A GR without a car: getting to the start by train or coach

Why leave the car at home

Most GR trails are linear routes: the start and the finish are several days' walk apart. Coming by car then means going back to fetch it, often at the cost of a long journey at the end of the hike. The train and the coach solve this problem: you set off from one station and return from another.

There is an environmental argument too. FFRandonnée points out that transport often accounts for the largest share of a hike's carbon footprint, and that a petrol or diesel car emits nearly 200 g of CO2 per kilometre: even shared between four people, it still emits several times more than a train journey.

Planning your journeys step by step

1. Locate the railway stations and coach stops closest to the start and the finish. The topoguide usually gives the access points; FFRandonnée's Topocartes list the transport for each stage. A 1:100,000 map also helps you place stations and roads.
2. Check the timetables for the exact date of your trip, both outward and return. On minor lines, services may be limited to a few a day, or even none on certain days.
3. Plan the last mile: between the station and the start of the trail, you sometimes need to take a coach or a shuttle, or walk for a while.
4. Keep some slack on the last day: a stage that takes longer than planned must not make you miss the last coach.

The train: main lines and TER

Main-line trains get you to a region quickly, then TER (regional express) trains take over to the stations in the valleys and small towns. A few practical points, according to SNCF Connect's help pages:

• TER tickets for many regions can be bought online on SNCF Connect, including Brittany, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Grand Est;
• a TER ticket is valid on all TER trains and coaches for the chosen date and journey;
• it can be refunded up to the day before departure through the channel where it was bought, subject to the restrictions of the fare chosen;
• regional discount cards let you buy TER tickets at reduced prices;
• traffic updates and timetables can be found on each region's TER website, in the timetables and traffic tab (“Horaires et Trafic”).

The regions also run occasional promotional offers. In Occitanie, for example, the region organised several weekends of liO Train tickets at €1 in 2026: keep an eye out for this kind of offer on the regional websites.

Regional coaches

Where the train does not go, regional coaches serve many villages. Some lines are TER coaches, which you can use with a TER ticket; others belong to regional networks, such as liO in Occitanie, which brings trains and coaches together. Timetables on these lines may vary with the season: check that the line runs on your dates, especially outside school holidays.

In the mountains, summer shuttles sometimes link stations to villages and trailheads. These seasonal shuttles only run at certain times: ask the local tourist office.

Tools for finding an accessible hike

Several tools make it easier to search for routes you can reach without a car. FFRandonnée mentions several of them:

• POW Mobility, which searches for mountain routes accessible by public transport;
• ItinéVert, developed within the Camptocamp platform, which highlights alternatives to the private car;
• Escapade Nature sans voiture, which brings together ideas for hikes and trips accessible by train, bus or bike;
• Mountain Wilderness's “Changer d'approche” programme, devoted to outings using low-carbon transport.

Some regions also publish their own selections. In Occitanie, FFRandonnée's regional committee and SNCF Occitanie offer 24 day hikes accessible by liO Train or coach, presented as route sheets. They do not replace a GR, but they show the extent of the network.

Tips for a GR without a car

• Choose your walking direction according to the transport: it is better to finish where connections are most frequent, so you do not depend on a single coach at the end of the route.
• Book your return in advance if possible, but choose an exchangeable or refundable fare: a day's delay happens easily on a multi-day hike.
• Split the route into sections between two well-served points if you are walking the GR over several trips.
• Keep useful numbers to hand: local taxis, the tourist office and hosts, who often know the transport options in the area.
• Lighten your pack: walking from the station to the trail with a heavy pack adds fatigue before you have even started.

Finally, check the traffic information the day before you leave and that morning: engineering works and disruptions can affect a connection.