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Top Ten French Hotels

For this Top Ten, who better to ask than our French colleague Stéphan Bosc, who has the enviable job of researching and organising new walking and cycling holidays in France? Stéphan has visited virtually every French hotel that we work with (as well as hundreds that did not pass the Inntravel test), so for a hotel to be nominated by him for the Top Ten, it must have a little je ne sais quoi.

Auberge des Ecureuils, Valcebollère. This hotel high in the sunny Mediterranean Pyrenees has featured in our skiing and walking programmes for over a decade now. What makes it such a special place is the attentiveness of hosts Etienne and Patricia Lafitte, for whom nothing is too much trouble. In winter, Etienne often accompanies guests on cross-country ski excursions, and in summer is happy to advise on the walking possibilities. He is also a chef of high calibre, the excellent cuisine here being the icing on the cake.

Hostellerie du Grand Duc, Gincla. Steeped in history and legend, the Corbières, land of the mysterious Cathars, has always held a special fascination, and this family-run hotel is a great base from which to explore. Silence reigns here, and once more you can expect to be treated to delicious regional cuisine. The hotel is the starting point for our Castles of the Cathars Walk.

Auberge de Reillanne, Reillanne. In Stéphan's words, this is a must on any visit to Provence, and as such features on our Provence Wander Walk. Converted from a fortified manor house just outside Reillanne, the hotel offers spacious, airy rooms and glorious tranquillity. The ever-smiling Madame Balmand extends a very warm and genuine welcome to guests and is always on hand to offer help or advice. Arriving after a pleasant walk across rolling hills, you will find the large garden beckons you to sit outside with a book in the Provençal sunshine.

Hostellerie le Castellas, Collias. As soon as you step through the door, you know you have come to a special place. The Aparis family offer professional yet warm service, and the hotel is the epitome of charm and elegance, the bedrooms having been individually designed by local artists, with great attention to detail throughout. The chef creates well-crafted dishes that are imaginative re-interpretations of regional dishes, and there is an excellent wine list to choose from. A much-praised stop on our To the Pont du Gard Walk.

Pont de l'Ouysse, Lacave. Set in the timeless Dordogne Valley, land of walnut trees, geese and ducks, this high-quality 3-star hotel is fully deserving of its Michelin star. To complement the outstanding restaurant, considered one of the best in the Dordogne, bedrooms are individually decorated, with lots of charm and personal touches. In warm weather nothing beats dining on the terrace, close to the stream, shaded by the plane tree. Without a doubt the best hotel on our Paths to Rocamadour Walk.

Les Vents Bleus, Donnazac. This chambres d'hôtes boasts four épis, the highest star rating that can be awarded to a French guesthouse, and deservedly so. It has been lovingly converted with great style, imagination and attention to detail from an 18th-century manor house. The house is set in attractive grounds that in turn are surrounded by vineyards, and the outdoor pool is a welcome sight if you are walking our From the Tarn to the Aveyron Walk in the summer months.

La Campagne Berne, Pierrerue. This is the second hotel from our Provence Wander Walk to feature on our list, but customer feedback is so enthusiastic about this intimate chambres d'hôtes that we could not omit it. We have worked with Eric and Bruno for years – they used to run a hotel in nearby Cereste – and it is their warmth, attentiveness and engaging nature that really makes the place.

Manoir du Sphinx, Perros-Guirec. There are several reasons why this hotel receives the best feedback of any of the hotels on our Granite Coast of Brittany Walk: the warm welcome, the delicious seafood and the location on a cliff-top with gardens leading down to the beach. The chandeliered restaurant makes the most of the hotel's privileged position – it is built out over the cliff, meaning you can enjoy beautiful views of the sun setting over the sea as you savour the locally renowned cuisine.

Hotel Argi Eder, Ainhoa. The setting, on the edge of one of the Basque Country's most idyllic villages, would be reason enough to include this hotel from our Pyrenees to Atlantic Walk in our Top Ten, but it is a fantastic hotel in its own right, with an excellent restaurant and several hectares of parkland that include an outdoor swimming pool.

Hotel des Voyageurs, Le Falgoux. Here in Cantal, in the Auvergne Volcanic Park, the emphasis is firmly on hospitality – you would be hard pressed to find a warmer welcome in the region than that extended by Monsieur Mourguy and his team. Just the ticket at the end of another long, rewarding day's walking on our Mountains of the Auvergne Walk.

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