Europe’s GR routes are increasingly popular with walkers, especially those looking or a multi-day holiday. Here we reveal 10 things to know about the GR routes.

1. The GR routes comprise a network of long-distance walking trails across Europe and are mainly found in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
2. There are more than 100 GR routes in Europe.
3. The GR routes are known as: Grande Randonnée in France, Grote Routepaden in Holland, Grande Rota (in Portugal), Gran Recorrido in Spain.
4. The trails are waymarked and recognised by a mark that includes a white stripe above a red stripe.
5. The markings mean different things.  "GR wrong way". 
6. The trails in France alone extend to around 60,000kms.
7. The GR network in France is maintained by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (the French Hiking Federation) and in Spain by the Spanish Mountain Sports Federation.
8. Many GR routes make up part of a longer European walking route, known as the E1, E2, E3 etc to E12, which cross several countries.
9. The GR20 traverses Corsica diagonally from north to south and is said to be the toughest of the GR routes and also one of the most beautiful mountain trails in Europe.
10. The GR10 Trail through the French Pyrenees is acclaimed as one the world’s great walks.

Five great GR routes for a walking holiday

The full GR10 is 900km and 49,000m of ascent and descent. For most walkers, this would take a couple of months to complete. If you only have seven days to spare for work, why not try the Macs Adventure seven-night GR10? You can choose one of the eight stages to walk over your trip, and if you have a fortnight away from the office you could double up two of the stages.

The GR20 cuts a tough route across the Mediterranean island of Corsica and the entire route is about 180km long. It takes most people about 15 days to walk it but it is possible to walk it as two parts, northern part, between Calenzana and Vizzavona, and the southern part, between Vizzavona and Conca. The rewards of this challenging walks are fabulous views, lifetime memories and meeting new people who have also decided to take on his epic GR trail. In Périgord in the department of Dordogne, you will find almost 1130km of GR trails. Among them, is the path of Saint Jacques de Compostela, or the

GR 36. It’s a beautiful walk and included as part of the Macs Adventure Dordogne: Sarlat and the Perigord Noir in Style holiday.

Another great walking holiday is to follow The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) long-distance trail. It circles the Mont Blanc Massif covering a distance of around 170km a total of 10km of ascent/descent. The route passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France. For a part of the way, between the summit of Brevent and the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, the route coincides with the GR5 as it makes its way from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

GR11 loops through France’s capital city of Paris as well as the départements of Val d'Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Essonne and Yvelines. Towns passed through include Chantilly, Senlis, Fontainebleau, Provins, Mantes-la-Jolie and Chevreuse. You can enjoy the best of both worlds visiting both urban and rural attractions on this fabulous and lesser-walked long-distance trail.   If you need any more information or any help for planning a GR adventure, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. 

This is an updated version of a blog post which was originally posted in 2015.