Walking the Villages of the Dordogne, France

The ancient Dordogne Valley is one of the oldest-inhabited regions of France and boasts beautiful, ever-changing landscapes. This gentle walk through medieval villages, deer-filled forests and hill top paths offers lots to delight the visitor. You will also be able to sample the rich and flavoursome regional cuisine including truffles, foie gras and wild mushrooms.

The trip starts in Beaulieu, whose origins date back to the 9th century. You will explore the area south of the town, which is dotted with idyllic villages of turreted mansions and half-timbered houses with brown-tiled roofs, among them Autoire, Loubressac and Carennac. The routes are leisurely, with many moments for lazy picnics at the numerous vista points along the way.

Accommodation:

Le Manoir de Beaulieu, Beaulieu A characterful hotel well located near the centre of the town. Bedrooms are decorated with charm and a simple elegance, while the restaurant serves refined cuisine that is a good introduction to the Dordogne's gastronomy.  

Auberge du Vieux Port, Port de Gagnac The Lasfargeas family's welcoming inn overlooks the River Cère, with comfortable, simple bedrooms and a restaurant popular among locals.

Relais de Castelnau, Loubressac This is a comfortable hotel, so named because it enjoys views to the château of Castelnau from the restaurant, terrace and outdoor pool.

Le Domaine de la Vaysse, La Vaysse Nelly and Maurice Chavant welcome you to their delightful guesthouse, a converted 19th-century farmhouse situated in beautiful rolling countryside south of Martel. Relax by the outdoor pool set in attractive gardens and enjoy regional cuisine and the company of the other guests as you dine at the large table.

Traveller Reviews of This Trip

This was the best holiday either of us can remember. We felt it was the right balance between being independent but knowing that details had been taken care of for us. We loved the freedom and seclusion of the walking, but also enjoyed the knowledge that we were assured of an excellent meal and luxurious accommodation. We also valued the contrast between the different hotels: they were all memorable, but for different reasons. We liked them all and would be happy to return to any of them. We have been singing the praises of Inntravel to everyone since we arrived home. An excellent experience all round, and we are definitely booking another for next year. Mr R Kimberley, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, 06/09/2011

The drive from Brive to Beaulieu whizzed by as the taxi driver talked to us about the history of the area and many other things of interest. It was a lovely introduction to the region. There were several highlights during the holiday:
1) The walk above Beaulieu through the lovely village of Sioniac;
2) The walk from Port de Gagnac to Castelnau, en route to Loubressac;
3) The delicious food at the simple Auberge du Vieux Port;
4) The joy of sharing a table and lively conversation with several French families at the last guesthouse. Dr A Beattie, Beauly, Inverness-shire, 05/10/2010

Superb! Beautiful, peaceful, quiet, very well–planned notes. Good variation between long days, short days and rest days. A thoroughly enjoyable holiday The hotels were also very well chosen; varied and interesting, terrific food (and wine). Miss S, Cambridge, 12/08/2008

For more reviews of this trip, see: Reviews of Walking the villages of the Dordogne