We had one of those real downshifting days yesterday, when I realised that all the fun we had was for free. OK, I lie – there was some diesel involved – but so there must be if you’re going to go anywhere.

We headed for a gorge in a local forest. The forest we’ve visited thousands of times but the gorge is new to us. A hundred times we must have driven right by it without knowing it was there.

And what a discovery. We slithered down the slope practically on our backsides and found a path along a river, then wandered along it for half an hour or so, under trees and over rivulets until we came to an old chapel. Here there were picnic benches (God bless the French…), and since it was by now lunchtime we unpacked our sandwiches, washed our hands in bottled water and set to with gusto.

In the old days, we’d probably have eaten at a restaurant, where you can drop 40 euros without looking. But doing it this old-fashioned way was still excellent – tuna mexicana in one sandwich, peanut butter and jelly in another and my home-made lavender and thyme biscuits to follow.

A bit of a rest, then back along the way we came, taking the longer, shallower route up the hillside and back to the car. Then we drove round to the other side of the forest and took a different track back to the chapel.

This time we found a wide cycle route through a pine forest heady with essential oils, underplanted with wild solidago. We snacked on wild bilberries as we went, while the dog nearly struck lucky with a partridge (it got away). All around us there was nothing but the sound of water and birds and the heady almond scent of meadowsweet.

Then, quite tired, after a total of three hours or so walking we headed home to re-runs of Morse and a ratatouille I’d put in the slow cooker (another item that is unbelievably useful).

It was only later that it dawned on me that we hadn’t spend a cent. I’d taken my purse with me and it had been nothing but ballast. The food was stuff we already had in and we hadn’t even stopped for a beer at a local cafe as we used to do.

I admit to a faint twinge of longing as we passed the Manoir de Lys restaurant on the way back, but quickly shook myself out of it by remembering that not even when we had money did we ever eat there and besides, we were hardly dressed for it in our walking shoes and back-packs.

It just goes to show that we have got into the habit of not spending anything when we go out, and that the day is just as enjoyable as it ever was.

And instead of the point of going out being to visit, say, a local restaurant, it is now to get to a beauty spot and walk our legs off, so the bonus is that we feel fitter too.