Dordogne River Walk: Self-Launched Edition

Make your way to Rocamadour — the nearest train station is Rocamadour-Padirac on the Brive–Figeac line (roughly £35–45 from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz via Brive, book on SNCF Connect). Check into a budget hotel or chambre d'hôtes in or near the village. Spend the afternoon soaking up this extraordinary UNESCO-listed cliff-face village, exploring its ancient chapels, the shrine of the Black Madonna and the medieval sanctuary. Grab dinner at one of the affordable village restaurants — try the walnut salad and confit duck.

🚌Train Paris → Brive-la-Gaillarde → Rocamadour-Padirac (~£35–45 booked in advance on sncf-connect.com); local taxi from station ~£10

🛏Hôtel Beau Site or Hôtel Le Troubadour, Rocamadour (~£45–60/night for a double room)

• →Arrive by train to Rocamadour-Padirac station, then local taxi ~£10 to village
• →Self-explore the UNESCO cliff village, chapels and medieval sanctuary (free)
• →Visit the Château de Rocamadour ramparts (entry ~£4)
• →Dinner in village — local Périgourdine cuisine (~£15–20)

After breakfast, lace up your boots and set off on the 15 km walk to Meyronne via the Grottes de Lacave. Follow the well-signed GR6/GR46 paths down the Alzou Canyon and along the Dordogne valley. Download the free IGN Rando app or use Komoot (free tier) to navigate — the route is well-waymarked with red-and-white GR markers. Stop at the Grottes de Lacave cave system (tickets ~£13) on your way. Arrive in the tiny village of Meyronne and check into a gîte or small hotel.

🚌On foot (15 km walking day)

🛏Gîte or chambre d'hôtes in Meyronne (~£40–55/night); budget option: Camping La Plage de Meyronne (~£12/pitch)

• →Walk GR6/GR46 trail Rocamadour → Meyronne, 15 km (~4.5 hrs) — use Komoot or IGN Rando app (free)
• →Visit Grottes de Lacave cave system (~£13 entry, book on site or direct)
• →Riverside picnic lunch with local market produce (~£6–8)

A free day to explore at your own pace. The star attraction is the Gouffre de Padirac — an enormous underground chasm where you descend 75 m and explore a subterranean river by boat. Book tickets in advance online (~£18). Alternatively, walk south along the river to the Rocher Sainte-Marie viewpoint (free). In the afternoon, relax by the river or find a spot at a local café. This is a good day to pick up supplies at the Souillac market (30 min by taxi) if it falls on a Wednesday or Saturday.

🚌Local taxi to Gouffre de Padirac (~£15 each way, or arrange shared taxi with other travellers)

🛏Same as Day 2 — gîte or chambre d'hôtes in Meyronne (~£40–55/night)

• →Gouffre de Padirac underground cave & boat trip (~£18, book at gouffre-de-padirac.com)
• →Walk to Rocher Sainte-Marie viewpoint (free)
• →Explore local riverside paths and meadows (free)
• →Evening dinner at local restaurant (~£18–22)

Set off from Meyronne on the 18 km walk to Souillac. The route climbs to the Roc de Monges ridge for panoramic views over the Dordogne — keep an eye out for red kites and buzzards soaring overhead. Join the GR6 path through sleepy hamlets and lush farmland, passing the fairytale Château de la Treyne perched above the river before dropping into Souillac. Check into your accommodation and explore this lively market town, with its impressive Romanesque abbey church.

🚌On foot (18 km walking day)

🛏Hôtel de la Vieille Auberge or similar 2-star hotel in Souillac (~£45–60/night)

• →Walk GR6 trail Meyronne → Souillac, 18 km (~5.5 hrs)
• →Roc de Monges ridge walk with panoramic Dordogne valley views (free)
• →Pass Château de la Treyne viewpoint (exterior free)
• →Visit Souillac's Romanesque Abbaye Sainte-Marie (free)

Explore Souillac at leisure. The quirky Musée de l'Automate houses the largest collection of mechanical toys, automata and dolls in France — well worth the small entry fee. If you fancy more walking, head out on the local trails towards La Durantie for sweeping Dordogne valley views. Wednesday and Saturday mornings see a traditional market in the town square — ideal for picking up local walnuts, foie gras and cheeses. In the evening, treat yourself to a Périgourdine set menu at one of the town's restaurants.

🚌On foot within Souillac

🛏Same as Day 4 — 2-star hotel in Souillac (~£45–60/night)

• →Musée de l'Automate, Souillac (~£7 entry)
• →Optional walk to La Durantie viewpoint (free, ~8 km round trip)
• →Souillac Wednesday/Saturday market — local produce and crafts (free entry)
• →Self-guided walk around Abbaye Sainte-Marie and old town (free)

Take a local taxi (~£20–25) to Château de Fénelon as your starting point for today's 19 km walk. Follow the south bank of the Dordogne, then pick up the old disused railway line — now a voie verte (greenway) — for a flat, scenic approach into Sarlat-la-Canéda. Arrive into the medieval capital of Périgord Noir and check into your accommodation. The town centre is a UNESCO-protected maze of golden limestone streets, Renaissance courtyards and ornate façades — spend the evening getting wonderfully lost in it.

🚌Taxi to trailhead ~£20–25; on foot 19 km for the main route

🛏Hôtel de Compostelle or La Maison des Peyrat, Sarlat (~£50–70/night); budget option: Camping Les Périères (~£12–15/pitch)

• →Taxi transfer to Château de Fénelon start point (~£20–25 split between walkers)
• →Walk voie verte and riverside path to Sarlat, 19 km (~5.5 hrs)
• →Self-guided evening walk through Sarlat's UNESCO medieval centre (free)
• →Dinner in Sarlat — try the Périgord set menu with duck confit and walnut tart (~£18–25)

A full day to explore one of the finest medieval towns in France. Wander the warren of honey-stone lanes, admire the Renaissance façades and discover hidden courtyards — all protected by law as a classified historic site. Wednesday and Saturday mornings bring a famous open-air market to the main squares, overflowing with truffles, foie gras, local cheeses and produce. Book a half-day Dordogne canoe trip via GetYourGuide or directly with local operator Canoe Dordogne (~£20–25) for a memorable afternoon on the river.

🚌On foot within Sarlat

🛏Same as Day 6 — hotel or chambre d'hôtes in Sarlat (~£50–70/night)

• →Self-guided walk of Sarlat's medieval old town and Place de la Liberté (free)
• →Sarlat Wednesday/Saturday market — truffles, foie gras, local specialities (free entry)
• →Dordogne canoe or kayak hire (~£20–25, book via GetYourGuide or direct with Canoe Dordogne)
• →Visit Manoir de Gisson medieval townhouse (~£6 entry)

The most spectacular day of the walk. Set off from Sarlat and follow paths past dry-stone bories (ancient shepherd's huts) and quiet hamlets, with the river and its châteaux appearing at every turn. Pass the Château de Montfort cliff-top fortress and the port at Vitrac before reaching La Roque-Gageac — one of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France', a golden village squeezed between limestone cliffs and the river. Continue past Castelnau and into the fortified village of Beynac, once besieged by Richard the Lionheart — take the steep detour up to Château de Beynac (~£8 entry) for breathtaking views. Press on through serene countryside to your final night's accommodation near Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse.

🚌On foot (24 km walking day)

🛏Chambre d'hôtes or small hotel near Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse or in Beynac (~£45–65/night)

• →Walk Sarlat → Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse, 24 km (~7 hrs) via La Roque-Gageac and Beynac
• →La Roque-Gageac village stroll and river gabare (traditional flat-bottomed boat) trip (~£10, book locally)
• →Château de Beynac entry (~£8, book direct at chateaubeynac.com)
• →Picnic lunch at Beynac with café terrace views (~£6–8 self-catered)

Enjoy a final breakfast and bid farewell to the Dordogne. The nearest train stations are Sarlat-la-Canéda (local bus or taxi ~£15) or Souillac (taxi ~£25), both with connections to Bordeaux (from ~£20) or Brive-la-Gaillarde (from ~£10) for onward travel. If time allows, make a final stop in Beynac or La Roque-Gageac before heading home.

🚌Taxi to Sarlat or Souillac (~£15–25); train to Bordeaux or Brive (~£10–20, book on sncf-connect.com)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast and check-out
• →Optional last morning walk along the Dordogne riverbank (free)
• →Taxi to Sarlat train station (~£15) or Souillac (~£25)
• →Train to Bordeaux (~£20) or Brive (~£10) for onward connections