Walking in the Dordogne. Janette Norton

       Accommodation

       Food and drink

       What to take

       Waymarking

       Maps

       Using this guide

       AROUND BERGERAC

       Walk 1 Along the river at Bergerac

       Walk 2 The vineyards of Monbazillac

       Walk 3 Flaugeac to the Château de Bridoire

       Walk 4 Around Monestier

       Walk 5 Round the Lac de l’Escourou

       Walk 6 Boucle d’Issigeac

       Walk 7 The Conne river valley

       Walk 8 Boucle de St-Aubin

       Walk 9 St-Georges-de-Montclard

       AROUND LALINDE

       Walk 10 St-Félix-de-Villadeix

       Walk 11 Couze to the Château de Lanquais

       Walk 12 The heights and river at Lalinde

       Walk 13 Above Mauzac

       Walk 14 The Cingle de Trémolat

       Walk 15 Limeuil and the Vézère river

       Walk 16 Above the Abbey of Cadouin

       Walk 17 Beaumont and the Rocher du Corbeau

       Walk 18 Monpazier and the Château de Biron

       AROUND SARLAT

       Walk 19 Around les Eyzies

       Walk 20 Along the Vézère river

       Walk 21 Boucle de Coulonge at Montignac

       Walk 22 Around St-Geniès

       Walk 23 St-Crépin and Carlucet

       Walk 24 Les Jardins d’Eyrignac

       Walk 25 South of the Château des Milandes

       Walk 26 Le Chemin de Cazenac from Beynac

       Walk 27 Around la Roque-Gageac

       Walk 28 The bastide town of Domme

       Walk 29 Boucle de Veyrignac

       AROUND SOUILLAC (LOT)

       Walk 30 Gourdon and the Bléou valley

       Walk 31 Roc des Monges from Saint-Sozy

       Walk 32 Martel to Mont Mercou

       Walk 33 Rocamadour and the mills of the Alzou Gorge

       Walk 34 Alvignac and the Source Salmière

       Walk 35 The Gouffre de Padirac and Causses de Quercy

       APPENDICES

       Appendix A Route summary table

       Appendix B Useful information

       Appendix C Glossary of French words

      Beynac castle and church (Walk 26)

      The gardens of the Château des Milandes (Walk 25)

      PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

      Since the first edition of Walking in the Dordogne was published in 2004, the area has become even more popular with British visitors, many of whom have made it their second home. In addition, tourist offices have become increasingly aware that walking is a popular activity, and have made a considerable effort to create more walking trails, and to waymark them clearly. Despite this, the crowds rapidly fall away once you start walking, and you are soon alone.

      As revisers, we have had great pleasure in preparing this new edition and, in so doing, re-discovering this beautiful part of France. In the past two years all the walks have been re-done by ourselves or by a few helpers, some of whom have themselves made the Dordogne their home.

      When we started to do these walks again, we discovered that some of our previous routes had considerably changed, whereas others had been re-routed in the opposite direction – not a problem for route finding, but it meant that the walk itself had to be written up from scratch. In addition, we have added four completely new walks, including a flat, easy walk along the Dordogne at Bergerac, in order to give a feel for the importance of the river that has given its name to this department.

      The general introduction has been completely revised and the walks re-structured into four sections, each with its own introduction. Each walk is accompanied by a new sketch map which overlays a recorded GPS track and key features on a colourful Cicerone base map. In addition, the many new photos will illustrate to readers the variety and beauty of this part of France, loved by so many English.

      Alan Norton and Pamela Harris

      A house on the outskirts of Limeuil (Walk 15)

      INTRODUCTION

      Spring blossom near Lalinde (Walk 12): photo Richard Saynor

      The Dordogne is one of the most beautiful areas of France, with at its centre the river that gave its name to the department. It is a land of great scenic variety, from rolling wooded hills and fertile valleys to barren upland plateaus and limestone cliffs riddled with caves. With its mild climate and delicious food, it has become a popular tourist destination for French and foreigners alike, and many English have made it their second home, finding it not unlike the rural England of