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Paths to RocamadourA leisurely walking discovery of the Dordogne
The Dordogne conjures up images of warmth, dramatic cliffs topped by castles and a cuisine of goose and duck with the aroma of truffles. This great river meanders through enchanting landscapes, where hill-top villages appear dreamily above fields of walnut trees and sunflowers. Explore on foot, from village to village, enjoying fresh panoramas at every turn as you head from the banks of the Dordogne, along the pretty Ouysse Valley, to the ancient hanging village of Rocamadour, the destination of pilgrims since the 12th century and a real highlight. Our chosen hotels, all with an outdoor pool, offer a warm welcome and delicious regional cuisine. Nights: 7 – there is also a 10 night Long Trail to Rocamadour
Starting point: Auberge de l’Île (2*), Creysse. This homely, somewhat old-fashioned inn is set just a few metres from the River Dordogne, in the pretty village of Creysse with its interesting old church and ruined castle. The hotel has a garden and an outdoor pool. Day 1: the day starts with a short transfer to the pretty riverside village of Meyronne, which enjoys superb views up and down the Dordogne. From here, you have choice of routes to the south of the river – a longer walk via the attractive hamlets of Le Limon and Mayrinhac le Francal or a shorter option through woodland and farmland that leads over the panoramic Pech del Raysse. (15km, 5.5hrs or 9km, 3hrs) Accommodation: Hotel Pont de l’Ouysse (3*), Lacave. This high-quality hotel, the best on the holiday, sits on the banks of the River Ouysse beneath the château of Belcastel. The cuisine, fully deserving of its Michelin star, is outstanding, and there is plenty of space to relax, including an outdoor pool and attractive gardens. Day 2: there are various options for your day in Lacave. For a relaxing day, visit the village’s impressive caves with their underground lakes, stalactites and stalagmites (pay locally), stroll to the château overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and the Ouysse, then spend the afternoon relaxing by the hotel pool. For more walking, follow our suggested route west of Lacave. This crosses the river and leads up through woodland to the top of the riverside cliff on the north bank, which you follow for some distance as it ascends and descends, enjoying good views of the valley from the various viewpoints. (19km, 6hrs) Accommodation: Hotel Pont de l’Ouysse, as above. Day 3: from Lacave, you head south along the idyllic Ouysse Valley for several kilometres. You pass many pleasant spots where you can rest by the river as well as a fortified working mill dating from the 14th century, which you can visit for a fascinating demonstration of milling. The last section takes you up through woodland away from the river and across fields to Calès. (10km, 3.5hrs) Accommodation: Hotel le Pagès (2*), Calès. The hotel, complete with an outdoor pool, is set in large gardens on the outskirts of this authentic village and offers a warm and genuine welcome. Day 4: we suggest a pleasant circular walk through oak woods and the sparse vegetation of the limestone plateau to the splendid private châteaux of Le Bastit and Treyne on the banks of the Dordogne. (13km, 5.5hrs) Accommodation: Hotel le Pagès, as above. Day 5: for your last walk, you rejoin the River Ouysse and follow it eastwards, passing several mill ponds where kingfishers can sometimes be spotted. At the start of the season, it is worth making the short detour to the viewpoint above the Gouffre de Cabouy, where the Ouysse rises, before continuing through the pilgrims’ centre of Rocamadour and uphill to your destination, Hospitalet, thus named because it was once the site of a pilgrims’ hospital. (13km, 3.5hrs) Accommodation: Hotel le Troubadour (2*), Hospitalet. Set in its own grounds, the Troubadour enjoys good views over the surrounding countryside. Rooms are prettily decorated and furnished with pieces made by a local craftsman, and give direct access to the outdoor pool. Day 6: spend your last day exploring Rocamadour, which clambers up the hillside. Above the village itself is the ecclesiastical centre, which in turn is crowned by a castle offering a fantastic panorama. It is also worth visiting the Grottes des Merveilles near Hospitalet, where various prehistoric cave paintings have been discovered (pay locally). For more walking, there is a very pleasant circular route through the Alzou Valley to the east of Rocamadour. (10km, 3hrs) Accommodation: Hotel le Troubadour, as above. Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.
Recommendations for extra nights: Hotel du Pont de l’Ouysse (Lacave) is a good choice for a day of relaxation or extra walking; there is also extra walking from Hotel le Troubadour (Hospitalet). For a 10-night holiday, see the Long Trail to Rocamadour . Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. Similar holidays: Villages of the Dordogne (grade 1-2), Sunflowers & Abbeys (grade 1-2), A Provence Wander (grade 1-2), To the Pont du Gard (grade 1-2), Hill-Top Towns of Tuscany (grade 1-2), A Stroll through History (grade 1-2) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airports: Limoges & Toulouse 2008 extra night prices
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The River Dordogne 
