Dordogne holiday

Twenty two members of the group have recently returned from a walking holiday in France. Based at a comfortable logis, the Hotel L’Oustal at Vezac, Dordogne, Perigord, they enjoyed a varied week of walking, eating, and swimming, canoeing and shopping.

The castles that line the banks of this huge river are impressive. Many battles between the English and French ensued across the river; with castles falling to one side and then to the other. But none of this concerned the walkers on their hikes through hot but beautiful rolling countryside. They needed all their strength to cope with temperatures of 35C!

Straying away from walking they had a leisurely morning in La Roque Gageac wandering around the open-air market and a trip on a Gabare, a flat-bottomed boat that once was used for cargo transport on the Dordogne River. A gentle ride up the river with an English commentary gave the background to the area linked with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, and Simon De Monfort. Some more energetic members had an afternoon canoeing down the river in the hope of a view of kingfishers.

They also visited Sarlat with its narrow streets and honey coloured stone houses. Shopping was more the priority then, with wine, walnut oil and foie gras to purchase.

Walking was not just confined to the daytime, all had to earn their evening meal by walking from the hotel to the restaurant in Beynac, a distance of approx 1½ miles. Old-fashioned Stew of Goose Gizzards was one of the meals offered by Madame Maleville! Her family have run the business for years and she is definitely the matriarch of the restaurant. Vegetarians in the party got used to eating a delicious river fish every night. The French have some difficulty in understanding the concept of vegetarianism!

The participants no doubt, hold many memories of this week, but the most welcome that springs to this author’s thoughts, is the cool dip in the out-door pool after a very hot and sweaty day’s walk!

Some comments about the holiday:

The holiday was only made better by the pussy and the stray dog! Ab Fab!

Thank goodness for the pool.

Need more time to sample the vast array of ice cream.

Sore feet, red legs, what more can one ask for?

Maurice the cat entertaining us at breakfast.

Balloon launch at breakfast.

The walk through the woods, super, keep it cool.

One Bump too many.

They tell me it was a wonderful holiday – I don’t remember a thing – was that the wine or the bump on the head?

Three bridges, another kilometre and look out for an upright canoe – the finish of a lovely canoe trip down the Dordogne on a sunny afternoon.

Wall to wall sunshine and tremendous food from Madame Maleville.

Six, ten, or twelve miles walked, there was still another three miles for the evening meal, but well worth the effort.

Dordogne – the Wye Valley and more and more.

Dordogne – a chateau on every hilltop.

It’s great in the Dordogne unless you’re a Goose.

Wonderful weather and skies for ballooning – outside our breakfast room.

I think some of our French improved during the holiday.

No crocodiles in the swamp!

Let’s have a light lunch with a carafe of wine.

Canoeing down the Dordogne was fantastic, but no Kingfishers.

Ballooning at breakfast, what a treat.

Dog rustling and sister battering!

It ain’t half hot mum!

Keep going, the Chateau is around the corner.

Real French food – definitely not cordon bleu.

A cool dip in the pool helped me cover that last 1½ k!