Walking in the Dordogne
35 walking routes in the Dordogne - Bergerac, Lalinde, Sarlat and Souillac
Walking in the Dordogne
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.A guidebook to 35 day walks in France’s Dordogne region. Exploring the beautiful scenery of this historic area, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike.
Walks range from 6 to 19km (4–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–6 hours. Each route is easily accessible from either Bergerac, Lalinde, Sarlat or Souillac (Lot) and has been graded to allow you to choose routes suitable for you.
- 1:50,000 maps are included for each route
- GPX files available to download
- Detailed information on accommodation, equipment to take, local plants and wildlife
- Highlights include medieval towns, châteaux and caves
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 Feb 2018
Reprinted
3 Nov 2025
Edition
Second
Pages
264
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.45cm
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.
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
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.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.
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