The guide itself, as with others in the Whitewater series, is inspirational with anecdotes and sketches scattered here and there to whet your appetite, you can't help but being enthused by the time you get off the ferry.

The usual guide book preamble is actually worth reading with good advice on canoe hire and safety. The guide then describes in great detail ten rivers in the Massif central region, breaking each into several sections all with their own map and river description. The attention to detail in the river descriptions is very reassuring especially when paddling with little ones and for all of the rivers we paddled (Tarn, Allier, Ardeche and the Lot) we found the guide to be wholly accurate not only in the technical description but also in what to expect of the scenery.

The guide was not just a guide to the rivers, we also followed advice on the nicer towns or villages to stay in, preferable campsites and restaurants and most useful of all details of hire companies as we did not take our own canoe. For us the book was well thumbed by the end of our 3 week trip and had made the whole experience very slick.

The only couple of things I would reiterate (and these are mentioned in the guide) is that some hire companies do not operate fully until high season and will usually have restrictions as to the minimum age of children they allow.

All in all another winner.


Another top quality guidebook from Pete Knowles   June 13, 2002
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

As the dodgy title suggests, this book is a departure from his previous guides. It's targetted at family touring on easy water. 'Fluffy' turns out to be a stuffed toy duck. There are even photos of (the horror, the horror...) small children on rivers. Anyone who has used one of Pete's guides before will only need to know that the book is up to the previous high standards; clearly explained and mapped guides, backed up by great photos and drawings. The region described looks siimply gorgeous. Those who, like myself, assumed that Southern France starts and finishes with the Ardeche River will be amazed to find descriptions of about 45 sections making up over 800 km of grade 1-3 paddling. There is plenty of useful logistical info on getting there, food and drink, climate etc. It's some years now since Pete produced 'White Water Nepal' and inspired loads of paddlers (like me) to get themselves out onto the amazing big water rivers there. It's no mean feat that Pete has somehow achieved the same effect for the Massif Central.

Mark Rainsley