Independent Self-Guided Walking Holidays in the Lot Department and Dordogne Valley

When you are not exploring the area on foot there are many other places to discover or if you are still feeling energetic there are other activities to keep you fit. In addition to the places you will visit on your walks we have made just a few other suggestions below from the many to choose from. We will be delighted to give you any other help you may need to make the most out of your stay with us.


What better place to start than our local town of St Céré, a typical market town with a lovely historic centre. Guests often comment how friendly and unaffected by tourism St. Céré is despite it fast becoming a centre for tourists to explore the surrounding area. Pop into the tourist office and pick up the leaflet giving you a short walking tour of the town and then relax with a coffee in one of the many street cafes. The Market is always a fun bustling day with everything from local produce through to pots and pans and even a new bed (if you have room in the car!) for sale.

There are often events happening in the town including the very atmospheric night market in the summer and in July/August the town hosts a highly regarded music festival for classic music and opera.

The town has a good selection of restaurants plus a swimming pool and tennis courts. There is a lovely scenic 9 hole golf course on the edge of the town by the Chateau de Montal. St Céré has a good selection of shops and a couple of supermarkets if you need to stock up on anything.

On most visitors itinerary is of course the world famous Rocamadour. Yes it is a little overrun with tourists in the summer but that's not a surprise as it is the second most visited site in France outside Paris. If you haven't been before then we recommend you go. Perched on the side of limestone cliffs and with some fascinating architecture and the remarkable abbey, it certainly is somewhere you won't forget.

Within the many shops lining the main street there a number well worth visiting to grab a souvenir and you can have lunch looking out over the valley.Talk to us first and we can give you a few tips to get the best out of your visit.

Cahors is the fascinating capital city of the Lot department with its famous medieval bridge the "Pont de Valentre" and the centre of the AOC wine region named after the town. Ever wondered who the "Gambetta" was that has a road named after him in virtually every French town? Well he is Cahors' most famous son, the one-eyed lawyer who during the Franco-Prussian War escaped in a hot-air balloon from the seige of Paris.

These are just a taster of some of the sites awaiting you here in the Lot department - there are so many more!
That doesn't even start to include some of the places to visit beyond the Lot. We are very close to the borders with the Dordogne, Correze, Aveyron and Cantal departments, each with their own treasures such as Sarlat, Domme, Salers and Conques. We reckon you could spend a month here and not see everything.

If you prefer countryside to towns and villages then a day trip to the mountains of the Cantal department is well worth it. Besides the spectacular scenery, the wildlife is very different and when spring does finally arrive in the mountains, the wildflowers are breathtaking.

If you just can't sit around on your holiday then there are plenty of ways to be active as well as walking.

If you want to bring your bikes or hire them locally then the VTT/VTC trails are well marked and range from challenging off-road trails to pleasant rides along small roads that are virtually traffic-free.

For those who would prefer someone else to take the strain then there are a number of horse riding stables including "western" style and if water is your theme then why not hire a canoe and float down the spectacular Dordogne river valley? The Lac du Tolerme which is only 10 minutes from the house is where you might find us on a warm summer's afternoon. The lake is the perfect place to cool off with a swim and has excellent facilities during the summer months.

The Golf du Montal just outside St Cere has a good 9 hole course and is close to one of the top restaurants in the Lot.

Places to visit: St. Céré, Autoire, Loubressac, Cardaillac, Bretenoux, Turenne, Beaulieu sur Dordogne, Carennac, Curemonte, Salers, Martel, Floirac, Castelnau, Rocamadour, Lac du Tolerme, Argentat, Figeac, Cahors, St Cirq Lapopie, Marcilhac, Cajarc, Collonges, Conques, Padirac, Pech Merle, Gourdon, Gramat, Capdenac, Rodez, Gourdon, Souillac, Brive, Sarlat, Domme, River Dordogne, River Lot, River Cele, River Cere, Lot Quercy.
Things to do: Hiking, Cycling, Canoeing, Horse riding, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Bird Watching, Drive a Classic Car.
All in the local area of the delightful Lot department and the adjacent Correze, Cantal, Aveyron and Dordogne departments.
House for sale

You can see further information about the area and things to see or do at our other website www.jardin-segala.com