I've just booked our family's walking trip for this summer. This will be our 7th long distance self-guided trip, and we've decided to walk in France again. We are working with a French company, Sentiers de France, to arrange our trip, the same company who helped us with the Stevenson walk last summer. They offer two types of trips, depending on the level of accommodations. We decided two-star hotels last year were perfectly fine and we definitely liked the lower costs, so we booked through their La Caminade website. Our breakfasts and most of our dinners are included. We loved the dinner arrangement on the Stevenson walk.
We wanted to walk two weeks, so they have worked with us to put together two of their hikes:
We'll have 13 nights and 12 days of walking, about 213 km or 133 miles. In a couple of places a taxi transfer is included. This is usually done when the distance is really long and there aren't accommodations along the way.
Here are the places we'll stay overnight:
- Montignac - Les Eyzies de Tayac - Beynac - Vitrac - Sarlat - Carlux - Souillac - Cales - Rocamadour - St. Sozy - Carennac - Padirac - Bretenoux
We visited a few of these places back in 2004 when we stayed two weeks in Turenne in the Corezze. We really liked the area and are looking forward to getting to know it on foot. On the Stevenson walk last summer, we met mostly French walkers, so we're hoping that might happen again this summer. We enjoy the interaction with other walkers very much.
We'll arrive in Montignac on June 21 and start walking on June 22. We're looking forward to meeting up with our Slow Travel friend Dennis and his wife Gloria for a few days at the end of the walk.
I'd love any input about any of the stops along our route.
Well, probably for obvious reasons, I'd be interested in knowing where you are staying in Carlux. We've lived there for almost 15 years, and know Sarlat, Souillac, and most of the other places on your list well. What do you want to know?
You sure know how to have the time of your life. I bet my suggestions below are already pârt of your program:
(1) Near Les Eyzies, don't miss two things: - the Font de Gaume caves. The art is so amazing it makes me proud of humanity, to have been concerned with creativity so early, when survival was still the overwhelming priority no doubt. - the hearty ferme-auberge Taulado at Sireuil. I wrote a review on it for ST already. In fact it is oen of 3 of my fave ferme-auberges, all of which are on your itinerary.
(2) near Souillac - the Cougnac cave. Does it or does it not have a prehistoric drawing of a man being stabbed? YOu tell me. Homicidal investigation aside, the cave is very beautiful and small, making it very accessible and "intime" and exciting. - the ferme-auberge Calvel at Lacave. Eating their farme-fresh foie gras in the lovely garden, le pied !
(3) near Carennac - my 3rd ferme-auberge: Ferme Auberge du Moulin à Huile de Noix. ROUTE DE SAINT DENIS, outside the pretty town of Martel. Another fave of mine.
The 3 ferme-auberges are always part of my "hadj" every time I go to Dordogne-northern Lot, which is about every year.
(4) Near Vitrac, there is a beach easily accessible by canoe/kayak, and not so accessible by car. It is on the south side of the Cingle de Montfort (plage de Caudon?). It is the locals' secret beach and is one of the best picnic spots on the Dordogne river. Any second you think the chateau de Montfort were going to topple on your picnic blanket. The gravelly sort-of-road that goes to the beach doesn't even seem to have a number. You know, sort of like that road that goes to the Castelas farm in Sivergues.
There are too many magic places on your itinerary. I only pointed out some less travelled spots.
Kathy, So pleased you are coming to our area for your walking trip this year.On 21st of June we have ( as most places in France) our music evening. Any chance of a meet up? We usually meet up with Dennis and Gloria when they are here. I know you have visited some of the area before but is there anything we can help you with as you are going to some beautiful places. Judy
Kathy, have you read the book A Castle in the Backyard? I'm reading it now because we're going to the Dordogne in May and actually staying not too far from Castelnaud, which is the castle in the title. I just thought you might find the author's descriptions of some of her Grande Randonnée walks in the area interesting.
Well your walking trip is surely interesting as you describe it. No doubt you've notice that walking tours are very popular here in Europe and so are Walking Clubs. Our own club is organizing a one week 16 to 20 kms or 10 to 15 kms a day according to participants' conditionning. This will take place in eastern Cantal and Auvergne in May. We will be based near Le Puy-en-Velais. As this is a non profit club, cost is more than reasonable, for example, approximately 410 Euros pp including 7 nights and all meals. We will also have a 2 day hike in Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of) In June. For the more die hard walkers, the Marche Européenne du Souvenir et de L'amitié. 120 kms about 30 kms a day. The are just a few of the many walks and hikes organised by various groups.
So anyone wanting to experience a good old fashion walk let me know.I'll gladly help in whatever way I can.
Well, probably for obvious reasons, I'd be interested in knowing where you are staying in Carlux. We've lived there for almost 15 years, and know Sarlat, Souillac, and most of the other places on your list well. What do you want to know?
Carlux, we somehow didn't get to Carlux, Sarlat or Souillac when we were in the area a few years ago. I'm not sure yet where exactly where we are staying in Carlux though-- we don't find out about our accommodations until a few weeks before the trip. Since we will be on foot, normally we arrive mid/late afternoon and head out the next morning fairly early.
Americana, thanks for all that great information-- as usual. This gets me excited about being in this part of France. Foie gras! Most of our dinners are included at our accommodations, so I'm not sure that we'll get much chance to venture out for meals.
Judy, thanks for the info about June 21 and the music evening. We'll arrive in Montignac mid afternoon I think. We'd love to connect with you, either that afternoon/evening or when we are back at the end of the walk to stay with Dennis and Gloria.
GlobeTrotter, it is good to see you posting today and we look forward to you being more involved with our Forums. We've definitely seen the walking clubs in other parts of France (we spend a lot of time in Provence and love the hiking there). This past summer we hiked the Stevenson walk in the Cevennes (started in Le Puy-en-Velay) and several of the French walkers that we met were members of walking clubs. If I ever have the chance to live in France again, I would love to join one of the walking clubs.
