Périgourdine Escape — from Lalinde to Gramat in France
Hiking Collection by Guillaume
14
days
3-6 h
/ day
124 mi
13,200 ft
12,025 ft
The Périgord and the Dordogne are increasingly popular with hikers and cyclists, sometimes from the other side of the world like an Australian cyclist I met recently. It has to be said that this region has everything to seduce you. By following the Dordogne river, you start a journey where past and present merge. From prehistoric times to the Middle Ages and up to the present day, you will discover a region with character that’s sure to surprise you.
I’ve chosen to divide this Collection into 14 Tours that will allow you to discover, at your own pace, the sites your steps will lead you to. Each stage gives way to unique views of the Dordogne and villages seemingly straight out of the Middle Ages. Your steps will lead you to the foot of thousand-year-old cliffs, fortresses from the Hundred Years War, rocky promontories, idyllic gorges and century-old forests.
The Périgord is a region where there’s no need to rush. The architecture of the villages is particularly elaborate and that is why I have chosen to travel no more than 15 kilometres (9 mi) a day to give you time to discover the medieval villages and all the points of interest. Believe me, there are many!
You’ll also have the opportunity to see fortresses that are centuries old and still intact. The fortresses of Beynac and Castelnaud la Chapelle watch over each other, and you can visit them to enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley below – not to be missed!
Sarlat remains one of the emblematic monuments of the Périgord. Heart of the Périgord Noir, this town’s architectural heritage is extraordinary. Its church is surrounded by the tombs of Sarlat lords from the Middle Ages, whose names and Latin inscriptions can still be read on each of their tombs. Sarlat’s market is wonderful too. You can find many local specialities and crafts here. Sample the walnut cake and the black truffles of the Périgord while you’re here.
At the end of the route, you enter the gorges of the Ouysse in the direction of Rocamadour. This section remains one of my favourites. The path takes you to the foot of the Basilica of the Black Virgin in Rocamadour and you might well be overwhelmed by the historic atmosphere; many pilgrims have been here before you.
To complete this Collection, you can opt to wild camp, which is permitted, although many Tours start and end at municipal campsites. You can also opt for nights in hostels or hotels.
Lalinde, the start of our Perigordian adventure, is accessible by train from Bordeaux.
Gramat, the arrival point of this journey, allows you to reach Brive la Gaillarde and then Bordeaux by train as well.
Finally, Sarlat is the terminus of the Bordeaux-Sarlat line. So, if a week of hiking is enough for you, you can also decide to finish your journey in Sarlat and reach Bordeaux by train.
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: April 13, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- Expert05:3210.6 mi1.9 mph700 ft675 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
This crossing of Périgord is likely to mark you by the diversity of its landscapes, its fortified villages and its breathtaking panoramas! Here you are embarked on a land of legend marked by history like few others!
Lalinde is a charming little town still well preserved on the banks of the Dordogne. It…
by Guillaume
- Expert05:5310.8 mi1.8 mph1,175 ft1,150 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
From the whole crossing to Gramat, I have a soft spot for this stage.
Limeuil is a preserved medieval city and classified among the most beautiful villages in France. Ideally located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers, it played a strategic role in river trade at the height of shipping…
by Guillaume
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- Intermediate04:027.36 mi1.8 mph850 ft825 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The path continues in the Vézère valley. A land trodden by the first men whose passage left many traces. Throughout this stage you will be immersed in this rock atmosphere. You will come across many caves like that of the Sorcerer that you will be able to visit.
In the early morning, the mist may have…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate03:386.63 mi1.8 mph700 ft700 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Let's go back to the heights to discover Les Eyzies from another point of view. On the plateau overlooking Les Eyzies and joining Sarlat, you will have the opportunity to take many paths and trails in the undergrowth and meadows. The villages are not numerous and it will not be easy to find where to…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:037.42 mi1.8 mph925 ft525 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Our road resumes in the direction of the Dordogne. This day will transport you to new vestiges of several eras in the middle of sumptuous landscapes.
Arriving further south on the Dordogne, a strange bridge from the industrial era stands in front of us. A stele commemorates the battles that took place…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:318.01 mi1.8 mph1,150 ft1,225 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Our journey continues in the Perigord countryside in the footsteps of the famous English writer Harrison Barker who in the 19th century undertook to cross the region to recount his adventures in books.
Here we will take a portion of the path which today bears his name and links Sarlat to the Cadouin bush…
by Guillaume
- Expert05:279.79 mi1.8 mph1,100 ft1,400 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
You are now entering the Valley of the Castles. A strategically located geographical area which in view of numerous fortresses was built from the Middle Ages until the Renaissance.
The paths become thicker and make walking more sporty, but the pleasure is even greater when the views of the cliffs and…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:518.96 mi1.9 mph925 ft875 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
8th stage of this adventure in Périgord, you are at the gates of Domme.
Uplifting city nestled 210 meters above sea level, you will be surprised by the magnificence of this fortress.
A colorful place rich in history which is said to have housed the last Templars.
Between its narrow streets, its colorful…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate03:367.02 mi1.9 mph450 ft275 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Grolejac is located halfway between Sarlat and Gourdon. On the banks of the Dordogne, it occupied an important place in the Middle Ages.
Today this charming little village will seduce you with its very Périgord charm!
Our adventure will continue even further, going further north.
This stage will take you…
by Guillaume
- Expert05:4610.6 mi1.8 mph1,200 ft1,050 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
In the morning, Sarlat wakes up. Its alleys are still deserted and it is the right time for an excursion without the crowds of the day. It is also the best time to observe the rays of the sun illuminating the stone and giving it its golden reflections characteristic of the region.
About twenty kilometers…
by Guillaume
- Expert06:4412.6 mi1.9 mph1,125 ft1,400 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
These 20 kilometers promise you many discoveries. This is not what has been missing since the start of our adventure from Lalinde. Today you will evolve on many paths hidden in the middle of the woods or you will even be able to find some mushrooms? However, be careful to respect the regulations in force…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:127.82 mi1.9 mph800 ft750 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This morning the mist may have lifted over the Dordogne giving it a mysterious and dreamlike appearance. The fantastic and the legends are never far away in these lands steeped in mystery and history.
Crossing the Pont de Pinsac on a Brume morning is an even more magical experience.
By sliding further…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:318.31 mi1.8 mph1,025 ft600 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
One of my favorite stages of this whole crossing. From Lalinde, there is no lack of views, cliffs, gorges, rivers and medieval towns. Today it is a day of introspection and coming back to oneself that I propose to you. A more personal journey along the Ouysse.
These gorges will guide you to the foot of…
by Guillaume
- Intermediate04:197.77 mi1.8 mph1,075 ft575 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Rocamadour, a unique village perched on the Alzou gorges, offers a feeling of being at the end of the world and encourages introspection.
We feel here a particular energy, a calm and a detachment from the worries of everyday life.
These winding streets will lead you to the top of the basilica after passing…
by Guillaume
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Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Distance124 mi
- Duration67:04 h
- Elevation13,200 ft12,025 ft
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