Lot & Dordogne Valley

Day 1 • Arrive in Rocamadour

A tiny, cliff-side medieval village, dramatically perched 120 metres above a canyon UNESCO World Heritage Site

HH Le Ter minus des Pèlerins (std)

HHH Le Beau Site (sup)

Day 2 • Free day in Rocamadour

A delightful circular walk leading up and along a limestone plateau, through ancient pastures bordered by drystone walls, and past a wonderful lookout point, before retur ning via the green, fertile valley of the Alzou, with its four ruined water mills (9 miles, 4 hrs)

HH Le Ter minus des Pèlerins (std)

HHH Le Beau Site (sup)

Day 3 • Rocamadour to Lacave

Follow the gorge to Lacave with its spectacular, extensive cave system (8 4 miles, 4 hrs)

HHHH Le Pont de l’Ouysse

Day 4 • Lacave to Meyronne

Follow far m tracks up to the village of Mayrinhac, then descend to Meyronne (8.9 or 9.6 miles, 4–4.5 hrs).

HHH La Terrasse (std & sup rooms)

Day 5 • Meyronne to Carennac

Paths lead through far mland and woods above the river before descending to Carennac, a village of traditional stone houses clustered around a medieval priory on the banks of the Dordogne (14.3 miles, 6.5 hrs).

HHH Petite Auberge de Carennac

Day 6 • Carennac to Loubressac

Walk up from the river to Loubressac, a quintessential medieval village with a jumble of pointed tiled roofs, and views of the imposing Château de Castelnau There is an optional longer route via the Gouffre de Padirac, a 300ft deep chasm, with a boat ride through caves, along an underground river (7 1, 8 7 or 9 8 miles, 3 5–5 hrs)

HH Le Cantou 354 (std) HHH Relais de Castelnau (sup)

Day 7 • Loubressac to St Céré

Walk along paths overlooking the 'Cirque d’Autoire' –dramatic cliffs of the edge of the causses – to the Château de Montal and St Céré, a bustling medieval market town (7 1, 9 8 or 11 5 miles, 3 5–5 5 hrs)

HHH Les Trois Soleils de Montal (std & sup rooms)

Day 8 • Departure day

Route open: April-July; Sept-Nov

Airports to first hotel: u Brive-la-Vallée (26 miles)

Taxi: 45 mins - €140 u Limoges (100 miles)

Taxi & train: 3 hrs - ~€50 u Toulouse (100 miles)

Train/bus: 4.5 hrs - ~€65 u Paris: TGV to Souillac, then taxi: 5 hrs - €90

Route Manager: ATG-trained, lives locally and speaks fluent English, French and Swiss Ger man.

Route Book: 113 pages – detailed walking directions, maps, comprehensive local and background information

Walking: Easy to moderate (Grade 2 – 3) See p 8

Terrain: Quiet country lanes, gravel tracks, woodland and mule paths, and the occasional steep, rocky path