As October deepens and the countryside turns to shades of orange, the arrival of the Toussaint school holidays offers a welcome chance to get some fresh air. Walking among trees, foraging for mushrooms, and simply being outdoors are all activities with well-documented benefits for health and wellbeing.
To celebrate a season that has never been more popular on social media, we have selected six destinations across France that are easily accessible by public transport. No car keys required — just remember to validate your ticket.
Mushroom Foraging Near Paris
In the Yvelines department west of the capital, the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers a major advantage for walkers travelling by train: it is served by the RER A line, with the Achères-Grand Cormier station sitting in the middle of oaks and hornbeams. As a bonus, the area is well suited to mushroom picking.
“The best spots are found to the east of the Croix de Noailles, near the Étoile des Amazones,” notes the Yvelines departmental tourism committee. For those with a half-day to spare, several hiking routes lead through the forest to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye RER station.
A Stroll Through Beaujolais, Minutes From Lyon
With the grape harvest over, the vineyards are turning gold. A short TER regional train ride from Lyon brings visitors to several day hikes mapped out by the Beaujolais tourist office around the Chazay-Marcilly station. The routes explore both the vineyards and the “golden stones” — limestone extracted in the region until the First World War and used to build local houses.
Our favourite: a four-hour-and-twenty-minute loop around Chazay-d’Azergues, winding between vines and hamlets. Note that drastic cuts to rail services between Lyon and Moulins mean stations north of Lozanne are unfortunately difficult to reach by train for a day trip.
A Nature Reserve on the Banks of the Rhine
On the doorstep of Strasbourg, the Robertsau-La Wantzenau nature reserve stretches along the Rhine and has one enormous advantage: it is accessible by bus. Take line 72 to the Fuchs am Buckel stop, the starting point for two trails. Another begins slightly further on, at the Unterjaegerhof stop. In the meadows, visitors may spot a herd of Highland cattle responsible for maintaining the site.
A Green Lung Minutes From Toulouse
Covering nearly 3,000 hectares, the Forest of Bouconne is a green lung west of Toulouse. It is said to be good for mushroom picking — weather permitting, and provided other foragers have not beaten you to the prized ceps. On foot, the Brax-Léguevin station is about a 20-minute walk from the edge of the forest. Bringing a bicycle can make it easier to reach the walking trails. Before planning a visit, check the hunting calendar.
Rambouillet, From Paris or the Loire
Famous for the deer rut that can be heard in its undergrowth in early autumn, the Forest of Rambouillet is reachable by train from Paris as well as from Chartres and Le Mans. But Rambouillet station is not the only gateway to the forest: walks are also accessible from Le Perray-en-Yvelines (Transilien line N) and Gazeran (TER Centre-Val-de-Loire), according to the Rambouillet territories tourist office.
Mountain Trails by TER From Grenoble
There is no shortage of routes around Grenoble, but here is our favourite: a loop of just over four hours around Mont Aiguille, starting from the Clelles-Mens station. This mid-mountain itinerary alternates between meadows and forests, with majestic views of the geological landmark.
Be warned, however: the TER line between Gap and Grenoble is closed for maintenance work until 6 November. Tickets for replacement buses can be booked through the usual channels.
