Day 1. Arrive SARLAT: collect cycles and  equipment,  route briefing and instruction. Explore this interesting old town.

 

Day 2. SARLAT – SIORAC                                  28ml(45km)
Cycle south to the River Dordogne and the Castle of Montfort. Across the river, the village of Domme, situated on a high dome of solid rock, commands marvellous views of the surrounding countryside. Travel along the river to the Chateau at Milandes, once the home of Josephine Baker, and continue to your ovenight stop at the next riverside town, Siorac.

 

Day 3. SIORAC – VILLEFRANCE  du PERIGORD  19ml(30km)

Travel 5km southwards through the forest  to Belves, an ancient hill town, fortified by the English in the Middle Ages. You are now in the centre of the walnut growing country. Continue south to see the fortified church at Prats before reaching  Villefrance du Perigord.

 

Day 4. VILLEFRANCE  du PERIGORD – FUMEL        19ml(30km)
In the 14^th century this area was the boundary between the warring English and French. At Montcabrier on the River Thèze there is the pretty Church of St Louis, at Boanguil there is the magnificent Chateaux and you spend the night at Fumel on the River Lot.

 

Day 5. FUMEL - MONTEFERRAND                    19ml(30km) 
You turn northwards from the valley of the River Lot to Biron where there is the largest castle in Perigord and continue to Montpazier, an English medieval town. You will see in the distance Monferrand du Perigord, a graceful medieval hilltop village on the River Couze where you will spend the night.

 

Day 6. MONTEFERRAND – SIORAC    31ml(50km) 

Travel to Cadouin for a visit to the magnificent Cistercian Abbey Church and Cloisters founded in the 12^th century. From there enjoy a trip through the Bessede Forest visiting picturesque towns such as Molières  and Urval before arriving at Siorac .

 

Day 7. SIORAC – SARLAT                     25ml(40km )              

As you make your way back to Sarlat through the Dordogne Valley do not miss a visit to the three Chateaux at Castelnaud and also the Museum of the Hundred Years War. The nearby town of La Roque Gageac juts out from the base of a sheer cliff. Visit the 15^th century Chateau de la Malartrie and then turn north away from the river to arrive at the end of a memorable tour at Sarlat.

 

Day 8. Depart SARLAT