small towns are not.

Go to La Garde Frenet in winter : I found only ONE shop open, the pharmacy, with the owner upset that the town wad dead but he had to stay (rules for pharmacies apparently...).
Go to St Trop : I found 2-3 restaurants open during Xmas.
Go to Le Plan de la Tour : everything shut down.
Go to Cavalaire when there has been 3 days of mistral and some rain : half the shops closed, 2/3rd of the restaurants and the rest complaining about weather and lack of tourists. Go to le Rayol Canadel, everything closed (except the beautiful gardens).

Bigger towns are a little bit more attractive, like St Raf... and ?

taconictraveler

Thanks for more, all of you. While I would like walking quite a lot, my DH is no longer thrilled at that prospect. I'd have to join a walking club, but could also enjoy walking along the Promenade Anglais, or other areas of Nice, which is the town I remember the most.