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Duration
10 days
Activities
  • self guided walk
Accommodation
  • 9 nights in country inns
Meals
  • 9 Dinners
  • 9 Breakfasts

Price

$1890USD

 
 

Overview

Trip Code: JDD

Trip highlights


  • Walking in the Dordogne Valley and Surrounding Hills
  • Ramble on the Riverbank and Round the Villages
  • Walk to Hilltop Castles and Bastides
  • Character Accommodation
  • Food That People Come To France For
  • Ruins, Caves & Medieval Villages

You can choose from two walking tours in the Dordogne region: a 7-night/8 day tour (trip code JD8) and a 9-night/10 day tour. Much of the route is common to both.

The 10 day walking tour is a circuit of approx. 120km in the area of the Upper Dordogne Valley. Castles, stone-built medieval villages, ruins and caves lend daily interest to the circuit. 'Une surprise a chaque pas'. The individual, family-run hotels offer the sort of cooking that people come to France for, and several have noted chefs.

This is the land of truffles, foie gras, magret de canard and rich dark wines.

This part of the Dordogne is a region largely away from normal tourist haunts, in the Departments of Correze and Lot. The scenery is varied, taking in the limestone plateaux or Causses, covered mainly with rough pasture & scrub oak. Then later wooded hills, which slope steeply down to the Dordogne at the delightful former river port of Beaulieu. The walking route skirts the natural amphitheatre of the Cirque de Montvalent, whose great cliffs overhang the Dordogne between Carennac and Creysse, and visits the historic towns of Creysse and Martel. Six villages on this tour are on the unofficial but prestigious list of '147 most beautiful villages in France'. Curemonte, stretched out along a ridge; the gentlemen's houses or gentilhommieres of Autoire; Loubressac, on a high spur above the Dordogne valley; Carennac, with its elaborate abbey church; Turenne, encircling a hilltop castle; and the celebrated red sandstone village of Collonges-la-Rouge.

Trip Grading

moderate

More info about grading system

Traveller Rating

 

This is a small market town located in the Corrèze Department of central France. The town is mainly built of the local deep red sandstone. Accommodation: A comfortable 2 star Logis hotel with pool near the centre.

Meals:  D

Over undulating country to Curemonte, a mediaeval village where the writer Colette once lived. The day ends with a long descent of an ancient cobbled mule-track into Beaulieu. The town is built on the right bank of the Dordogne and owes its fame to the Romanesque church of the former Benedictine monastery. Make sure you take the time to visit the Abbey Church with its magnificent doorway. Accommodation: A well-appointed 2 star hotel in a quiet street, close to the Dordogne, where you can dine overlooking the water on a summer’s evening.

Meals:  B,D

Great views as you climb out of the Dordogne Valley on the GR 480. From the crest you descend through splendid mixed woodland of chestnut, oak, and conifers, past a trout farm to the valley of the Cere, once a navigable river. One or two short sections of the day’s walk are little frequented and may be rather overgrown in summer. The village of Gagnac (1.5 km/1 mile) is worth a visit, particularly if you are lucky enough to find the church open. Accommodation: Old established 2 star family-run hotel overlooking the River Cere. The restaurant is a favourite with many of our customers.

Meals:  B,D

A walk through mixed farming country and the one serious wine-growing district on the tour (Glanes). It is a surprise to stumble upon the dramatic red bulk of Castelnau Castle, built on a shoulder of red ironstone. The village of Autoire with its 'gentilhommieres' or manorial house and waterfall is unforgettable. After a steep ascent past the limestone crags of the Cirque d'Autoire the next hour is spent crossing a typical limestone plateau of oak scrub and dry-stone walls to the village of Loubressac on its panoramic hilltop. The fortified village is situated at a height of 380m on the edge of a scarp and there are splendid views over the valley to the north. Accommodation: A recently modernised 2 star Logis hotel in the middle of this very pretty village and opposite the 'village green'. Upgraded accommodation with a swimming pool available. Ask for details.

Meals:  B,D

The 10 km/6 mile option follows the edge of the scarp past the ruined castle at Taillefer to Carennac. The 15 km/9.3 mile walk diverts to take in the Gouffre de Padirac Caves (pre booking advised) where a vast chasm in the limestone plateau opens into a most interesting cave system incorporating a short trip on an underground river. The day ends with an abrupt descent to Carennac on the banks of the Dordogne. Accommodation: Two nights spent at an elegant family-run hotel 2 star Logis with swimming pool in the centre of this lovely and historic village on the banks of the Dordogne. Excellent restaurant with a good local reputation.

Meals:  B,D

Time to explore this well-preserved mediaeval village. There are various possibilities for walks on both sides of the Dordogne. We describe a circular day walk of about 15 km /9.3 miles in your Route Notes.

Meals:  B,D

A walk along the heights, with views over the Dordogne River, then close below the limestone cliffs overhanging the tiny village of Gluges, before crossing farmland to the ancient village of Creysse, clustered around a little rocky hill crowned by an ancient twin-aisled church. Accommodation: Another family run 2 star Logis hotel in the centre of a delightful little village. A stream runs beneath the hotel and its terrace. // Note that if Day 7 is on a Sunday or Monday, you will today be walking through the northern part of Causses du Quercy Natural Regional Park to Rocamadour for your overnight stay. Allow yourself some time at the viewpoint at L’Hospitalet to take in the classic view of Rocamadour, a small clifftop village. Stay at a charming 2* hotel in the centre of town with a restaurant that offers a magnificent panoramic view over the Alzou canyon.

Meals:  B,D

The day starts gently, heading north along a pleasant valley, before ascending steeply onto the limestone plateau or Causse de Martel. Martel retains its covered market square and the house is still visible where Henry II’s son, Henry Court-Mantel (so called from the new short cloak he made fashionable) died of his wounds after sacking Rocamadour in 1183. The route continues through scrub oak and along rocky paths to the tiny old village of Sarrazac. Accommodation: The cellar of this 2 star Logis establishment was formerly a smithy where, three generations ago, the blacksmith’s wife would serve refreshments to waiting customers. The hoteliers are as hospitable as their ancestors, the smithy has vanished, and guests are housed in a venerable building with swimming pool nearby. // Note: If you stayed overnight in Rocamadour, a taxi will pick you up from the hotel this morning for a short transfer to Creysse, from where you will commence your walk.

Meals:  B,D

Passing through the ancient village of l'Hopital St Jean (the site of a mediaeval leper hospital), your walk takes in Turenne, the former capital of the region. Its houses straggling picturesquely down from the ruined castle. Woods and rolling farmland lead to the glowing red turrets and Romanesque church of Collonges la Rouge. The small town of Meyssac, is approx 2 km/1.2 miles further on where you return for your lasts night accommodation.

Meals:  B,D

The tour ends after breakfast at Meyssac or Collonges. Depart for the train station and then on to the airport.

Meals:  B


Inclusions

  • 9 breakfasts, 9 dinners
  • 9 nights accommodation in country inns on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities
  • Luggage transfer
  • Information pack including route notes & maps
  • Emergency hotline

  • Lunches & Beverages
  • Entrance fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip

Grading

moderate  

This tour is graded: ‘Moderate’. This should present no difficulties for anyone with a reasonable fitness level and accustomed to walking. Day stages: 14km to 22km per day with average altitude gains of 350m. 4 to 7 hours walking per day.


Departure dates

Daily from 10 Apr to 9 Oct (except Friday)

Notes

DN1
8 day version available

Want to organise a private group?

Fundraising events, sporting groups, family treats; learn how you can organise a Private Group from just 6 travellers.

Priceper person from

$1890USD

Options & Supplements*
  • Single SupplementUSD$420
  • Solo Traveller SurchargeUSD$450
*Prices listed are per person

Trip reviews


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We offer different levels of accommodation and comfort so that even the most budget conscious can treat themselves to active holidays on Europe's most celebrated tracks and trails. Our trips are great value for money because you only pay for what you want.  

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Our wide range of self-guided itineraries embody the UTracks philosophy of exploring Europe your way. We handle the logistics so all that's left for you to do is enjoy exploring Europe at your own pace. Most depart daily with a minimum of two people, meaning maximum flexibility.

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