Dordogne Gastronomic Walk (press reviews)

For a different view of Europe, how about a walking or cycling holiday? Exploring at a snail's pace, travelling in slow motion on foot or by bike. Getting to know a region intimately and absorbing the sights, scents, tastes and atmosphere, in a way that most holidays won't reveal to you. Gentle activity by day, and creature comforts in the evening.

UK Company Headwater creates tailor-made 'soft adventure' holidays throughout Europe. They have a range of guided and independent holidays which suit groups of friends, retired couples, families looking for something to keep energetic teenagers busy', and singles - many tours have no single supplement.

On the independent holidays you move between hotels about every two days, using detailed maps and meticulously researched route notes. Your luggage is transported for you.

Guided holidays are a mix of must-see sights and off-the-beaten-track discoveries, and really allow you to get under the skin of the place you are visiting.

Accommodation ranges from historic castles, old manor houses and stylish villas to working farms and converted convents with wonderful cloisters and hidden courtyards.

One of Headwaters most popular independent walking holidays is the Dordogne Gastronomic Walk in southern France. This small rectangle of France has a lovely Mediterranean climate and a landscape of pink-gold cliffs, limestone plateaux, wild wooded valleys, meandering rivers, beautiful medieval towns, astonishing prehistoric sites, plus some of France's finest fortified chateaux and hilltop fortresses.

The holidays are all graded, being suitable for occasional through to regular walkers and cyclists. The Dordogne Walk is graded medium, with the longest day being 5-6 hours walking, and the hills gentle.

You'll enjoy peaceful, well-marked walks, mainly through forests and sunflower fields, and alongside rivers. Nature abounds with baby deer, red squirrels, buzzards and kites and vibrant orchids, poppies, garlic and wild mushrooms.

At the end of each day, you can look forward to an extravagant feast washed down with fine Cahors or Bergerac wines.

The chefs travel round the local woods, farms and gardens searching out just the right ingredients. Try the gourmet fare of foie gras, truffles, confits d'oie and the walnut liqueur eau de noix.

You'll stay at a grand country manor, a rural family-run hotel with great views and a tiny family-run auberge on the banks of the Dordogne.

There are many highlights. Sarlat has the highest concentration of medieval, Renaissance and 17th century 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 streets peeping through archways into ancient courtyards. One of the best markets in the country is held here each Saturday, selling gourmet regional produce fresh from the farms.

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 20 000 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.

The towering strongholds of Beynac, Castelnaud, Domme and Montfort, built during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), have breathtaking views. Your route also takes you to little-known chateaux hidden deep in the woods. You're never far from the Dordogne and Vezere rivers, so you often get the chance to swim, go fishing or canoeing.