Our philosophy
Life is busy. There’s no getting away from the fact that our day to day lives are impacted by advances in technology and the apparent progress as a result of those changes. Despite this, there is still room for appreciation of the simpler things in life. For us, this is exploring France. It’s so easy to book a package tour and jump on a plane, yet getting off the beaten track is a much more relaxed and pleasant way to experience the world around us. Our philosophy reflects this and our goal is to encourage, inspire and assist others to enjoy the same simple pleasures that we do.
Our Story
Every business has a beginning, this one started when I was five years old. Sounds crazy right? The truth is, I fell in love with wide open spaces and family holidays on Exmoor as a young girl. I’ve travelled extensively in my forty-five years but now I’m happy to say that I have a love affair with France.
I also love cars, something I inherited from my father, and being able to blend France, driving and writing is really a dream come true. The thing is, you don’t need to drive for miles to see the real France. As soon as your wheels touch French tarmac you’re treated to a slower pace of life and good roads.
There are many websites and travel companies who cater for the masses but that’s not what I’m about. This is really about pleasing a small number of people who share my passion, and helping them to enjoy it as best as I can.
Books, pictures and a desire to inspire are the key parts of the engine that got France Pure and Simple on the road. I hope you’re along for the ride!
Meet the Team
We’re here to inspire you and take you away with us, and well chosen words and pictures have the ability to do exactly this. We take great care in bringing you the real us and authentic France. It would be a pleasure to have you along for the ride.
Emma Herbert
Founder
Emma is an author with a passion for travelling by road… especially in France! She has lived in several countries but now resides in the UK with her daughter.
Her belief
is that time with family is precious and should be treasured and that sharing experiences while enjoying beautiful scenery, culture and food is a wondering way to do this.
Although the written word is her primary outlet, she also enjoys photography, art and, of course, driving.
Lola, Clancy and Bernie
The support crew
Lola is the back seat driver. Despite her young age she also has a keen sense of adventure and likes nothing better than being on the ferry. Her giant teddy bear, Bernie, is usually found sitting in the front seat of Clancy, the Peugeot 504 with 1 million KM on the clock.
The support team and Emma are all featured in Emma’s first book, Clancy Goes to France, which is an account of their charity road trip back in 2013 where they drove almost 3,000 miles around France.
Next Steps…
Take a look at our books and art. As well as our travel memoir we also have children’s books because after all, this is about bringing families together and sharing experiences!