Dordogne - relaxed spring wildlife (by train)
A week enjoying the wildlife of the woodlands, river valleys and limestone plateaux of the Dordogne in the heart of south-west France.
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Wildlife Travel leaflet Dordogne 2025
Dates
12th – 19th May 2025
new holiday
fully booked
Leaders
Laurie Jackson with Jason Mitchell
Price
£2,220
Single Room Supplement – £220
Included
Return train travel from London St Pancras, local transport as specified in the itinerary. Seven nights’ accommodation, full board.
Not included
Refreshments. Gratuities. Travel insurance. Covid tests and associated costs.
Group size
Minimum 4, maximum 7.
Our travels will take us through the wide valleys of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers with opportunities to explore their diverse woodlands, wetlands, and of course the flower-rich limestone plateaux of the ‘causses’.
Their dry stony soils and warm climate gives the causses an interesting Mediterranean feel and we can expect to find a good selection of orchids and other plants at this time of year. Our visit falls during the busy bird breeding season with Golden Oriole, Turtle Dove and Nightingale likely to join the soundtrack here. The causses support an abundance of butterflies, hopefully providing the chance to get to grips with various blues, fritillaries and skippers.
Passing through the river valleys clad in oak woodland we will see outcrops of high, sculpted limestone cliffs, providing dramatic views along with opportunities to spot Griffon Vultures, Crag Martins, Ravens or a passing Booted Eagle.
As well as time on the causses, we will visit the wetlands at Tourbières de Vendoire, an important area of damp meadows and peat bog, with a rich dragonfly community, which will be starting to emerge. We will also spend a day in the Forêt de la Bessède, which is largely on acidic sandy soils providing a different habitat with an interesting mix of Sweet Chestnut, pine and oak.
Our trip will also give us the opportunity to enjoy some of the region’s beautiful scenery, and attractive villages and towns, and will appeal to anyone who wishes to enjoy pleasant walks filled with spring wildlife, with the bonus of travelling by train.
Download trip report
Please note that holidays change, although sometimes only slightly, from year to year and previous trip reports may not reflect the planned itinerary, or other holiday details, for the current trip. Please ask us if you would like to know of any significant differences.
Day 1 After travelling to Périgueux by train, we’ll make our way to our accommodation in the market town of Le Bugue (c. 1hr).
Day 2 We head to the nearby village of Campagne. Walking through the gardens of the chateau with singing Redstart, Serin and Firecrest, we will look out for dragonflies and damselflies before taking a walk through the nearby woodland, where we can hope to find orchids. This afternoon we visit Les Eyzies to explore its streets nestled under dramatic rock formations.
Day 3 We set off northwards through the valley of the Vézère River for our first introduction to the region’s limestone grasslands at Causse de Terrasson. We should find a good range of wild flowers and the grassland here is also great for butterfly spotting.
Day 4 We travel south to Forêt de la Bessède in an area of sandstone. Among many possibilities we hope to find Tongue Orchid, Fragrant Orchid and more, within the open woodland here.
Day 5 A longer drive today takes us to the interesting wetlands at Tourbières de Vendoire, which includes important peat bog habitat. We will walk through the reserve exploring its damp meadows and ponds home to a wide range of dragonflies. We spend our afternoon exploring the Plateau d’Argentine. Melodious Warbler and Tree Pipits sing from the scrub and the limestone grassland bordering the airstrip here is rich in wild flowers and we hope to see plenty of butterflies here .
Day 6 Heading west, we take a longer walk through the woodland and meadows of Cingle de Trémolat, enjoying superb views over the Dordogne. In amongst the wooded areas we will listen for the calls of Crested Tits. Glanville Fritillaries and Mazarine Blues join Pearly Heath and Swallowtail over the flowery grassland. Our walk finishes in the village of Trémolat where there will be time to visit the 12th Century church or explore the cobbled streets before retracing our steps.
Day 7 We travel south to the grasslands and oak woodlands of Causse de Daglan and la Vallée du Céou. Walking through scrubby grassland we will listen our for the scratchy song of Western Subalpine Warbler as we enjoy more rich limestone flora.
Day 8 After breakfast we set off back to Périgueux and our train home.
Please note that the itinerary may be changed to suit the weather or other practicalities at the discretion of the leaders.
We stay at Le Cygne in the attractive market town of Le Bugue. The hotel is comfortable and all rooms have en-suite facilities.
We will have breakfast and evening meals at the hotel restaurant, with dinner at a local restaurant on Day 7. Lunches will be picnic-style and may be followed by a visit to a café.
Transport will be in a comfortable, eight-seater minivan.
Group travel
We will travel by train from London St Pancras to Tours. Train schedules for summer 2025 are not yet released, but should be similar to 2024.
12th May depart London St Pancras 10.24, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 13.48; depart Paris Montparnasse 16.11, arrive Bordeaux 18.14; depart Bordeaux 18.27, arrive Périgueux 19.55
19th May depart Périgueux 10.05, arrive Bordeaux 11.31; depart Bordeaux 12.46, arrive Paris Montparnasse 14.58; depart Paris Gare du Nord 17.12, arrive London St Pancras 18.30
If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, you can book the holiday without travel. You would need to meet the group at Tours station or at the hotel in Martizay .
Time zone
France is one hour ahead of UK time.
Entry requirements
If you hold a British passport you can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including France) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be issued less than ten years before the date you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Starting in 2026 British passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS European Travel Authorisation to visit Schengen countries. This must be applied for online prior to travel, at a cost of €7 (free for over 70s). Once granted, your ETIAS will be valid for three years.
The weather should be dry, with temperatures in the low-twenties, although considerably cooler, showery weather is possible.
On most days, we are out and about for much of the day, albeit walking a relatively slow pace and making several stops each day. It is necessary to walk on some rougher ground but none of the walking is strenuous. Walking boots (e.g. lightweight) are essential. The pace will be relaxed, with plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings and take photos as well as stopping to enjoy the wildlife along the way. You must be able to carry your own luggage between, on and off of the trains. The rooms at the hotel are upstairs, with no lift. If you are a slow walker, please contact us to discuss whether any of the walks will be a problem for you.