Villages of the Dordogne

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Everything went smoothly. The notes were excellent and we found the time guides for sections of the walks matched our pace perfectly. The countryside was varied in its beauty and offered a good mix of easy walking and challenging ascents and descents in some places. We recommend walking poles to assist with slippery surfaces and steep sections. Nothing was too difficult and the notes clearly indicate where care needs to be taken.

We enjoyed meeting other walkers from Australia and America. The guest house, Domaine de la Vaysse, was a wonderful experience. The owners couldn’t have been more welcoming and we thoroughly enjoyed their company and home cooked food.

This was our fifth Inntravel holiday. As with our other walking vacations, we thoroughly enjoyed it. This area of France is lovely and the walking was varied and interesting. The towns and villages we visited were charming and the history surrounding each one was fascinating. The weather was not very cooperative during our week, but this did not diminish our enjoyment of this beautiful region. We highly recommend the Gouffre de Padirac trip out of Loubressac. It is important to book your tickets online before leaving for the walk. It is quite busy but definitely worth the time. We also did the other day trip out of Loubressac and enjoyed walking down into the gorge. Climbing back up was not as fun, but the views were breathtaking. The set lunch special at the restaurant recommended in the notes was very good.

The food at every location was memorable. Do not miss the desserts at Hotel Les Flots Bleus. They were amazing works of art and were delicious. We also particularly enjoyed the meals at Relais de Castelnau. The view from the dining room is spectacular, the service was excellent and the food was top notch. The communal table at Domaine de la Vaysse was a lot of fun and provided the chance to socialize with our fellow walkers.

Some of the walking days were long but we enjoyed them all and would highly recommend this holiday.

Pure joy! Comfortable lodgings and (with one exception) beautiful meals bracketed long rambles through the peaceful Dordogne countryside, far, far away from the noise and madness of today's world.  Directions were so detailed, you could set your fitness tracker by them, or throw away the darn thing.  In the smaller, family-run hotels, the owners and staff were personable, helpful, kind, and delightful. All connections and transfers were exactly as planned.  Best day: enjoying the "usufruct" of plums, peaches, apples, grapes, pears, and blackberries along the route through the orchards and vineyards near Glanes, and the reward of a cold beer at a terrace café after the long hike up Loubressac. Pretty close to a perfect vacation.

The holiday was managed immaculately from beginning to end, quick to answer questions and easy to contact. The hotels were all excellent especially regarding the food and all very different. To have a swimming pool at both the Relais de Castelnau and Domaine de la Vaysse was a real treat. The walks were easy to follow once we got used to the really comprehensive descriptions. Some way signs were not always easy to see as they had faded or even on rare occaisions, missing as it was coming out of the Padariac Caves. It was unusually hot (33 degrees) so we adapted our walks to try to stop walking from mid afternoon onwards. For example, after our visit to the caves we walked straight back on the same route rather than continue on the route circuit. On day 5 we chose to stay for the morning in Carennac and explored this lovely town spending maybe 3 hours there. It has the most incredible Cloisters attached to the Abbey and we enjoyed our picnic lunch down by the river. We then asked the Tourist Info Office to arrange a taxi to take us on to The Domaine de la Vaysse. The owners were quite amused to see us arrive by taxi! However, our change of plan enabled us to explore Carennac which we would not have been able to do if we wanted to complete the walk as it would have meant walking into the hot afternoon. It suited us mixing the walks with exploring the lovely towns and villages.

We've just returned from a fabulous trip to France with Inntravel and will definitely book with them again.

Best bits: varied hotels but all good, excellent dinners, glorious countryside (good routes), very well organised all the way from start to finish.

Not so good: French picnics not always what we'd choose (too much salami!)

An excellent walking holiday with good food and service.

A great opportunity to slow down and enjoy this quiet area of France.

All of the accomodation was of a good standard and we were pleased that we had added an extra night at Loubressac.  

The hotel at Beaulieu was very well situated, right by the river and after our first days walk, we enjoyed sitting on the hotel terrace and watching life on the river. We later discovered that this village is much larger than we initially thought, it is worth exploring.

At Port de Gagnac, our room overlooked the river and it was a fine place for a one night stay.  

The food and service at the Loubressac - Le Relais de Castelnau was excellent and by adding a night here, we could do both of the suggested walks.  At the end of each day's walk, we sat by the pool, looking at the amazing view - stunning.

The hotel at Martel was in a lovely setting, the food was good, but very little flexibility for non-meat eaters and we have suggested to Inntravel that a walk to Rocamadour would be a great option. 

INNTRAVEL NOTE: Unfortunately Rocamadour is a 20km walk from Martel, which is longer than would be suitable for this holiday.

A lovely introduction to the Dordorge and its villages. The majority of the hotels were very good in all respects and the food was outstanding. The exception was Relais de Castelnau which had a package holiday feel and rather variable standard of service. Overall we would recommend this holiday and we did enjoy the walks. 

We've done lots of walking holidays, but this was the best. The food in the hotels was mostly first-class, and the ladies in charge of the meals at the first three hotels were particularly friendly and helpful. Three of the bedrooms had amazing views too. The walks were lovely and quiet, and away from the major tourist areas - just us on the Causse, hardly seeing anyone at all.

The villages and countryside were a total delight. We could have never put the walking route together on our own and it was spot on precise and accurate but needed enough interpretation on our part with use of map and Gaia maps. It was fun to find our way. The countryside was dreamy. The trails were devoid of people. The few locals we encountered were warm and welcoming. We totally recommend this trip and will do more.

It was a lovely holiday. Highlights included looking at the beautiful reflection of the floodlit trees on the riverbank at Gagnac sur Cere directly opposite the hotel (and from the bedroom window), walking through vineyards of malbec grapes in the village of Malbec (as someone who rather enjoys the stuff!) and the first view of Castelnau as you turn a corner in the route. All-in-all it was a very relaxing week.

Great holiday, walking in beautiful countryside and staying in lovely, friendly hotels in stunning settings. The organization was faultless, everything taken care of reliably and efficiently. We just had to enjoy the walking!

Day 3 and day 4 were walking highlights. Food at Pont de Gagnac and the Relais Saint Anne were excellent.

The first thing that struck us about this quiet area of central France was its abundant woodlands. In fact the railway line from Paris had been wooded for much of the way. The next thing was the grandeur of its rivers. Our first hotel (Les Bleus Flots) overlooked the Dordogne but it was not until we crossed it by footbridge when starting out for our next destination that we appreciated the true force of its waters as they surged over a weir. Our trip would take us from the lovely old town of Beaulieu sur Dordogne through many other picturesque and historic villages and hamlets, all built in the distinctive local style.  The quiet roads, tracks and paths that took us from one to another often ran through woodland, afforded us welcome shade as the weather turned unusually hot for late May/early June, but we also enjoyed the more open stretches for their extensive views and for the profusion of wildflowers and butterflies in meadows and on verges (sadly a few of these had already been cut rather too early). On the limestone 'Causses' we found many orchids - 'pyramidal' being the most widespread but with more exotic species, especially around Loubressac and in the beautiful wood pasture landscape fringing much of the route between Carennac and Floirac. On this section, even more than those before, one really had the feeling of being in 'France profonde' but, too soon, we were already close to our final destination, the truly delightful Relais Sainte Anne in Martel where we learned this small town and its environs, seemingly so out of the way today, have nevertheless over the centuries more than once been linked to events of much wider significance in the history of France. Through good fortune we had an opportunity to find out about one of these - the final brutal defeat of the Gauls by Julius Caesar at their hilltop fortress only a few miles east from where the town now stands. The story of the battle and the rediscovery of its site by antiquarians in the late 19th century are told in Martel's museum. Officially this was closed when we visited due to a renovation project but the curator was there and kindly allowed us to see the section dealing with this episode. A timely reminder perhaps that peace and tranquillity are too rare and precious commodities both then as now!!

Thank you, we did enjoy the holiday very much. Our tenth Inntravel trip as far as we can discover, so you can see that the Inntravel experience is one we relish - lovely walks, super places to stay, nice people, interesting places to visit - and history and natural history thrown in. We do appreciate that you can't organize the weather, but that's usually been good too!  We hope to continue as long as our legs will carry us! With many thanks to all at Inntravel.

Wildflower meadows loud with grasshoppers; buzzards and kites and ancient buildings: dolmen, tumble down barns and red cows. The food at all the hotels was wonderful and I particularly recommend Le Petit Moulin restaurant for lunch in Martel where there is a small market on Saturdays. You could not hope for a warmer welcome at Domaine de la Vaysse.

Lovely week walking through the beautiful villages of the Dordogne. Even though the weather was not co-operating, we enjoyed ourselves! The walking notes were excellent as was the food and hospitality. Highly recommend this trip and Inntravel. 

Villages of the Dordogne, with two additional nights at Meyronne, is a brilliant walk! Each of the five hotels has a character of its own, some next to the river and one in a high location with stunning views. The upgrade to Le Relais Sainte Anne in Martel was very worthwhile; so very peaceful, perhaps a reflection of its former spiritual use as a convent. The Chapel within the grounds is very calm and attractive and has candles burning each evening. A good restaurant with imaginative food at reasonable prices and good service in Martel is 'Chez Sophie'. Two additional nights at La Terrasse in Meyronne, next to the Dordogne river, were also very worthwhile. Every walk was in peaceful surroundings with glorious vistas over hills and valleys filled with trees. The wildlife was equally stunning ... Buzzards, Red Kites, Nightingales, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers (who chose to fledge from their nest in a hole in a live Oak Tree as we watched! That was a first!), Swifts, Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins, Hoopoe, many songbirds, foxes, and hares amongst others! All this was backed up by reassuring service from Inntravel, as usual. 

INNTRAVEL NOTE: As mentioned, these customers asked to add two nights at La Terrasse in Meyronne at the end of our Villages of the Dordogne itinerary.

All the walks were excellent. We particularly enjoyed the tourist Chemin de Fer at Martel - a last-day bonus! Another bonus was hearing the cuckoo every walking day. One point about Les Flots Bleu. When we arrived we found that we were expected on the Thursday (16 May), not the Wednesday, for which Inntravel had booked us. Consternation! The problem was eventually resolved and we were given a small attic room. This was clearly the Hotel's fault and not Inntravel's. This hotel seems generally rather disorganised and we didn't much care for the food. In general we thoroughly enjoyed the walk - our thirteenth with Inntravel!

Our Dordogne walk would have to rate as one of the best, if not the best, of the various holidays we've had over the years. Beautiful weather, gorgeous villages, excellent walking notes. Loved it!

This was our ninth Inntravel holiday and perhaps the best yet overall. The walking was very good - the longer routes were just about the right challenge for our group. The scenery was outstanding, the walks well-constructed with lots of flowers along the way, the villages visited were extraordinarily beautiful and the food was probably the best we have encountered on our Inntavel holidays. We would make special mention of the incredible warmth of the welcome from Pascale and Thierry at Domaine de la Vaysse. They joined us for supper the first night and we had some great conversation - they appreciated our efforts to converse in French for the whole evening! They are truly a couple who go the extra mile to make the stay memorable.

Our highlights on this holiday were the first stay in Beaulieu-sur Dordogne at l'Hotel les Flots Bleus, the Chateau de Castelnau, the walk to Autoire and the final stay at La Vaysse. Autoire was probably the most amazing of the villages, and coupled with the dramatic descent and even more dramatic ascent by the waterfall, was the best part of the whole tour. We would certainly recommend the longer of the two options between Carennac and La Vaysse. 

Inntravel’s Villages of the Dordogne walking holiday is a lovely introduction to this bucolic, rural part of France and its distinctive architecture.  It might better be called “Villages and Hamlets of Dordogne,” since one is so removed from any kind of services (shops, pharmacies, etc.) for so much of the itinerary.  Indeed, most of the “villages” one walks through are solely residential and farm oriented.  We were struck by the peacefulness of this part of France, where we encountered no other hikers and, save the innkeepers, saw very few other people during the entire week.  This was both fun, but also made the dining rooms a bit lonely at times.  Food at all four accommodations was good to excellent.  The walking was mostly gentle, with the exception of one longish walk on the third day.  Even that, in isolation, was not difficult and only tired us because of the cumulative effect of walking several days in a row.

Beaulieu is a lovely, sleepy market town on a beautiful part of the Dordogne River and makes a good introduction to the region.  The Hotel Les Flos Bleu has an excellent kitchen, which the makes the demi-pension aspect of the stay there truly memorable.  The picnic they sent us on with was exceptionally delicious.  We wish we had specifically requested a river view room.  Ours, though technically a “suite,” was dark, cavelike and depressing and we ended up disliking our stay there.  Our request for another room was poorly handled by the owner.

The walk from Beaulieu to Port de Gagnac was lovely, taking us through some interesting hamlets and pretty farming areas as well as forest.  Auberge du Vieux Port is an exceptionally wonderful accommodation run with warmth and charm.  The views from all of the room are towards the beautiful river.  It’s a peaceful place and we wish we would have stayed an extra night just to relax in the beauty and excellent service there.  

The next walk to Loubressac is not really difficult but is longish, with some up and down.  After choosing the longer walks both of the previous two days, I again regretted not having booked a rest day at Auberge du Vieux Port for the third day.  I’m sure I would have enjoyed the third walk (to Loubressac) better had I been more rested.  Still, I could appreciate its beauty and variety.  The walk takes one through the lovely village of Glanes, from where came the wine we drank throughout much of the week.  Also on the walk is the startlingly atmospheric and impressive Chateau de Castlenau.  The steepish approach to Loubressac is exciting, as one is aiming oneself at a walled chateau which fronts Loubressac.  The town itself is gorgeous.

We were not fans of Le Relais de Castelnau.  We were hustled to our rooms on arrival without any sense of welcome.  The place has great views and a beautiful pool (in full view of the dining room), but the structure and rooms felt cheaply made and failed as modern design.  Luckily, the food was very good and the dining service was adequate.  Views from the dining rooms were magnificent.  Our upgraded room had a terrace, but the wall framing the terrace was solid, ugly and much too high so that one could not actually see much of the view if one was seated.  Standard rooms downstairs (without terraces) ironically appeared to have much less unobstructed views.  We took a rest day the second day at Loubressac and enjoyed a lovely lunch at Hotel Lou Cantou, which we think would have been a nicer, more characterful place to stay.

Le Relais Sainte Anne is a complete treat from the first moment.  Our room was spacious and elegant, the grounds are delightful, and the food we had in their gorgeous little dining room was among the best of the trip.  We found the Madame charming, as was the waiting staff for dinner.  We are ready to return both there and Auberge du Vieux Port.  

Overall a lovely itinerary which we can highly recommend.

This is a region of France that we had not previously explored and the holiday was a perfect way of experiencing this beautiful and historic area. So many highlights, but special mention of the food at Les Flots Bleus, as well as the location on the river; the views from Relais de Castelnau plus the pool; the hospitality and convivial atmosphere at La Vaysse, along with their delightful pool and very individual rooms. We stayed three nights at these hotels and really enjoyed being able to get to know each area a little better.

We also enjoyed the food and hospitality at the Hostellerie Belle Rive although just for one night.

The Gouffre de Padirac is spectacular and well worth a visit. However, it is worth mentioning that the snack facilities had already closed for the season and only the Auberge was available for refreshments.The walk into the Gorge to Autoire was another highlight and the walk down surprisingly trouble free, although a walking pole is helpful especially after rain, or when, as when we were there, after a long period of dry weather.

The trip on the tourist train in Martel is also well worth taking with spectacular views most of the way.

Our Inntravel trip was fabulous. It was extremely well organised and we enjoyed the freedom that came with trusting that all would flow well.

Walks were a good challenge to be rewarded by great meals. We particularly enjoyed the hospitality and dining with the hosts at Domaine La Vaysse.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first Inntravel holiday. The booking process was straightforward with very friendly staff on the phone. The travel arrangements were well planned and we were very impresssed with the folder of information sent. The walks and their descriptions were very easy to follow and showed the diversity of the surrounding countryside. All the hotels were excellent for different reasons. The accommodation and food ranged from very good to outstanding! Day 3, although a long walk in 32 degree heat was perhaps our favourite. The caves at Padirac were well worth visiting - we booked online prior to leaving the UK. We will almost definitely holiday again with Inntravel and would not hesitate to recommend them to our friends and family.

Easy, beautiful days. The autumn colours and views in September were spectacular. We will especially recall the warmth of the sun, the smell and taste of plums and figs that littered the paths, the new vistas awaiting us as we came to the top of the hills. 

Overall a very enjoyable walking holiday, with opportunities too for relaxing and sightseeing, and with very good accommodation and meals.

We had a wonderful holiday despite the extreme heat which rose to 37/38 degrees in the shade, but as a result we did cut short the walk from Loubressac to La Vaysse by asking the taxi driver to drop us at Floirac instead of Carennac....he was very kind and stopped in Carennac for a few minutes for us to have a brief look. We loved Loubressac and the Relais de Castelnau and were pleased we had booked for a third night which enabled us to do both the recommended circuits...both beautiful and we would recommend doing the same.  The Gouffre de Padirac is amazing, unlike anything we had experienced, and lovely at a temperature of 13 degrees underground! We booked online 10 days before leaving UK. Again because of the high temperature we returned to Loubressac the way we had come because the full circuit duplicated part of the Autoire circuit which we did the following day...again we recommend.  The Domaine de la Vaysse is a real contrast to Relais de Castelnau; a chambre d'hote in a lovely rural setting and the food, home-cooked by Pascale the owner with her husband Thierry was beautiful and original... a chocolate mousse to die for, home-made jams and yoghurts.

The area is stunning, and the villages are so peaceful & charming it almost didn’t seem real! The dinners were a treat - this could almost be marketed as a ’foodie’ tour.

This was one of the most satisfying of many Inntravel walks we have done, with beautiful scenery, lovely medieval villages and comfortable and friendly hotels. Pascale and Thierry, hosts at Domaine de la Vaysse, deserve special mention as do the restaurant at Les Flots  Bleus, the picnic area at Chateau de Castelnau, the village of Loubressac and the hotel pool there.

We enjoyed this walk and our 21st Inntravel holiday! The notes were straightforward and the paths were good and well signed - with lovely scenery and lots of interesting flowers and wildlife along the way. The opportunities to stop en route and see Chateau de Castelnau and the caves at Gouffre de Padirac are worth taking up and added to the overall experience. Food was excellent on the whole - in particular the first meal at Hotel Les Flots Bleus was exceptional and the friendly atmosphere and pretty rooms at Domaine de la Vaysse made for a relaxing end to our holiday.

The view from the outside dining area and pool at the Relais de Castelnau is breathtaking; you could easily stand in the pool all day admiring the fantastic uninterrupted view of the castle and surrounding area that you can see for miles. 

The whole experience was delightful! Accommodations were superb and each day’s walk was beautiful. The details provided about each village were useful and informative. The Dordogne was enchanting and varied. Each village had its charms and the walks took us by vistas, chateaux, gorges, valleys, and ugh - hills! The side trip to the Gouffre de Padirac was a highlight. Highly recommend the experience and working with Inntravel to orchestrate the week.  

A wonderful trip, free of snags and surprises. Everything ran like clockwork -- taxis, luggage transfers, accommodations. And ah, the Dordogne! Gorgeous countryside, pleasant walking, fascinating ancient towns, welcoming inns. And because you've had a vigorous walk during the day, you can savor the foie gras, butter and wine that awaits at day's end without reservation. 

Our first Inntravel trip was a complete success surpassing our expectations (even after reading website reviews).  The countryside routes were varied and beautiful, the optional tours different and more exploratory, the accommodation and meals very good.  We particularly enjoyed our dinners at Auberge du Vieux Port and Le Relais Sainte Anne.  As we continued our week we enjoyed the occasional company of fellow travelers whether on our schedule or the day ahead of us! Now the task is to choose another Inntravel trip which will match our experience in the Dordogne.

It was a wonderful combination of walking adventures through gorgeous countryside with the reassurance of excellent route notes, topped by delicious food at the end of each day. We also enjoyed exploring local options for lunch. The Hotel Lou Cantou in Loubressac, and the Hazard de Balthasar in Martel were both excellent and gave a wonderful experience of local flavours and local life.

We absolutely loved this trip! We were originally attracted to it because of the lovely photos on the website, but the actual beauty of the Dordogne region from the vantage point of walking surpassed our expectations. It certainly helped that we had perfect weather (last week of May) and that the flowers were at their peak. We were quite pleased with the accommodations and the food, especially at such a reasonable price. The owners and other people we encountered were all so friendly and helpful in spite of our poor French. The routes were quite varied and interesting and the notes thorough and easy to follow. We would definitely recommend this trip to others, and we look forward to trying another walking trip with Inntravel in the future!

This is a very pretty area of France, where we journeyed through some lovely little medieval villages and nice countryside on the way. We were lucky to be in Beaulieu for the 'Festival de la Fraise' on our first full day. It was the end of a French holiday so many French people had travelled there for the day. There was a craft market, bands playing, and rather a lot of strawberries! We had good French food & wine throughout the holiday. We would very much recommend a stay in the Relais Sainte Anne in Martel; a quiet idyll away from it all with excellent service, beautiful gardens & fantastic food. We took a trip on the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Haut Quercy on our last day. It was interesting to travel over the viaduct which we had walked under on the previous day's walk. Martel was a lovely village to end our holiday.

In spite of the cold wet weather, the first two hotels have left us with the best impressions, kindness and gastronomy. The second two, there was no 'kindness' and we had the same menu both evenings. The dogs in the dining room at Relais St. Anne really annoyed us, as well as the 'stiff upper lip' of Mme, who was in charge.

I have just returned from my first Inntravel trip, two wonderful weeks including the Villages of  the Dordogne and the Land of the Crusades, a part of France that may not be particularly familiar to many Americans.  The Inntravel experience was especially rewarding in that it emphasized both the journey and the destination. Where some other walking trips I have taken have been more about the journey to an incidental overnight stay, the various inns and the people who ran them were some of the most memorable aspects of the trip. Without exception, the innkeepers took immense pride in their businesses and were eager to share the history of their establishments and of the local area and its cuisine. All of the luggage transfers and taxi transfers were seamless, even when I created a bit of a "contretemps" by joining the wrong taxi company in my first transfer. The walking notes are the best I have used, and I soon learned that if the course did not make sense it was because I had not been paying close attention to the notes. The maps were useful in providing an oversight of the walking course in the landscape, but I never once had to consult them en route or wish I had brought a compass to find my way--the notes were that accurate. Over the course of the trip several of my hosts volunteered unprompted that Inntravel was one of the best companies to work with, which I think is a particularly eloquent endorsement.  

The Villages of the Dordogne trip passes through forests, upland causses, and a prosperous and picturesque countryside with numerous old villages and towns. During the last week of April, the walking paths were almost deserted, and I encountered no more than twenty people the whole week, almost all of them French. All of the walking days I took involved moderate climbs out of the river valleys to open uplands which often provided striking views of the Perigord countryside.  There were a few tourists in Beaulieu, Loubressac, Carranac, and Martel, but none of those places felt remotely crowded, and the evenings were very quiet. For me one of the most memorable aspects of the walk was the variety of the places I stayed, the elegance of the setting and cuisine of the Flots Bleus at Beaulieu, the warm and efficient hospitality of the husband and wife team at the historic Auberge de Vieux Port on the river at Gagnac, and becoming part of the family at the Domaine de la Vaysse table d'hote near Martel. The Relais de Castelnau is a small conventional hotel, but it has a wonderful view over the Dordogne valley and friendly service. Everybody I interacted with had at least enough English to make for easy communication, but to truly experience this part of la France profonde, even a modest amount of French goes a long way. 

The Land of the Crusades is in an area which felt more remote than the Dordogne, and with the exception of the Gaillac wine area around Cordes, it seemed less prosperous and forgotten by the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The hilltop bastide towns, even though they have been (most of them) restored, give a real sense of how threatening the outside world must have been in medieval times that so many people would have been packed into these small fortresses. The walk begins in the largely forested upland area along the Aveyron River, and then from Puycelci moves to open, rolling countryside with many vineyards in the Gaillac area. During the first week of May the walking paths were virtually deserted, and at night the villages were almost eerily quiet. As with the Dordogne walk, the inns  and meeting their proprietors were one of the highlights of the trip, and each was unique and historic in different ways. The Chambres d'Hotes Cornelia in Bruniquel is a small inn run by a husband and wife team in two ancient buildings welded together just below the hilltop fortress. Chez Delphine in Puycelci is in an 18th century police station built on top of a 14th century house which once housed twenty policemen and their families (!). At the included two dinners at Le Roc Cafe at Puycelci our group was treated like royalty, and on Saturday night they had a very good pair of musicians performing on the patio with a view of the valley below. Les Vents Bleus is a chambre d'hote in an 18th century estate house in the hamlet of Donnazac in which the proprietor and his wife outdid themselves with lovingly presented food, including perhaps the best picnic sandwich I have ever had. And finally the Maison Bakea in Cordes is a one of a kind 13th century manor house with a courtyard, lovingly restored and decorated with a designer's eye with period antiques. Particularly for an American living in a part of the country where written history begins in the nineteenth century, staying in these places was like visiting an historical fantasy world. 

With both of these walks I was able to see and stay in places I would never have been able to find on my own, and I would return to enjoy them again and to meet my hosts again in a heartbeat, except that there are so many other walks to explore.  

Highlights:

First views of Chateau de Castelnau - very impressive. And an excellent picnic spot once we got there.

The Autoire circuit through the village and up to the waterfall.

This was a beautiful time of year to go.  People were harvesting mushrooms, chestnuts, and walnuts.  There were never any crowds and the weather was ideal.  We enjoy being in the countryside and that is exactly what we did, the walks, inns and food were all great. We did have to walk through an area of active boar hunting with dogs and shooting on our walk to Martel

The trip was organized flawlessly. All accomodations and meals were excellent. The walks were diverse and interesting. We will definitely take another trip with Inntravel.  

This was an amazing trip that surpassed my expectations. I travelled alone and found the accompanying notes incredibly accurate and the whole thing was superbly organised. It was smooth sailing from the moment I stepped off the train to the moment I was driven back to the station. The routes really pleasant, the countryside beautiful and the accommodation overall was great. The food was wonderful but the quality of the dinner at the Auberge du Vieux Port was outstanding. I brushed up on my French before going and it really paid off. The hosts were so appreciative of the effort I made. Interestingly the drivers and hosts had nothing but praise for Inntravel. A wonderful experience and I loved every minute of it.

Your advice on pickpockets should be stressed as one attempted to steal from my wife's back pack but noticed him in time.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: The advice regarding pickpockets relates to transiting Paris on the Metro.

We loved this slow introduction to a part of France none of us had visited. The walks took us up and down through vineyards, cornfields, walnut orchards, fruit orchards, chestnut and hazelnut woods, to the bottom and top of a waterfall, past a magalithic dolmen, and alongside a stone shepherd's hut. We walked past rural farms, ateliers for local artists, and along an ancient apothecary trail. The villages and hamlets were as charming as they look in pictures. We found that people we met along the route were pleasant and helpful. Our weather wasn't what most people would think of as perfect - it rained many of the days. But, it didn't rain all day, and it was nice to walk in cool temperatures rather than in blazing sun. The paths were well-chosen. We had no trouble even on the steepest paths on the rainiest days. We were alone on most paths except for an occasional villager - no other tourists. The hotels were wonderful and the dinners were fantastic. We chose the Le Relais Sainte-Anne option for our last two nights. It's a lovely hotel with a Michelin starred chef in a vibrant village, and a great way to end a beautiful week. This was our first self-guided walking tour and it was wonderful.

We found our choice of rail travel made for long days both out and back. As highlights, perhaps the stories round the table at Le Domaine de la Vaysse (nr Martel).

This is a lovely holiday which we greatly enjoyed enjoyed even though we had pretty dreadful weather, with lots of rain, thick fog and cold, cold mornings - a surprise in September. The hotels are varied and all in lovely positions, the food was generous and often very good and everyone was very friendly. We loved the walks which were straightforward to follow (mostly) and very varied. The causses are quite strange (especially in thick mist!) and very beautiful. We were enchanted by coming across the Ferme de Siran with its lovely angora goat wool in the middle of a particularly cold and wet day! If you are lucky enough to get good weather this is a great holiday.

The Auberge de Vieux Port is such a lovely hotel in all respects. We enjoyed its location, food and the wecoming host. The final long walk from Carennac was the best despite its length and the showers! Then to arrive at La Vaysse was the cherry on the cake.

We made the long days more manageable and enjoyable by taking taxis - on day 3 to Cornac; on day 5 to Floirac.

Many thanks for a wonderful holiday. We enjoyed every minute and step! Hotels were excellent and food superb. We would especially like to thank Nathalie and Alexandre Lasfargeas (Auberge du Vieux Port) and Thierry and Pascale Langlois (Domaine de la Vaysse) for their very friendly welcome and excellent hospitality.

Thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the accommodation. Meals were excellent. Would recommend use of one or two walking poles if there is any chance of rain. In late August it was quite hot and somewhat testing for those accustomed to cooler temperatures. 

The highlight was our first sighting of the chateau and les plus beaux villages.

The highlights of the accommodation were the cuisine at Les Flots Bleus, the setting and pool at Relais de Castenau, and the hospitality of Thierry and Pascal at la Vaysse. We loved the variety of the walks, with something different in terms of landscape and/or villages and chateaux each day. This was our first walking holiday and we will definitely be doing more with Inntravel in the future.

It was a great vacation. We have no recommendations to improve the experience, except for one little item. The walk from Martel to Gluges, then back up through the Chemin Botanique was not as exceptional as the previous routes. The churches were closed in Gluges and the Chemin looked worn. It could be that we were spoiled by the exceptional routes the previous days. Gluges is not as pretty as Floirac, for example. Yet, we love Martel and Relais Sainte Anne. Definitely keep two nights there. 

The quality of accommodation at the Relais Sainte Anne Martel was outstanding and well worth the upgrade. On the circular walk from Loubressac (option 2), the Cascades at Autoire were particularly spectacular due to the amount of rain we had experienced that week.

We went on three cycling holidays and a walking holiday. Every holiday had highlights and we had a wonderful time experiencing the countryside of France. The notes for the cycling and the walking are very detailed and accurate which is always important. Treasures of Southern Burgundy includes a great ride through vineyards to Beaune and back. Riding in the Loire is generally flat and there are interesting chateaus to see. Overall my personal favourite was the Villages and Vineyards of Alsace. This ride has some slightly more challenging riding but also more variety in the scenery and things to do. I loved the ride to Dambach and back from Bergheim. The walking holiday was also great because you get away from the main roads and yet you are still on well maintained tracks. The walk from Port Le Gagnac to Loubressac was very scenic and gave us a good workout. My tip would be to get fit before your holiday and then you will have a wonderful time. We travelled in July and were surprised that it was generally cooler than anticipated. So another tip is to be prepared for variations in temperature and some rain no matter when you go. Inntravel is well organised and this made our holiday go very smoothly.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers enjoyed the following cycling holidays: The Land of Kings (Loire & Sologne), Treasures of Southern Burgundy, Villages & Vineyards of Alsace followed by our Villages of the Dordogne walking holiday.

We loved the peaceful and unspoilt atmosphere of this area with its sleepy picture-postcard villages. The countryside is beautiful, we particularly enjoyed seeing so many different butterflies in the meadows and one day dozens of kites swooping over a field as the farmer mowed. Our favourite picnic spot was sitting above Autoire with the amazing view,watching the peregrines nest in the cliffs below. Another thoroughly well organised and enjoyable holiday with Inntravel, now our 3rd. With such consistency, we wouldn't look to travel with anyone else.

We had such an incredible, stress-free, beautiful trip! The walks were perfect, just the right level; we loved walking between villages and enjoyed woods and rivers, historical monuments and vistas. The directions were wonderful. The accommodations at the end of the day were carefully selected to offer more than just a comfy bed. There was phenomenal food at each of these hand-chosen family-run establishments. We enjoyed the sense that InnTravel had eased our way at every turn. We will be return customers!

A very enjoyable interesting walk, lovely villages and we feasted on wild strawberries and cherries en route, everyone we met was very helpful especially as our French is not good, this was our 5th trip with Inntravel and we look forward to the next one.

A most enjoyable walk. The food at each location was a highlight. Day 3 was the best walking, the first sight of Chateau de Castelnau will remain vivid for a long time. Could never get tired of sitting on the terrace of Relais de Castelnau. Never seen anything like Relais Sainte Anne. It is quite unique. The temperature was well into the 30's on the walk to Martel when we came across the "seasonal stream" and spent quite some time drinking in this peaceful atmospheric haven.

The town of Carennac was our favorite, although the market in Martel came a close second. The Chemin Botanique and the first walk from Beaulieu were our favorite walks.

Once again Inntravel have delivered a wonderful holiday. Everything was very well planned and went like clockwork right from leaving St Pancras on Eurostar. All the hotels were of a high standard and we particularly enjoyed Relais St Anne. Martel is a beautiful little town and we were lucky enough to stumble across some live entertainment in a local bar one evening. The walking notes were excellent and we had to try very hard, but did manage, to go wrong.....but only slightly! We are already thinking ahead to our next Inntravel holiday. Thank you.

The Villages of Dordogne walking holiday was the highlight of our 2 months in Spain and France.  We are frequent travelers and will look for your walking holidays on future travels to Europe.  Thank you for providing such excellent service.

The routes took us to areas of the Dordogne that many travellers never get to see. Thoroughly recommended.

I would also say that the revised logistics of parking our cars in Martel and taking the taxi to the start at Beaulieu is something you should always consider. It worked much better and enabled a fast get-away at the finish without having to factor in a taxi back to Beaulieu. There's also lots of parking at Domaine de la Vaysse.

An excellent walking holiday, graded right (the temperature made it a 2-3 booter at a unseasonable 33 degrees!). The Domaine de la Vaysse was outstanding with the excellent hosts making us so welcome....it was a house party!

I was very much impressed by the efficiency, quick responses and attitude of booking and support staff. I really enjoyed doing business with you.

I had an urgent change in plan while on the march (my flight time changed and this forced a chain of changes). One phone call from somewhere in the wilderness and I had new train tickets and changed taxi schedule within hours.

The whole holiday was consistently great so it's difficult to pick a particular highlight. One memorable moment was on the walk from Loubressac to Martel. At the point in the notes where it says "Soon pass a seasonal stream and old workings on your R." We just stopped and soaked everything in: the silent forest, the dappled sunlight making slow moving patterns of light in the trees, the sound of the steam splashing through the rocks, the smell of wild honeysuckle and the myriad of different butterflies weaving around us. We could have stayed there all day.

The trip to the caves from Loubressac was a highlight. Not only were the caves breathtakingly good but the circular walk via the caves and the viewpoint was a delightfully varied, interesting and pleasant country ramble.

Of the four Inntravel walking trips we have taken, the Dordogne was our favorite. Walking the wonderful country paths, stopping in medieval villages along the way and ending each day at a country hotel with an exquisite French meal was a perfect holiday.

This walking trip was a good entree for the slightly inexperienced walker and being early in the season was not overwhelmed with other walkers. It also meant the sights were easy to access though be aware that some places of interest have long lunch hours outside the busy holiday season. We finished the whole trip with a ride on the local enthusiasts' railway to see how far we had walked and the heights we had achieved. This was a toe in the water opportunity and will certainly use Inntravel again.

Walking in the countryside can't get much better than this.... not a cloud in the sky for an entire week, clear, chilly mornings leading to warm and eventually hot afternoons. Early summer in 

This part of France seems in many ways to be untouched by the troubles and worries of the cities but one should perhaps ponder on the significance of the many houses for sale and businesses closed. Even the tourist season seems to be confined to a few busy months in mid summer (in late April roads and attractions were still very quiet). Perhaps Brexit or fears about the political situation will mean that fewer English will take up residence here than have traditionally done in the recent past but if it's a quiet life you're after, you could do a lot worse. If it's a relaxing week's walking that you're looking for with time to reflect and enjoy exercise, fresh air and wonderful scenery, you would struggle to improve on this holiday. 

The food in the hotels was so good, you could classify this walk as a gourmet trip.....really excellent.

This was a fabulous trip. We especially enjoyed the small, family-owned hotel we stayed in that was our second hotel on our route. The chef and proprietor was a third-generation chef - taking over from his father and grandfather. The wife personally served us. The kids made the atmosphere friendly and family-like. It was like staying with a French family with first-class food.

The final hotel, the Relais St. Anne, is like an aristocratic haven -- within the closed walls, among the grassy plants, within the dining rooms, you find incredible duck pate, friendly French dogs, hotel staff that will make a fire for you while you drink citron pressé and play cribbage in a sitting room, a room like a small suite from Versailles with antique French furniture and a bathtub with jacuzzi jets.

The long walks inbetween hotels were filled with orchards, long stretches of open fields dotted thickly with wildflowers, thick, green forests, cliffs, river crossings; in short, the terrain was magnificent and varied - apart from the time we spent passing through the medieval-like towns and examining the ruins and still-used churches and houses, we were mostly on our own. We enjoyed perfect solitude amidst the hum of the countryside, occasionally passing a donkey or two - which we fed with apples - or an abandoned cazelle (shepherd's hut) built of stone. Moss-covered decaying stone walls followed us on either side of our path as we left towns. Then after long journeys through open country, field and forest, we would arrive at small hamlet or town and find delicious food and very gracious, courteous hosts. We spent one afternoon in the town of Martel, our final destination, in a cafe - there was no food served at that time, it being past lunch and before dinner, and many places were closed at the time, but the owner found us a real large homemade local sausage and several thick hunks of cheese and we ate those and my wife drank Belgian fruit syrup infused beer and I drank citron pressé after citron pressé and we played cribbage and she chatted with the servers in French (which I don't speak).

The hotel in Paris was elegant, helpful, located in a wonderful area near incredibly fine restaurants and services. What an amazing trip! We can't wait to book our next trip.