Byway : flight-free holidays to Hauts-de-France

French and Italian Riviera

Slow travel company Byway has partnered with Hauts-de-France Tourism to extend their multi-stop customisable Europe by rail offering to help travellers explore off-the-beaten-path France. 

The initiative is geared to helping the regeneration of tourism to the area,.

This lesser-known area of France offers an authentic French experience and a taste of the unique French ‘art-de-vivre’ with historic towns and many miles of trails to be explored by foot or bike.

Potential trips to Hauts de France include:

The Opal Coast by bike 

The region's most stunning landscapes can be explored by by bike, including the dunebacked beaches of Le Touquet on the Opal Coast, the 440-hectare Marais Audomarois wetlands and the watery landscape of Amiens. 

Hauts-de-France 

Hauts-de-France offers the chance to explore the fortified hilltop town of Cassel, along with Lille and Bergues. 

WWI history 

The chance to visit sites of WWI activity from the Clairière de L’Armistice to the Chemin des Dames ridge, a 40km route and memorial site for the three battles that took place there in WWI. 

An arty weekend 

Taking in the street art in Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Saint-Omer's, two of France's official towns of Art and History. 

Castles and châteaux 

Taking in the castles, châteaux and palaces of Compiègne and Chantilly, two towns surrounded by forested countryside. 

Byway, the flight-free holiday platform, offers hyper-personal holidays that take holidaymakers away from the crowds by train, bus and boat. 

Trips are currently available across Europe, with bookings including customised transport, accommodation and experiences, on-demand expert advice and a low carbon footprint.

www.byway.travel/hautsdefrance and www.hautsdefrancetourism.com 

Kate Faulkner at katefaulkner@kfcomms.com