Paths to Rocamadour

Day 1 • Arrive in Sarlat-la-Canéda

Explore this attractive market town in the heart of Périgord Noir, with its narrow medieval and Renaissance streets. Sarlat has the highest concentration of historical monuments in all of France

NB Market days: Wednesdays and Saturdays

HHH Hôtel Renoir (std) HHHH Plaza Madeleine (sup)

Day 2 • Sarlat-la-Canéda to Carsac-Aillac

Walk from the valley up into low hills with fertile far mland, before descending to the Dordogne Valley (standard: 9 7 miles, 5 hrs / superior: 11 3 miles, 5 5 hrs)

HHH Le Relais de Touron (std) HHHH Villa Romaine (sup)

Day 3 • Carsac-Aillac to Rouffillac

Paths and tracks along the valley bring us to Rouffillac on the river Dordogne (sup 6 6 miles, std 5 7 miles; or via the Château de Fénelon – sup 10 miles, std 11.1 miles).

HHH Hôtel Le Rouffillac

Day 4 • Rouffillac to Souillac (Day 1 – Arrive Souillac)*

Paths across the hills, with far m and woodland tracks, and views of the Dordogne Valley bring us to the market town of Souillac, where we stay in the old town, close to the fine 11-12th Century Benedictine Abbey church (10 8 miles, 5 5 hrs)

HHH Le Pavillon Saint Martin

Day 5 (2)

• Souillac to Lacave

Paths through far mland and woods lead across low hills, then back down to the Dordogne river and at its confluence with the river Ouysse, and small village of Lacave with its impressive cave system – visited on a small electric train (8 5 miles, 4 hrs)

HHHH Le Pont de l’Ouysse

Day 6 (3) • Lacave to Rocamadour

Following the resurgent river Ouysse, good paths and tracks lead through dramatic limestone gorges and the causse of Quercy – as birds of prey wheel high overhead, to historic, cliff-side Rocamadour (8.4 miles, 4 hrs).

HH Le Ter minus des Pèlerins (std)

HHH Le Beau Site (sup)

Day 7 (4) • Free day in Rocamadour

Time to visit the medieval monastic complex high on the cliff, its churches and Sanctuary with its famous Black Madonna Optional walk along wooded paths and tracks leads through the Gorge d’Alzou to the Moulin du Saut, retur ning across hills of the causse (9 miles, 4 hrs)

HH Le Ter minus des Pèlerins (std)

HHH Le Beau Site (sup)

Day 8 (5)

• Departure day

*Days in brackets refer to 5-day itinerary

Route open:

April-July; Sept-Oct

Airports to first hotel: u Bergerac (46 miles)

Taxi & train: 1 5 hrs - €30

Taxi: 1 hr 15 - €150 u Brive-la-Vallée (25 miles)

Taxi: 50 mins - ~€150 u Paris: TGV via Bordeaux

/Souillac: 5-6 hrs, ~€50-€90

Route Manager: ATG-trained, lives locally and speaks fluent English, French and Swiss Ger man.

Route Book: with detailed measured directions, maps marked with the route, GPS and extensive background and local infor mation

Walking: Easy to moderate (Grade 2 – 3) See p 8

Terrain: Low hills with valley views, limestone gorges, far m and woodland paths and tracks, a section of disused rail track, quiet country lanes and gravel roads.