Hilltop Villages of the Dordogne

DAY 1: Arrive in Sarrazac

Arrive in the small, well preserved village of Sarrazac which is located in a lush green, wooded valley. Arrive early and take time to wander through the village, dinner is included tonight at your Hotel. The closest train station is Brive which is 25km away, you can take a taxi to your overnight accommodation from the station (cost approx. 45 euros) or the hotel can arrange a transfer if booked in advance. See the travel section for more detailed travel info. Below you will find a detailed daily itinerary of the holiday, please note the accommodations mentioned are examples and we may not always be able to book these. If not other alternatives of the same standard will be used.

Overnight: Hotel de la Bonne Famille - Sarrazac - DB&B

DAY 2:  Walk to Meyssa 

Todays walk visits 2 of the ’Les Plus Beux Villages de France’ - an association of the most beautiful villages in France. Firstly you pass through the magnificent hilltop village of Turenne with its famous castle towering high above the green landscape, perfect for a lunch stop. The path then meanders through lush green country paths to ‘Collonges La Rouge’ which is a medieval village where all the buildings are dark red sandstone.

Walk: 19 km/12m

Overnight: - Relais du Quercy - Meyssac - DB&B

DAY 3:  Walk to Beaulieu Sur Dordogne 

Todays walk passes through the village of Curemonte with its 3 churches and weekly farmers market. Situated high in the hills this village provides splendid views over the surrounding countryside. The walk ends with a delightful wander down an ancient cobbled mule track to Beaulieu Sur Dordogne. This village is situated right on the Dordogne River.

Walk: 17km/10.5m

Overnight: Hotel Les Charmilles - Beaulieu Sur Dordogne - DB&B

DAY 4: Walk to Port de Gagnac

Before you head off on your walk today its worth visiting the Abbey Church in Beaulieu with its magnificent doorway. Todays walk passes through rich woodland areas filled with chestnut, oak and conifer trees. The walking involves a few stream crossings and a couple of the walking sections may be slightly overgrown in places as it’s a less trodden area, this only adds to the adventure! The short detour to Gagnac (1.5km) is recommended.

Walk: 17km/10.5m

Overnight: Hostellerie Belle Rive - Port de Gagnac Hotel - DB&B

DAY 5: Walk to Loubressac

Todays walk starts by passing through the vineyards of the fabulous winemakers from the Coteaux de Glanes. A short detour will take you to the historic 11th Century Chateau de Castelnaud. You pass through Autoire, a well preserved village with limestone cliffs and then you reach the medieval village of Loubressac high above the valleys of the Dordogne, Cere and Bave.

Walk: 20km/12.5m

Overnight - Hotel Lou Cantou - Loubressac Hotel - DB&B

DAY 6: Walk to Carennac

Today starts with an optional 4km detour to the Gouffre de Padirac which is an underground maze of majestic tunnels and stalactites. You can take a boat ride here to discover the underground beauty. The shorter option today takes you past the ruined castle at Taillefer and ends by a sharp descent to Carennac on the banks of the river Dordogne. There is the option here of hiring kayaks to paddle along the river past the spectacular cliffs of Gluges.

Walk: 10 - 14km/6 - 8.5m

Overnight: Hotel Fenelon - Carennac - DB&B

DAY 7: Circular walk around Carennac or walk to Rocamadour

You have two options today, the first would be to take a fabulous circular walk around Carennac or alternatively you can walk to the 9th Century pilgrimage town of Rocamadour. A return taxi would be required for this option but its worth the walk. Tonight we do not include your evening meal giving you the flexibility of dining in Rocamadour or some of the other restaurants in Carennac.

Walk: 15 - 18km/9 - 11m

Overnight: Hotel Fenelon - Carennac - B&B

DAY 8:  Onward Travel

Grade & Fitness

This walking tour is graded Moderate. Daily walks are a mixture of country paths and forest trails.  A couple of days are long and some of the trails have some short, steep climbs.  You should be a regular walker and have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this holiday.

Navigation

Some of the routes on this holiday are not way marked so you will need to follow the route notes with maps that our local partner provide upon arrival in France.

Availability

This holiday is available to start on any day of the week between 1st March - 31st October.

Accommodation

We specifically select your accommodation to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We aim to give you an authentic experience and use local family run accommodations in 2 and 3* traditional Hotels. Many of the hotels have swimming pools so remember and pack your swimmers.

Alternate accommodation

During high season, you might be booked into different accommodations which are not listed in the description, and the start or end of some of your walking routes may be slightly altered. Any alternative accommodation will be of the same standard as those described.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.

Solo Walkers

This holiday is available for solo walkers but we would recommend that you are experienced in walking and navigating alone. If you are travelling solo the holiday is slightly more expensive as some costs are not shared.

Additional Nights 

You can add additioanl nights at any point along the walk, please contact us for more detailss and we can add this to the booking.

Meals

A delicious breakfast is included each morning and an evening meal on 6 of your overnights.  On the last night dinner is not included which gives you the option to chose from one of the many local eateries. With every village having their own Patisserie, you will have no problem getting lunch each day.  

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Getting to Sarrazac

Sarrazac is approx 25km from the closest train station at Brive.  it will cost approx 45 euros in a taxi to your hotel in Sarrazac and takes approx 30 mins.  Please contact us and we can arrange a transfer for you.

By Air: Toulouse is the closest airport which is serviced by many low cost airlines including easyjet and flybe from the UK.  Alternatively you can take a flight to Paris and the train to Brive (4hrs) from here.

By Train: From Toulouse airport you can take a shuttle bus and then a train (2hrs 15mins) to Brive.  From here you can take a taxi to your first night in Sarrazac.

Getting from Carennac 

Tou will need to book a taxi to Brive (50mins) and then all onward travel can be taken from here.  We can arrange this for you, alternatively the Hotel can prebook one for you when you leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are often asked the following questions and I hope that you will find the answers useful. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

How fit do I need to be?

The walking is graded moderate so you will enjoy the holiday more if you already enjoy an active lifestyle.  Daily walks are a mixture of country paths and forest trails.  A couple of days are long and some have short steep climbs.  If you have a good level of fitness you will have no problem with the walk

Which is the best airport to fly to?

The closest airport is Toulouse, from here you can catch a train to Brive and then a local taxi onwards to the start and from the end of you holiday.  Please refer to the travel details section of the website for more information.

How far in advance do I need to book?

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as this holiday is extremely popular especially in the summer months.  Please note you can start this holiday on any day of the week.  This You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.

What personal equipment do I need?

You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.  

When is the best time of year?

The best months for walking are in the summer months between June and September when the weather is fair.  Spring and Autumn are also very good times for walking as the air is a little cooler for walking and the wild flowers are in bloom.

This holiday is available to start any day of the week other than Thursdays between March - October.  To make a provisional reservation select "Book". Option & Extension prices will be displayed as part of the booking process.

Because every holiday we book is unique availability changes from day to day and our booking process works as follows:

• You provisionally book the tour/s you are interested in on your preferred dates and pay a 20% deposit online or by phone.
• We confirm availability and book all your accommodation and options and send final confirmation as soon as everything is confirmed (max 5 working days).
• If we are unable to accommodate you on your confirmed dates/tour or an alternative of your choice your deposit is fully refunded.