Our advice before setting off

Hiking is a leisure activity that combines physical activity, sport and discovery. It's an activity that's accessible to everyone, as long as it's prepared according to the participants' state of fitness and by establishing an itinerary and using the orientation aids at your disposal. Brive Tourisme has a few tips to help you get the most out of your hike.

How do you choose your hike?

It's important to choose a level of hiking that's suited to your wishes, your abilities and your current level of fitness.

Trekking levels vary from very easy to very difficult (relax to trek). If you are a beginner, choose a very easy, easy or medium tour.

Two men and a woman walk in the middle of nowhere with their bags on their backs

The gradient, distance and type of terrain are some of the factors that determine the level of a walk. You also need to be aware of the walking time: a circuit can be 12 km long but take 4 hours to complete, as there are a lot of changes in altitude.

If you're an occasional hiker, you'll be better off on a shorter tour of 8 to 12 km, with a maximum walking time of 4 hours and little change in altitude.

Finally, some of the tours can of course be done on your own (over several days).

What should you buy?

The bag, an essential accessory

Adapt the size of your rucksack to your chosen hike! Choose a small bag (around 10 litres) for walks, and opt for a large rucksack (35 litres) for day hikes to carry all the equipment you need. Remember to pack waterproof plastic bags to keep your belongings dry, as well as tissues and/or toilet paper and a plastic bag to collect all your rubbish. You can also slip a tube of sun cream into your bag when the weather is fine, to protect your skin from the sun.

Appropriate clothing and footwear

Dress practically! Choose clothes that are easy to remove. Tips: the 3-layer technique. A single layer when the weather is fine (T-shirt), a 2nd layer when it's not so fine (jumper or fleece) and finally a 3rd layer when it's raining or cold (cape, waterproof windbreaker). And choose good walking shoes. Depending on the terrain and the weather, prefer hiking boots to trainers, and definitely no flip-flops! If you wish, take hiking poles to rest your legs and exercise your upper body.

Food and drink

Let's start with the most important thing: water. Thermos flask, traditional water bottle or water bag: it doesn't matter which container you choose. You should set off with 1.5 litres or even 2 litres of water per person. On this point in particular, too much is better than too little! Pack a picnic lunch if you're going on a full-day walk! If not, don't forget a few cereal bars and/or dried fruit, to help you if you get the munchies. And a small bottle or flask of sweetened drink (water syrup, iced tea with sugar, etc) can also fulfil this role.

And as an extra...

Make your walking trip even more enjoyable and take with you: a camera (which you can pull out to capture the best views in the Brive area!), documentation to complement your IGN map (on the area, its terroir, the local fauna and flora, etc.), card games or other easily portable board games (to take a break during your walk or to digest peacefully after the picnic), binoculars... And for hygiene, a small bar of soap or disinfectant for your hands.

How do you prepare?

Watch out for the signs!

It's easy to get lost in town when there are signs everywhere; when you're hiking, it's the same, only worse! Knowing the signs and how to read them is the key to finding your way around and not getting lost. Before you set off, find out about the type and colour of signposting on your route (indicated on the guidebooks, route descriptions, etc.) so that you can follow the paths from start to finish.

Hiking

The long-distance footpaths (GR), long-distance footpaths (GRP) and short-distance footpaths (PR) are maintained by volunteer signposters from the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP). The FFRP signposting (circuits with the PDIPR label have this type of signposting, for example) is consistent throughout the region. However, a large number of walks have different types of signposting for each commune or area.

The main types of hiking signposting

GR trails: horizontal white and red lines. These are often linear paths - running from point A to point B.
GRP: yellow and red horizontal lines. These are loops.
PR: chemins de Petite Randonnée (or Promenade and Hiking trails) are usually marked with a yellow line. In some regions, a colour code is used depending on the length of the walk. These are routes lasting a maximum of one day.

For other types of path: markings can be varied, with a coloured geometric shape, a drawing, a signpost, etc.

Advice and best practice

Hiking is all very well, but respecting the environment is even better!

To ensure the long-term future of the routes and the agreement of the owners, it is essential to respect the rules of good conduct set out in the hiking charters of the federations:

Respect private property.
Stay on marked paths and tracks.
Respect the work of farmers.
Be careful with crops and livestock: close gates and fences behind you.
Be discreet and courteous with other users and local residents.
Share the space with other sporting activities.
Be careful during the hunting season: respect hunting zones and heed hunters' instructions.
Respect the rules of protected areas.
Discover the flora without trampling or picking it.
Leave no trace of your passage and collect your rubbish.
Keep your pets on a lead.
Do not make fires.
Respect the reception, signposting and marking equipment.

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