The less you carry the further you can travel

I’m just back from a four day break in the south of lovely France - west of Montpellier, up in the hills, where the vines clamber happily over the stony slopes and the wild chicory flowers in profusion at this time of year, where ancient roads lead pilgrims to holy sites, and pop up restaurants spread their tables under oak trees, where evenings are lit by swinging lines of lights and laughing chatter of happy hungry patrons drinking wine grown in the fields around them and eating saucisson and duck confit grown and made in the village.

Now I believe strongly that the quick way to ruin a holiday is to take too much luggage. After all, in four days, how many outfits am I really likely to wear given that much of each day will I hope be spent shade bathing by the pool in a swimming costume? So what are my essentials for a trip like this? How little can I get away with?

And what didn’t I wear or use?