Advice please on the route from Cherbourg to Beynac in the Dordogne. Google maps gives 3 routes, all around 8 / 8.5 hrs. One is to Tours, then an Eastern route via Chateauroux and Limoges to Souillac. The second is also to Tours, then a Western route via Poitiers and Angouleme to Perigueux. The third is nearer the coast, past Nantes and Niort to Bordeaux then Perigueux. Depending on the route we would stop for a few nights on the way in either Loire or Marais Poitevin, I don't mind which. Has anyone any preference for any route, and why ?
This will be in mid August and we'll be towing. We've done routes to Loire and Vendee / Charente Maritime many times, but not as far as Dordogne. Thanks.
Post last edited on 04/02/2023 11:55:03
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Our regular route (having tried a few) - Le Mans- Tours come off autoroute just below Poitiers onto N10 then to Angouleme across to Brantome - Perigueux towards Le Bugue - from le Bugue either down to the river and follow along to Beynac or follow the winding bumpy road to St Cyprien ( avoid Sunday) and then along the river. You could also leave the D710 and head towards Sarlat and use the newish bypass of Sarlat going down to the river that way, approaching Beynac from the east side.
A good Loire stop would be the municipal at Azay Le Rideau or there is a site just south of the Loire at Tours at St Avertin. We change the route from Perigueux on a whim really as we don't find much difference time wise to the others - check for market days in Le Bugue/StCyprien/Sarlat and avoid if possible. Only been going down this way for about 30 years or so. I take it you will be heading to Capeyrou in Beynac? Seems very popular but we've never been there.
Although we were heading for Calais rather than Cherbourg, we came back the Perigeux, Angouleme Poitiers route in 2021 and thought it was less of a faff than going via Limoges, which we did on the way out as we were staying at Leychoisiers. Haven’t stayed on the site at Azay but had a look around it when staying in a hotel nearby and it’s a nice spot. There’s free access to the Chateau gardens if you’ve got time for a wander, and a great restaurant at the gates Le Cote Cour which does prix fixe 2 and 3 course menus. Also an Intermarche on the way out of Azay if you need to stock up. Nice way to get into holiday mode!
We did Calais (tunnel) to Beynac last Aug. We stopped off at Nonancourt (one night) and then near Limoges (one night-as we wanted to visit Oradour -sur- Glane)
Roads-A16, then bypassed Rouen taking N154 towards Evreux and Dreux, bypassed Chartres still on N154, then joined A10 to Vierzon which merges into A20 down to Limoges, then on towards Brive-la-Gaillarde. Came off at at Souillac, then across to Beynac. Where are you staying in Beynac?
We tend to just stay one night on route unless we have things to do in the area. This yr, because we are taking the girls (our dogs) with us, we are spending a few days in Normandy before heading down to between Angouleme and Limoges.
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We did this trip in August/September last year, from Cherbourg to Vezac (next door to Beynac), though had plenty of time so we stopped off at a few places on the way down and back.
On the way down we did pretty much your first route, stopping off at campsites at Argentan, Blere (near Tours),and Saint Sylvestre, just off the A20 north of Limoges, before approaching Vezac via Souillac and Sarlat.
It was a very straight forward journey, and we chose this route for ease of towing the caravan somewhere we'd not been before.
On our return we went via campsites at Brantome, Chalandray (between Poitiers and Parthenay), Clisson (outskirts of Nantes) and Pontorson(for Mont St. Michel). This involved more non-motorway roads and so the travelling was slower, but still fine. The worst part of this journey was negotiating Perigueux, but we chose to go the long way round (to the west of Perigueux via the N21, A89, D6089 and D939), adding miles but making the tow less stressful.
We obviously had plenty of time to break up our journeys, but on balance, if time was more pressing we'd probably use the first route as for us, more motorway travelling = easier journeys if you just need to get somewhere.
For an overnighter, the site at Blere is just off the motorway and about 260 miles from Cherbourg, leaving about 225 miles to Beynac.
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 04/2/2023
Advice please on the route from Cherbourg to Beynac in the Dordogne. Google maps gives 3 routes, all around 8 / 8.5 hrs. One is to Tours, then an Eastern route via Chateauroux and Limoges to Souillac. The second is also to Tours, then a Western route via Poitiers and Angouleme to Perigueux. The third is nearer the coast, past Nantes and Niort to Bordeaux then Perigueux. Depending on the route we would stop for a few nights on the way in either Loire or Marais Poitevin, I don't mind which. Has anyone any preference for any route, and why ?
This will be in mid August and we'll be towing. We've done routes to Loire and Vendee / Charente Maritime many times, but not as far as Dordogne. Thanks.
Post last edited on 04/02/2023 11:55:03
We live 15 mins drive from Beynac. We usually use either Caen or St Malo. We don't have a caravan.
I'd choose either;
Tours, Chateauroux, Limoges, Souillac - then from Carsac head into the outskirts of Sarlat and follow direction Bergerac to Beynac via Vezac. It avoids a fairly twisty and narrow road along the river near Montfort and again between Montfort and Vitrac with a jagged rock face, and in August, invariably motorhomes or transits towing canoes coming in the opposite direction. Overnight in the Loire.
Western Route via Nantes / Niort until D670 to Libourne rather than via Bourdeaux - head north fom Libourne to pick up the A89 at J10. Leave at J13 for D709 Bergerac then follow the western ring road round Beregerac signed for the airport and after that head for Creysse, Lalinde and the road along the valley signposted Sarlat to Beynac. Marais would be a good place to break the journey.
Don't do Angouleme or Perigueux unless you want to lose the will to live. Similarly Poitiers to Limoges.
On any route 8 / 8.5 hours is pretty optimistic in August. More likely to be 2 five hour journeys or a 6 and a 4.
Good luck - Beynac to Montfort is the most scenic part of the valley - we were lucky to be able to retire here almost 5 years ago after a dozen or more family holidays in the area.
Thanks all, lots of good info there. Yes, Capeyrou is our intended target, although we are undecided whether to go there asap, which would be a few days before the ASCI price kicks in, or spend a leisurely few days on the way in cheapies / municipals. We had looked at the cheapie site at Vouvray as a stop in Loire. Unfortunately our ferry arrives in the afternoon so we'll probably have to stop somewhere before Caen for the first night. Will likely do Limoges route on the way out and Nantes route on the way home, and stop off near Royan.
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We stayed at Capeyrou last year and really enjoyed its chilled atmosphere. First non all singing main French site we’ve used. We will be going back again but didn’t want to travel any further south as it’s the girls first French trip!
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 05/2/2023
Thanks all, lots of good info there. Yes, Capeyrou is our intended target, although we are undecided whether to go there asap, which would be a few days before the ASCI price kicks in, or spend a leisurely few days on the way in cheapies / municipals. We had looked at the cheapie site at Vouvray as a stop in Loire. Unfortunately our ferry arrives in the afternoon so we'll probably have to stop somewhere before Caen for the first night. Will likely do Limoges route on the way out and Nantes route on the way home, and stop off near Royan.
If you can make it as far as Argentan (112 miles) I highly recommend the municipal campsite there (camping de la Noe), beautifully kept, €12,70 a night last August (including 10amp electric and taxes) and able to book in advance via email, which is probably worth doing at that time of year (no payment needed). IReception is open from 2pm to 5pm, then again from 6pm to 8pm.
Quote: Originally posted by bofs on 05/2/2023
If you can make it as far as Argentan (112 miles) I highly recommend the municipal campsite there (camping de la Noe), beautifully kept, �12,70 a night last August (including 10amp electric and taxes) and able to book in advance via email, which is probably worth doing at that time of year (no payment needed). IReception is open from 2pm to 5pm, then again from 6pm to 8pm.
Thanks bofs, it looks perfect, we might just do that. It also means we could split the next journey in Berry, which we've never been to.
The managers are very accommodating so if you let them know you may be arriving lateish, they may well hang on for you before locking up (there's a barrier so unfortunately you can't just drive in and pitch up). It's not the best signposted campsite, so although it's fairly straightforward to get to, I'd check out your route on Google maps so you're sure of where you're going at the end of a long day.
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Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 05/2/2023
Quote: Originally posted by bofs on 05/2/2023
If you can make it as far as Argentan (112 miles) I highly recommend the municipal campsite there (camping de la Noe), beautifully kept, �12,70 a night last August (including 10amp electric and taxes) and able to book in advance via email, which is probably worth doing at that time of year (no payment needed). IReception is open from 2pm to 5pm, then again from 6pm to 8pm.
Thanks bofs, it looks perfect, we might just do that. It also means we could split the next journey in Berry, which we've never been to.
That site at Argentan is excellent, and worth a couple of nights stopover if you can.
Arthur, It’s about 450 miles from Cherbourg and I can think of at least ten places I would gladly revisit on the way down.. Are you in a hurry to get to Beynac?
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 06/2/2023
Arthur, It’s about 450 miles from Cherbourg and I can think of at least ten places I would gladly revisit on the way down. Are you in a hurry to get to Beynac?
We have 4 weeks so not really, but the overnights kind of pick themselves - to stop before 5pm the first one off the ferry needs to be 2 hours from Cherbourg, and that in turn means the halfway point for the next stop would be around Argenton-sur-Creuse or thereabouts. We try not to do more than 250 miles / 400 km in a day. Also we will likely spend 2 or 3 nights in each stop. Or not, it depends on mood.
Apart from Loire where else would you suggest ?
Has anyone tried Tours to the outskirts of Poitiers on the A10 then to Limoges on the N147 ? Seems less of a pfaff than trying to negotiate the D roads between Tours and Chateauroux and no farther ?
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cherbourg to Beynac, Dordogne
via mobile 04/2/2023 at 11:43am
