How I found the secret of French women’s perfect legs
Every summer, CLOVER STROUD hid her pins — until she went to the UK clinic of France’s top ‘leg doctor’ . . . with miraculous results
The look on the doctor’s face says it all. ‘Five?’ he repeats, in a French accent as strong as ripe brie. ‘You ’ave five children?’ he looks slightly alarmed, shaking his head and almost whistles under his breath.
Then he looks me up and down again, reappraising the challenge in front of him, as if I’m a breeding mare. I feel almost apologetic. Five children is greedy by any standards and greed in any context doesn’t go down well in Dr Jean-Marc Chardonneau’s home town of Paris.
I’m certainly not going to tell him I breast-fed each of those five children for a year, since prevailing French opinion is that a woman’s breasts are the property of her husband, not her children.
Anyway, Dr Chardonneau is not here to give a view on my breasts, but instead to cast his expert eyes over my legs. In Paris,
where he usually practises, he is known as The Leg Doctor, the best-kept secret of French women who see their lower limbs as an asset to be beautified and cared for, just as much as their face or figure.
Smooth, vein-free, shapely legs are a passport to looking younger and sexier, as anyone who has watched Brigitte Macron, 65, working the steps outside the Elysee in one of her trademark minis alongside her husband, who is 25 years her junior, will attest. And, according to France’s biggest market research company, TNS Sofres, 89 per cent of French women think their legs are key to looking good.
This attitude to beauty, like many other aspects of French life, is at odds with British women’s rather more slapdash approach to physical care. Just as French women don’t get fat, and their children don’t reject healthy food with a sneer, it might also be true to say that French women don’t have varicose veins, sun spots or ‘cankles’.
As an expert on leg health, Dr Chardonneau is a key player in a Parisian’s pursuit of perfect pins, but now he’s brought some of this magic to London. Usually practising in Paris, he spends a day a month as part of the ‘French Collective’, a sort of cabal of French experts formed by renowned aesthetic surgeon Dr Bernard Hayot, who opened the discreet London clinic Epilium & Skin late last year. In France, Dr Hayot is a master of
l’embellissement, the idea of discreet, usually non-surgical, facial work that leaves patients looking well-rested and fresher, rather than a bad imitation of their younger selves.
A specialist in oculoplasty, or eye surgery, and a pioneer in the world of fat transfer, Dr Hayot has three clinics in Paris, but has gathered a team of world-renowned French aesthetic surgeons and practitioners, specialising in everything from breast augmentation, facial rejuvenation and body-sculpting to eye surgery, hair transplants and leg care, to practise at his London clinic.
Dr Chardonneau offers a bespoke service to clients, some of whom will pay as much as £15,000 to achieve perfectly proportioned, blemish-free legs.
He can slim cankles, banish stretch marks and sun spots and destroy cellulite, and the range of treatments he offers is impressive.
FOr £800, he can do cryolipolysis on fat knees, ankles and thighs, freezing fat cells which the body then re-absorbs and expels; and for £450, he will do a radio frequency treatment, stimulating collagen production to firm skin.
Then there are chemical peels, which start at £80, to fade blemishes and sun spots, and he has pioneered certain treatments around the removal of veins. Sclerotherapy is used on varicose veins, involving injecting solution into the vein to dull and then remove the blood.
At £700, it’s not cheap, but it only takes 20 minutes, so theoretically could be carried out during a lunch break.
And those pesky little spider veins that can spread to the outer thighs and backs of legs can be treated with a Veinwave for £350, which heats and closes the vein, so destroying it, and microsclerotherapy, costing £220 per session, an injection into a vein, so that it shrivels and then vanishes.
Even simple hair removal can be treated with a laser, though at £200 for the upper legs, it is considerably costlier than a disposable razor.
Unsurprisingly, Dr Chardonneau has a global reputation when it comes to legs and, since he’s more accustomed to examining French women, who see legs as an all-year asset, not just something reluctantly revealed for three months in the middle of summer, it’s hardly surprising that I’m feeling slightly nervous about my leg reveal.
He does, however, have a reassuring and relaxed bedside manner so, when he smiles and says, with the faintest sparkle: ‘OK, now you undress yourself, lie on this bed and I look at your legs,’ I’m more than happy to oblige.
I don’t think my husband has anything to worry about, but being instructed to undress and hop onto a bed by a French man is definitely an interesting way to start the working day.
Leg maintenance, however, comes fairly low on my list of priorities for summer, somewhere below hastily renewing the children’s passports in time for that foreign holiday and cleaning out the paddling pool. Getting my legs out can be painful: it’s probably one of the chores I like least, along with bikini shopping and full-scale body depilation.
This is where I fundamentally differ from most French women, for whom slathering their thighs in expensive anti-cellulite cream
DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK is a superb option for a day out in the Lothians. There’s a host of outdoor activities on offer, including ranger-led events and bushcraft sessions. The biggest draw for families, however, is Fort Douglas adventure park. Explore magical turreted treehouses, secret tunnels, zip wires, suspension bridges and more – perfect for your young knight or princess.
You’ll find ALMONDELL &
CALDERWOOD COUNTRY PARK near Broxburn in West Lothian. The family can enjoy wonderful woodland and riverside walks, a picnic area, welcoming visitor centre and kids’ play area. The park is a haven for roe deer, foxes, heron, otters and woodpeckers. The Countryside Ranger Service also runs a programme of public events.
West Lothian’s other two country parks – BEECRAIGS COUNTRY PARK at Linlithgow and POLKEMMET
COUNTRY PARK near Whitburn – are close by.
Beecraigs is a fantastic place for the family. Make friends with the red deer, Highland cattle and Belted Galloways. Saunter along miles of woodland trails or climb to the top of modest Cockleroy Hill for fantastic views over the River Forth. Go fly-fishing on Beecraigs Loch or relax in the Hideaway Café in the visitor centre. You can even caravan or camp here, or stay in one of its Little Lodges. Scottish Thistle Awards winners
FOXLAKE ADVENTURES in Dunbar is Scotland’s first cable wakeboarding park and the only UK location with an awesome (FoxFall) ropes course over water. It has also opened a brand new zip trail, there are ‘ringo rides’ and off-road Segways to enjoy or you can simply chill at the Boardside Café. This is the ideal spot for some family adventures for those aged six years and above.
STIRLING, FALKIRK, TROSSACHS
EnjoY a magical day out at Balfron Station in Stirlingshire with the WOODLAND FAIRY EXPERIENCE. Look out for supernatural nymphs around the fairy trail and on the woodland walk – how many fairy doors will you find and knock on? This is an enchanting day out for all the family.
A day out at THE HELIX PARK is a must if you’re in the Falkirk area. You’ll be awe-struck by the enormous Kelpies sculptures overlooking the Union Canal and there are lots of walking and
cycling trails including the lovely HArTT route. But it’s the fantastic adventure zone and splash play that kids will really enjoy. Take a spare change of clothes!
The BO’NESS & KINNEIL STEAM
RAILWAY near Linlithgow offers a fabulous family day out. The modest ticket price permits several trips on steam and diesel trains that run from Bo’ness to a small platform at Manuel several miles away. There’s a zero gauge model railway to captivate the kids and the nearby SCOTTISH RAILWAY
MUSEUM contains many restored engines and carriages and information about the history of Scotland’s railways. Thomas & Friends trips also run occasionally, though pre-book, as they’re popular.
AYRSHIRE & ARRAN
HISToRIC DUMFRIES HOUSE in Cumnock, Ayrshire, is one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes, renowned for its architecture, furniture and collections. Perhaps less well known is the brilliant adventure playground. Situated next to the café, the kids can happily run, climb and slide while mum and dad relax with a coffee. Colourful 13th century KELBURN
CASTLE is one of Ayrshire’s quirkiest attractions. Resplendent in its eye-catching graffiti exterior, which will enthral the kids before they even get out of the car, they’ll also love the indoor and outdoor play areas and pets corner.
There’s also a secret forest with ‘magical trails’ and features including a crocodile pool, the maze of the green man, a castle with no entrance and 100 other surprises.
A wildlife and sightseeing tour in the Firth of Clyde and off Arran with OCEAN BREEZE RIB TOURS is a must for families with older kids.
Learn about the history and geology of this lovely part of the world and see some of Scotland’s amazing maritime wildlife such as seals, seabirds and sometimes even dolphins and basking sharks up close. Tours normally begin and end from Lamlash Pier on Arran.
FIFE
FoR family fun in Fife, look no further than LOCHORE MEADOWS. The visitor centre contains a café, toilets and information about the country park and there is a children’s playground adjacent.
There’s fishing, kayaking, sailing and open-water swimming available on Loch ore and a number of walking and cycling routes crisscross the 1,200-acre grounds. There is also mountain biking available on blue and red-graded trails at the WHITEWOOD BIKE PARK and you can test your skills on the nine-hole golf course.
With its resident peacocks, the Peacock Rooms Café, three kids’ play areas, beautifully maintained gardens and four lovely themed walks, PITTENCRIEFF PARK in Dunfermline is one of Scotland’s most popular urban outdoor spaces. Spend some time investigating the ‘Magic of the Glen’ in
PITTENCRIEFF HOUSE MUSEUM and the kids can hunt for Calum the cartoon cockroach.
just two miles from St Andrews lies CRAIGTOUN PARK, a family favourite for more than 50 years. Free attractions include an adventure play area, zip lines, trampolines and the fairy glen and tickets can be purchased for the Rio Grande Railway, Puffin’ Billy tractor rides, rowing on the boating lake, putting and much more. There’s a café and it’s free to park and enter the park itself.
Pack the car with the kids and a picnic and head for CLUNY
ACTIVITIES, by Kirkcaldy, for a great family day out.
There’s a great adventure park here, kids clubs and putters are available for the driving range and putting green and the whole family can have a go at foot golf – a new hybrid sport that combines football and golf.
If you don’t want to bring a picnic, eat in the clubhouse restaurant and coffee shop which offers breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
Discover a massive sand dune system, one of Scotland’s most dynamic coastlines, a pine-scented forest and wonderful wildlife – including seals – at TENTSMUIR. It’s an ideal place for walking and off-road cycling. Collect seashells and look out for red squirrels and dragonflies. Families will love the TENTSMUIR
TIME LINE TRAIL – download the trail leaflet and find the ten sculptures along it. Each one depicts a time period, from the first people arriving 9,000 years ago to a tsunami strike and evidence of shifting sands.
Popular with novice and experienced putters from ages three to 93, putting on the THE HIMALAYAS – THE ST ANDREWS LADIES’ PUTTING CLUB is great fun for all the family. Sandwiched between the old Course and West Sands, there’s a nine-hole course for younger putters and an 18-hole course for older kids and adults. Equipment hire is included in the modest green fees. The NATIONAL WATERSKI & WAKEBOARD CENTRE in Town Hill Country Park, near Dunfermline, is the ideal place for older kids, from age eight years and up, who like to play about in the water. Learn to waterski and wakeboard, or if you’re looking for a short, exhilarating way to get your water-
sports thrills, try their inflatable ‘ringo rides’.
The watery theme continues with ELIE WATERSPORTS on the Fife coast. It offers a great range of watersports including standup paddleboarding, sailing and windsurfing, to boat trips, fun on pedalos and even mountain biking (kids’ hire bikes and towalong buggies available) around beautiful East Neuk scenery. EAST NEUK OUTDOORS in Cellardyke also offers a fine range of watersports, including kayaking, sea kayaking and open canoeing. They provide great experiences on land, too. Test your skills with an archery session, try bouldering on the new outdoors wall (from ages five and above) or have a family firemaking and bushcraft session.
PERTHSHIRE
BLAIR CASTLE ESTATES is a vast area spread across Highland Perthshire and possibly the best way to appreciate the sheer size and scale of these hills is to join one of the Highland Pony Trekking experiences, for kids over 12 and adults. Treks are available until July 28 and closed Sundays and Mondays.
Is there a wee one in your family who loves the challenge of the fairways and the greens?
PERTHSHIRE FAMILY GOLF is developing this region as the world’s most family-friendly golf destination, where family green fee tickets are on offer and all junior golfers under 18 have free golf when playing with a paying adult. V is itwww. golf perth shire. co.uk/family-golf.php.
COMRIE CROFT in scenic west Perthshire is the perfect place for a family break. There are several mountain biking trails on the hill behind the croft which are ideal for all the family and there’s a small tearoom on site, serving delicious cakes and refreshments. You can also stay here in the bunkhouse, in one of the woodland yurts or in the bed and breakfast.
Scotland’s newest outdoor adventure centre ACTION GLEN, part of Crieff Hydro, offers all sorts of adventures for families in west Perthshire. The kids will have a blast on the mini quads, while the quad pods for younger children mean they won’t miss out on the fun. There are zip lines for those aged six and over and a tree adventure course for ages seven and above. Or test your skills on the Falkirk Wheel and Nessie obstacles on the nine-hole crazy golf course. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to have a great day out.
ABERDEENSHIRE
A FAMIlY visit to Aberdeenshire isn’t complete without a trip to STONEHAVEN OUTDOOR
OPEN AIR POOL. This is arguably the best place on the north-east coast for a fun and safe summer swim with the kids. The Olympic-sized seawater pool is heated to a pleasant 29C and there are fun sessions for the kids and a paddling pool for under-eights. They even have midnight swimming events, where you can swim beneath the stars. There is an on-site café and lots of free parking.
TRANSITION EXTREME near Aberdeen’s Esplanade is the ideal indoor escape for kids who love adrenaline adventures such as inline-skating, skateboarding, BMXing and climbing. TX, as it’s known locally, also offers lots of sessions and classes for kids who are just beginning to enjoy these activities.
Skiing and snowboarding in Scotland doesn’t stop when the snow disappears. Aberdeenshire has some fantastic artificial slopes, with all the associated facilities, at Aberdeen and Alford. If cross-country or Nordic skiing is more your preference, then Aberdeenshire also delivers in the shape of HUNTLY
NORDIC CENTRE – try some roller skiing on their dedicated 1,300ft tarmac track – you’ll also find a great artificial slope here to practise your downhill skills.
ANGUS
SET in lovely woodland and parkland and developed around the Monikie Reservoirs, MONIKIE
COUNTRY PARK near Dundee is a great place for a family day out. There’s a fine range of watersports on offer including sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding and windsurfing, or if you prefer terra firma, try the adventure play park, 525ft zip line, climbing wall or mountain biking and walking trails.
The Ranger Service offers a number of ranger-led activities. Café Byzantium is also on site serving drinks, snacks and food. The kids won’t want to leave
NEVERLAND PARK in Kirriemuir, where they can pretend to be Peter Pan (or Captain Hook!) and play out their adventures on the pirate ship, on the big crocodile (can you hear any ticking?) or on the zip lines and other play park features.
The views from Kirriemuir Hill over the Angus countryside are outstanding and you can also continue your Peter Pan adventures in the village at J M Barrie’s birthplace.
All aboard for a fabulous day out at the CALEDONIAN RAILWAY, Brechin’s historic branch line. Renovated steam and diesel trains run at this popular attraction from Brechin to Bridge of Dun with the return journey taking around one hour.
The kids will love the sights and sounds of the trains and the surrounding area and the railway has Thomas & Friends days planned for July 21 and 22 and August 25 and 26. Continuing the railway theme,
KERR’S MINIATURE RAILWAY has been operating in Arbroath’s West links Park, right next to the main Dundee-Aberdeen railway line, since 1935 and is Scotland’s oldest miniature railway. The railway features seven miniature locomotives, miniature buses and a fire engine and the trains run for a quarter of a mile along the seafront, so there’s plenty to keep the kids (and adults) entertained. Trains run each weekend during term time and weekends and through the week during school holidays.
DUNDEE
DuNDEE is a city of many discoveries and one of these is the new FOXLAKE ADVENTURE site at City Quay in the town centre. like its Dunbar site, Foxlake offers cable-powered wakeboarding from ages six and above, ‘ringo rides’ for ages eight and above and stand-up paddleboarding, in a safe and fun environment. So if you want to make a splash, head for Dundee’s fantastic new waterfront soon.
Ahaaarrr! Shiver me timbers! Actually, there are no pirates involved on a PIRATE BOATS DUNDEE trip into the River Tay. But what you will enjoy is a RIB powerboat ride, where you might see resident bottlenose dolphins, seals and other maritime wildlife. You’ll also get a great view of the new V&A museum jutting out into the Tay and you’ll be able to see the Tay Rail Bridge from a different perspective.
If your kids love to climb, they’ll love a session at AVERTICAL
WORLD. In the centre of the city, near the university, kids aged seven and above are very welcome and the centre offers kids and family coaching sessions from entry level to advanced.
OLYMPIA is one of Scotland’s best leisure pools and can be found in the centre of Dundee. There are four thrilling flumes and the ‘cannonball’ with its 12ft drop for the adventurers in your family. Kids can also enjoy the rapid river, waves and bubble beds.
Younger children can splash about in the toddlers’ pool where there are also some slides and interactive features.