The Dordogne is one of France's most beloved regions for good reason. Rolling limestone valleys, dramatic river gorges, medieval bastide towns, Renaissance châteaux, and some of Europe's most significant prehistoric cave art combine to create a walking landscape as rich in history and culture as it is in natural beauty.

With walks suited to all abilities and free of steep ascents or descents, this comprehensive guidebook by Janette Norton, Alan Norton and Pamela Harris covers 35 graded day walks across the Dordogne, ranging from 6 to 19km (4 to 12 miles) and taking between 2 and 6 hours to complete. Clear route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with information on accommodation, facilities, and local plants and wildlife throughout.

• 35 graded walks are described across four areas, covering Bergerac and the Périgord Pourpre, Lalinde, Sarlat and the Périgord Noir, and the Lot valley around Souillac, with walks taking between 2 and 6 hours
• Medieval châteaux, bastide towns and prehistoric cave art feature throughout, including the UNESCO-listed Vézère valley near Les Eyzies, the châteaux of Bridoire, Biron and Milandes, and the bastide towns of Monpazier and Domme
• The Lot valley around Souillac delivers some of the most dramatic walking in the guidebook, with routes to Rocamadour, the Gouffre de Padirac and the causses and gorges of Quercy
• 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files for every walk, with route grades, practical access information and waymarking notes so you can plan each outing with confidence
• Notes on local history, plants, wildlife and food and drink throughout, alongside a French-English glossary and comprehensive accommodation guidance for the region

Nowhere in France packs as much history, culture and natural beauty into a single walking region as the Dordogne. This guidebook is the perfect companion for exploring it on foot.

Walking in the Dordogne - Quick Facts

Area: Dordogne and Lot, southwest France 
Regions covered: Périgord Pourpre (Bergerac), Périgord Noir (Sarlat), Lalinde, Lot valley (Souillac) 
Total walks: 35 
Walk distances: 6 to 19km (4 to 12 miles) 
Walk duration: 2 to 6 hours 
Difficulty: All abilities; no steep ascents or descents; graded easy or medium 
Walk highlights: Vézère valley near Les Eyzies, La Roque-Gageac, Domme, Beynac, Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, Monpazier, Château de Biron, Cingle de Trémolat 
Cultural highlights: UNESCO-listed Vézère valley prehistoric cave art and rock shelters; bastide towns of Monpazier, Domme and Beaumont; châteaux of Bridoire, Lanquais, Biron and Milandes; Romanesque abbey of Cadouin; Rocamadour pilgrimage site 
Natural highlights: Dordogne river horseshoe meanders, Alzou Gorge, Gouffre de Padirac, causses of Quercy, Vézère river valley 
Centres: Bergerac, Lalinde, Sarlat, Souillac 
Mapping: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk 
Digital navigation: Downloadable GPX files included 
Best time to visit: May to June and September to October; high summer very hot and crowded; spring good for flowers 
Special features: French-English glossary; notes on history, plants, wildlife and food and drink; accommodation information

Author Highlight

“All the walks in this guide are located in Périgord Pourpre, around Bergerac and Lalinde; in Périgord Noir around Sarlat; and in the Lot around Souillac. This is a richly historical area, and many of the walks start from a medieval town, or pass by a château, a Romanesque church, a large abbey, an elaborate dovecote, an old mill, a cave of prehistoric wall paintings or a Celtic hill-fort – the list is endless, and you will continually come across something of interest to make you want to stop and explore.”

- Alan Norton, one of the authors of Walking in the Dordogne

Map key
Overview map
Location of walks
Preface
Introduction
The Dordogne river
A short history of the Dordogne
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
How to get there
When to go
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

Appendix A    Route summary table
Appendix B    Useful information
Appendix C    Glossary of French words

Seasons

Any time of the year, but either May and June (also good for flowers), or September and October (for the grape harvest) are best. High summer is very hot and crowded.

Centres

Bergerac and Lalinde in Perigord Poupre; Sarlat in Perigord Noir; and Souillac in the Lot.

Difficulty

35 straightforward half and full-day walks for all abilities, on well-marked paths or roads. Graded easy or medium, with no steep ascents or descents.

Must See

The Dordogne river with dramatic horseshoe meanders and quiet stretches for boat trips on traditional gabarres; the cliffs of the Vézère with caves and overhangs where early man made his home; the arid causses and subterranean gauffres in the south; medieval castles and towns, Renaissance-style chateaus, Romanesque churches.

March 2024

Updates March 24

July 2019

Route Update

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