With its many rivers, undulating hills and valleys, chateaux, bastide towns and prehistoric roots the Dordogne has long been a popular walking holiday destination. You will be walking in a National Park in the Perigord Vert region of the Dordogne, an interesting area of limestone caves and limestone cliffs. Steeped in history, with many historic towns, quaint hamlets and hundreds of km’s of footpaths the Dordogne offers its visitors a holiday to remember.
This Dordogne walking holiday will give you a chance to explore a slice of this historic region with the opportunity to visit truffle plantations, market towns, limestone caves, ancient abbeys, long lost Bories and walk down paths and chemins dating back hundreds of years. Along the trails you have the chance to see a huge diversity of wildlife including rare plants, birds, boar and deer.
Accommodation in the Dordogne
You will stay in a lovingly restored French farmhouse set in beautiful countryside. The farmhouse has 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and further accommodation is available in additional restored buildings consisting of a cottage, barn and granary. You will have your own room, unless you are a couple that is sharing, there is no single supplement. The farmhouse has a large dining room/lounge and outside terrace, swimming pool, WiFi connection and fitness and games room.
The holiday is offered as full board, consisting of 7x breakfast, 7x lunch and 6x dinner. For one evening, dinner is not included and taken at a local restaurant. Breakfast consists of croissants, pain au chocolate, breads and jams. Lunches will mainly be picnic lunches, including local regional products. Dinners are regional and seasonal, vegetarians can be catered for.
Walking in the Dordogne
All the available walks can be adapted to suit your walking needs. Basic daily walk distances are given in the example itinerary, however the walks are extendable to suit your walking ability. If you are wishing to walk longer distance walks, which are around 20km, then this is possible. Many walks start straight from the accommodation, but many more walks are available further afield. In principle the walks are guided but if you wish to walk unguided with route maps and your own gps this can also be easily arranged with gpx files of the walks. Your hosts have their own modern air conditioned minibus to deliver or collect walkers.
The pace is steady to allow for photographs and pausing to admire the views. You’ll visit some beautiful ancient villages, one named the “prettiest village in France” with cobbled bridges and streets. You will have the opportunity to visit local villages and sample their local produce and wines.
Dordogne Trails walking holiday itinerary
Day 1 – Travel to the Dordogne, France, arrival and pick up from Limoges airport by your hosts. Arrive at Lavaud for apero and dinner on the terrace. Get to meet your walking group and discuss the walking program.
Day 2 -7 – after meeting for a sumptuous French breakfast, taken on the terrace, of croissants, pain au chocolate, breads and jams, the days walking itinerary will be confirmed and you will set off on the daily walk.
Day 8 – Breakfast and departure, transfer to Limoges airport.
Below you will find an example program of walks. Walking routes are subject to change, with there being a wealth of walking trails available. If a more suitable walk should be taken during that particular time of year your program will be amended to accommodate that.
Walk 1 – Jumilhac Le Grand. Offering stunning scenery the walk to the Chateau of Jumilhac Le Grand is an impressive one with the chateau looking down on the river Isle where these days people still try their luck panning for gold! Lunch will be taken beside the river. 10.5km walk (21km if return loop walked).
Walk 2 – Sorges. The famous truffle region of Sorges, known as the Truffle Capital of the Perigord, the famous Sorges Truffles are known world wide. We arrive at this walking destination and walk the Sentier de Truffe walk as well as visit the Truffle museum where you can purchase various Truffle products. There is also the chance to walk part of the famous St Jacques de Compostelle walking route running from Thiviers to Sorges. 10km – (20km if both stages walked.)
Walk 3 – St Jean de Cole. Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France the walk to St Jean De Cole is taken along part of the Voie Vert (the old railway line). A simply stunning village where you literally take a step back in time along the little cobbled alleyways and lanes. A picnic lunch will be taken nearby. This walk can be taken in two stages both of approx 10km each (20km if both stages walked).
Walk 4 – Brantome. The Venice of the Perigord encircled by the river Dronne and the famous Benedictine Abbey of Brantome, which was founded in 769. Time will be allowed to take in this beautiful village and lunch will be taken by the riverbank. This walk will be around 10km.
Walk 5 – Excideuil. The enchanted rocks, this walking trail takes in several quaint little hamlets which are built on a limestone plateau. Starting near the river Loue walk in the footsteps of the prehistoric bear and discover the grottes of Sarconnat, the grotte de l’eglise (church), the climbing rock walls. On this walk there are nearly 400 diverse species of flowers and plants known and classified, including 19 varietes of wild orchids. A visit to the local market town is included on this trip. 12km
Day 6 – unguided walk. The final day of your holiday can be taken relaxing at Lavaud or a local unguided walk of 11km can be taken, incorporating the very local walks and trails straight from Lavaud. Past the local chateau and through St Paul La Roche on walking trails and small roads. St Paul La Roche is on the St Jacques de Compostelle route and has a Knights Templar house in the village. Also known for its famous Quartz white rock that was 40-50m high and 600m in diametre, the last scraps of the rock were claimed by NASA! 11km
Dates and Availability
The price of this walking holiday is based on bookings of 4 people or more. There is no single supplement for a private room. Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information and the set dates.
