The canalised River Somme, which meanders gently through the countryside of Picardy in north-east France, takes its name from a Celtic word meaning ‘tranquillity’. We will discover just why this is so apt as we cruise silently along some 60km of the river aboard our eco-friendly, electrically powered barge. Midst the convivial conversation the only sounds to be heard will be the gently lapping water and the birdsong.

 For the full length of the waterway there is a well-maintained towpath offering the chance of a walk where the locks are more closely spaced.

 There will be two full day cruises in the course of our tour, with the rest of the time spent exploring our host city of Amiens and visiting some of the outstanding gardens of the region. These include the Jardin Moulin Ventin, with its operational watermill; the picturesque gardens of the painter André van Beek; the plus-beaux village of Gerberoy with its award-winning yew topiary garden and Maizicourt.