Dordogne Gastronomic Walk

Location: The Dordogne, France. Holiday type: Independent walking, hotel-to-hotel. Managed locally by Headwater employed rep. Activity level: 2 boots Duration: 9 days (8 nights) Hotels: Mid range/good value. Meals: Continental breakfast and all evening meals. Prices from: Please call. Departs: Every two days from 11 May '12 to 24 Sep '12   JFMAMJJASOND

Highlights This gastronomic walk explores the limestone cliffs, wooded valleys and beautiful mediaeval villages that are so unique to France's Dordogne. World famous pre-historic sites and fine local wines add a further dimension to a stay here.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Sarlat

Our *** hotel is a lovely country house, set in 3 acres of private pine woods, overlooking the Sarlat valley.

Day 2 - Sarlat to Beynac 17km/11mi/4.5hr

Sarlat has the highest concentration of mediaeval, Renaissance and 17C facades of any town in France and its richly ornamented stone buildings are protected by law. You feel like a time-traveller as you wander the narrow mediaeval streets peeping through archways into ancient courtyards. When it's time to leave, it's down through shaded woods and pretty villages to Beynac where you spend the next two nights.

Day 3 - At Beynac

Beynac is built on narrow terraces leading gradually to the top of a dramatic limestone crag overhanging the Dordogne. A steep footpath lined with C15-C17 stone houses takes you up to the castle where there's a breathtaking panorama taking in the serpentine sweep of the river and the spectacular C13 hilltop chateau. Visit the beautiful Jardins de Marqueyssac or go swimming, fishing, canoeing or take a trip in a flat-bottomed boat.

Day 4 - Beynac to Les Eyzies 22km/14mi/5.5hr

From Beynac you start off following the course of the Dordogne River along riverside paths, meandering through fields of maize, then climb up into the lively town of St Cyprien and via well marked paths through shaded woodland to your hotel set in lovely private gardens just outside Les Eyzies.

Day 5 - At Les Eyzies

Les Eyzies - an archaeologist's paradise - lies at the base of steep limestone cliffs crowned with evergreen oaks and junipers. The rock is riddled with caves and shelters inhabited by Stone Age man tens of thousands of years ago and the town is world-famous as the 'capital of prehistory'. The Grotte de Font de Gaume contains multi-coloured paintings of animals and a remarkable frieze of bison.

Day 6 - Les Eyzies to Tamnies 24km/15mi/6hr

Leave Les Eyzies taking the GR6 path through sleepy hamlets and shady wooded valleys. First stop is the Roc de Cazelle - a troglodyte cave complex excavated in the cliffs and inhabited from prehistoric to mediaeval times (and even, allegedly, as recently as 1966!). Then it's on through woodland to the hilltop village of Tamnies for a refreshing dip in the pool.

Day 7 - At Tamnies

The pretty flower-filled village of Tamnies looks down on the Vallee de la Beune. There is an interesting C12 church housing an amazing multi-coloured wooden crucifix. Not far from here is the C16 Chateau de Puy Martin, perched on a hill and renowned for its lush furnishings and tapestries. We provide full walking notes for a local circular walk; alternatively there's a sandy lake beach just 5 mins walk away where you can swim if you fancy a change from the hotel pool.

Day 8 - Tamnies to Sarlat 15km/9mi/4hr or 19km/12mi/5hr

Your walk from Tamnies back to Sarlat takes you through woodland and up through the hills - great views of the surrounding valleys - via Marquay and on through the sleepy village of Campagnac with its evocative chateau. Then you're on the outskirts of Sarlat, ready to savour its mediaeval delights again.

Day 9 - Leave Sarlat