There are a number of walks around the quiet village of Prats-du-Périgord that take you up and down the gentle surrounding hills, through thick woods and along shaded paths.
Your walk starts in the centre of the village, near the Mairie and beneath the church tower, with three walks available to you - a green one of 6.7km, a blue track of 9.4km and a long red trail of 12km.
In the village you will see metre high poles stamped with small badges in the three different colours of the walks, following these is a simple task and fortunately they are not too far apart that you risk getting lost.
The circuit is designed for fans of Nordic Walking, and on the day we took a stroll a keen athlete strode past us flexing his shoulders and twisting side to side with the aid of his ski poles.
But you don’t need poles to enjoy the walks which take you out of the village along quiet roads and into the woods, before arriving on the tops of the hills with views all around.
The quiet and peace of a Sunday morning lets you listen to the birds and spot curled leaves and delicate early blossom.
A few large puddles had to be avoided but strong shoes would be fine for this expedition, as well as keeping an eye on the weather forecast in case you need a raincoat.
At the end of the different walks you are rewarded with a gentle stroll back into the village, where the 12th century church sits in the centre which is worth spending a few minutes exploring.
And above you on the hill opposite sits the 16th century chateau, although it is a private residence and can be well hidden when the surrounding trees are in leaf.
So take your pick of walks around Prats-du-Périgord and enjoy a hidden corner of the Dordogne.
* Drop the ‘t’ and the ‘s’ when pronouncing Prats-du-Périgord and you won’t go wrong.
More things to do in the Dordogne
The Tuilières hydroelectric dam and fish lift
Milling around at the Filature de Belvès
The peace of the river Dordogne from a canoe
Belves Medieval Fair - stepping back in time
Monpazier, the Dordogne
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