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35 walking routes in the Dordogne - Bergerac, Lalinde, Sarlat and Souillac

This guidebook describes 35 walking routes in France's beautiful Dordogne region, based around Sarlat and Souillac regions (Perigord Noir) and Bergerac (Perigord Poupre). The walks range from short walks to mountain circuits, and explore the spectacular gorges, chateaux and medieval villages of the region.

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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

Detailed overview

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.

Where and when to go

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.

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 Ch&##xe2;teau 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-F&##xe9;lix-de-Villadeix
Walk 11 Couze to the Ch&##xe2;teau de Lanquais
Walk 12 The heights and river at Lalinde
Walk 13 Above Mauzac
Walk 14 The Cingle de Tr&##xe9;molat
Walk 15 Limeuil and the V&##xe9;z&##xe8;re river
Walk 16 Above the Abbey of Cadouin
Walk 17 Beaumont and the Rocher du Corbeau
Walk 18 Monpazier and the Ch&##xe2;teau de Biron

Around Sarlat
Walk 19 Around les Eyzies
Walk 20 Along the V&##xe9;z&##xe8;re river
Walk 21 Boucle de Coulonge at Montignac
Walk 22 Around St-Geni&##xe8;s
Walk 23 St-Cr&##xe9;pin and Carlucet
Walk 24 Les Jardins d'Eyrignac
Walk 25 South of the Ch&##xe2;teau 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 Bl&##xe9;ou 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 Salmi&##xe8;re
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

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781852848439
Availability	Published
Published	12 February 2018
Reprinted	3 November 2025
Pages	264
Weight	300g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

Updated 1 July 2019
Route Update
Walk 33 - Rocamadour.
(modified start, from Grant Cameron)
There is a change to the start of the walk because a new car park has been built. You still turn left onto the D673/A20 and start to walk out of town. The new car park is on your right, just after the end of housing, and now you turn right just before the sign which has been moved) indicating the end of Rocamadour. This is in fact what would have been the second turn on the right as shown on the sketch map and in the IGN2136 map) where the roads drew a small triangle. The first road on the right has now been removed by the car park. Turn right off the D673 then take a slight left onto the road signed to Gare SNCF. The rest of the description is excellent.
Updated 19 March 2024
Updates March 24
Thank you to Chuck Eldridge for the following updates.
Pg. 171 – Walk 22 on 4/10/2023
“Continue down the road, passing an old four…” Ignore the post markers which want you to go left on a track. Stay on the paved road going downhill to the right.
“Turn left on the road, with woods on the left…” From here on, the route is not marked well at all. The yellow markers all refer to other trails.
Pg. 181 – Walk 24 on 7/10/2023
“…but after a few minutes, where the track curves round, take a narrower path to the right, signed by a yellow marker on a tree. You start descending…” There’s no marker on a tree but stay on the same track which descends very steeply with poor traction.
“…take the second turning to the right yellow sign) …” There is no marker. The track is very narrow and easily missed but it runs next to the field.
Pg. 196 - Walk 26 on 29/9/2023
“…the D703, which you should cross immediately to get to the narrow pavement to the other side.” There is no walking surface other than the road for more than .25 mile.
Pg. 200 – Walk 27 on 10/10/2023
“…cannot get into the fort itself as it is now closed for restoration.” It has reopened.
207 – Walk 28 on 29/9/2023
“…until you come to a sign to la Borie opposite a narrow road…” There’s a poorly marked turn here.
Pg. 215 – Walk 29 on 16/10/2023
“Be careful as there is no post indicating this turning.”
There’s a post there now.

Meet the authors

Janette Norton

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Janette Norton lived with her physicist husband, Alan, in the Geneva region for over 30 years, raising four children and working in the marketing field. Her love of mountain walking dated from the time she was a guide in her twenties, and the proximity to her home of the Alps and the Jura enabled her to continue her passion. After her children grew up, she branched out to walk in other areas of France such as Provence, the Cevennes and the Dordogne.