The Dordogne is a year-round climbing destination. The pocketed limestone cliffs of the Dordogne offer huge scope for rock climbing. Rock climbing in Autoire in the Dordogne | © The tourist offices in Montignac and Salignac-Eyvigues can provide maps and info. The Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC) have set up 24 waymarked MTB loops graded according to difficulty and covering a total of more than 500 km. Here, you’re in the heart of Périgord Noir with its picturesque landscapes, hundreds of chateaux and a bio-diversity so rich it’s UNESCO protected. A good middle distance option is the 80 km Véloroute which follows the Lot river from Aiguillon to Bonaguil.Ī highlight for mountain bikers is the area around Montignac between the Vézère and Dordogne rivers. Long-distance cycling routes include the 180 km Grande Traversée dy Périgord which runs from Mareuil in the north-west of the region to Monpazier. And, forested valleys provide mountain bikers with superb terrain to explore. Minor roads and gravel tracks provide plenty of opportunity for leisurely cycle touring. The Dordogne’s gentle rolling hills are criss-crossed with hundreds of kilometres of waymarked cycling routes and trails. The French hiking association – the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre produces detailed Topo Guides of the GR routes. The central tourist office in Périgueux will have trail maps for the whole of the Dordogne region, whereas tourist offices in smaller towns will only be able to provide localised maps. You can pick up maps of the walking trails from tourist offices. The trails runs south of the Dordogne across a region known as Haut Query following the Lot river from Figeac to Moissac. The walk is listed among the European long-distance paths. And the GR65, also known as the Chemin de Saint-Jacques, is the old pilgrimage trail to Santiago de Compostela. The GR36 meanders southeast from Bourdeilles to Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil. The GR6, which travels west to east right across France, stretches 165 km within the Dordogne from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande to Figeac. The region’s main GR trails include the GR6, GR36 and GR65. You’ll know you’re on a GR by the red and white striped markers on trees and fence posts. You can often tailor make your own route to include a section of a GR route. Waymarked Grande Randonnée hiking routes offer long distance itineraries. Whenever the trail dips down to the river, there’s an opportunity for a refreshing swim. It’s hilly but more accessible than the Alps and the Pyrenees, and there are campsites and gîtes d’étapes conveniently located beside the trails. The undulating rural landscape is well suited to a walking holiday. It gives you the chance to breath in the fragrant air, watch out for wildlife and chat to locals along the way. Hiking is a great way to experience the Dordogne close up. On occasion sections of river may be closed due to the water level either being too high or tool low for safe paddling.įor the full experience, rent a canoe for a full day and take the time to stop for swims and a picnic on one of the many beaches along the river. You need to be able to swim and you have to wear your buoyancy aid. Prices are based on the length of the descent and start from about 9.50 euros per person for a 6 km trip. You’ll be given a paddle, buoyancy aid and a waterproof container for personal gear. You can rent everything from single person kayaks to Canadian canoes for 4 people. A leisurely paddle will see you travelling at roughly 6 km an hour, so a 15 km descent will take just over 2.5 hours. Or, more typically, you’ll be driven upstream to your starting point and you’ll paddle back to base. You’ll either paddle downstream from the base and get picked up at the end of your itinerary. There are canoe rental companies all across the Dordogne. But these aren’t the only waterways to explore – you can also paddle the Ilse, the Dronne and the Auvézère which are all just as worthy despite being a lot quieter. The 2 rivers that are most popular for canoe trips are the Dordogne and the Vézère. With 100’s of kilometres of meandering river, you’ll paddle through forested valleys, past ancient villages, and beneath chateaux perched high on limestone cliffs. Canoeing & KayakingĬanoeing down the Dordogne river towards Beynac | © With limestone cliffs, forests, hills and the Dordogne and Vézères rivers, the Dordogne is a top destination for active holidays and outdoor sports. Tour du Mont Blanc – A Classic Long-Distance Walk in the Alps.Bike Alp - MTB Holidays in the Southern French Alps
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