Dordogne river location free#

The plan is the following: you arrive at the start point N 44 49.400 E 1 16.954, leave the car at the free parking, take a canoe (kayak) and go along the river to the finish. We will describe our trip, on the example of the company Explorando Canoë Dordogne

Rafting on the Dordogne River ©Yuriy Buriak This place is made for a boat trip, we highly recommend it. Shut all gates and barriers that you go through.ĭo not light matches or make a fire, especially when it has been dry.ĭo not pick the wild flowers but leave them for others to enjoy.We arrived at the Dordogne River not only to see beautiful castles, but also for rafting. Remember to walk on the left-hand side of the road in order to face oncoming traffic. If you are walking alone, always tell someone where you are going.ĭo not pass any barrier indicating ‘Propriété Privée’ unless the walk description indicates that this is permitted.Įven if the day looks hot and fine, take waterproof clothing as the weather can be changeable. It is advisable not to deviate from the marked path – if there is a shortcut it is usually shown on the map. If a walk has a timing of five hours, allow at least one hour extra for breaks and a lunch stop.Īlthough the Dordogne is not usually as hot as the south of France, in summer you will need to take plenty of water and sunscreen. Give yourself plenty of time by setting off early. Read the walk description against a map before you go to ensure that the walk is within the capacity of all members of your party.

GPX files for all the routes described in the guide are available as free downloads to purchasers of the book at Guidelines to walking in the Dordogne Otherwise, it is easy to buy them in the region and they are sometimes cheaper in local supermarkets.įor pre-walk planning and post-analysis, all the 1:25,000 and 1:100,000 IGN maps for the whole of France are available on the internet for a very small annual subscription from This is the best way to be sure you have the latest editions, and is accompanied by a powerful set of tools to choose the magnification, print selected areas, superimpose recorded GPS trails and record your favourite routes online. Unfortunately, only a few of the IGN maps for the Dordogne are in the Top 25 Carte de Randonnée series, which often show the walking paths explicitly most are in the Série Bleue series, which do not show the walking routes so clearly.Ī complete list of IGN maps can be found in Appendix B, together with details of where to buy or order them in the UK. For additional features and detailed navigation, the relevant 1:25,000 IGN paper map is specified in the information box at the beginning of each walk. To cope with the high density of information and the different walk lengths, we have used four scales: 1:25,000, 1:33,000, 1:40,000 and 1:50,000. Walk 35 The Gouffre de Padirac and Causses de QuercyĪ good map that gives an overall picture of the Dordogne and Lot is the Michelin Carte Routière et Touristique 1:150,000 Périgord Quercy.Įach walk in this guide is accompanied by a sketch map with coloured contours, showing key places and numbered waypoints that are highlighted in the route description. Walk 33 Rocamadour and the mills of the Alzou Gorge Walk 25 South of the Château des Milandes Walk 18 Monpazier and the Château de Biron Walk 17 Beaumont and the Rocher du Corbeau Walk 3 Flaugeac to the Château de Bridoire The charm of the Dordogne also lies in the picturesque medieval towns, châteaux, churches and abbeys that stud the landscape, and these are the focus of many of the walks. Lying in south west France, the Dordogne is a land of great scenic variety, from rolling wooded hills and fertile valleys to barren upland plateaus and limestone cliffs riddled with caves. A route summary table and glossary are also provided. Also included is information on the history, flora and fauna of the region, together with practical pointers such as what to take and when to go, as well as notes on waymarking, accommodation and transport. There are step-by-step descriptions and maps for each route. They are graded easy or medium there are no long, steep climbs or abrupt descents. All walks are within the capacity of the average walker, and are on well-marked paths or quiet roads.

The walks, which range from 6 to 18.5km, take in the region's myriad delights, from spectacular gorges to enchanting chateaux and charming medieval villages. Guidebook to 35 half-day and day walks in France's beautiful Dordogne region, based around Bergerac, Lalinde, Sarlat and Souillac (Lot).

Dordogne river location