Daytrips: A narrow gauge journey through Provence

The 160-kilometre journey from Digne-les- Bains to Nice takes about 4 hours, winding through  pine forests, beautiful valleys and many tiny villages of Alpes de Haute Provence and the Var. The train hugs the  banks of the Verdon and Var rivers,  and passes through mountain tunnels motors along. The  train runs four times daily along its own narrow guage track and stops at  more than a dozen villages. Digne is an hour's drive from the house. See www.trainprovence.com

ENTREVAUX: Smoke rises from the terraced olive trees on the edge of the ancient walled village as a farmer burns debris after the harvest .