Inside knowledge

One of the great joys – and occasionally frustrations – of life afloat is that everything happens at a slower pace. This means that coastlines unfurl gradually before us; landfalls and landmarks unveil themselves in their own sweet time.

The same principle applies to taking the inland route through France to the Mediterranean; It takes about seven hours to traverse France by car or train and probably an hour by plane. Yet, take the leisurely overland route by boat and it can take over a month. If you fancy immersing yourself in a country and, as an added benefit, emerging on the pristine shores of the Mediterranean, this is the trip for you.

Can my boat do it?

If you have a yacht that is anything like normal, the answer is probably yes. You’ll obviously need to drop your mast but, if you take the main canals