Peaceful Persuits in the Perigord Vert
The North Dordogne (Perigord Vert) offers gentle outdoor activities perfect for those seeking a relaxing holiday. Most of our guests at Beaux Souvenirs enjoy leisurely walks, the occasional bike ride, and plenty of peaceful pool time in the garden. Here's our guide to the outdoor activities our guests typically enjoy during their stay in Mialet.
Walking Near Mialet
The North Dordogne is a stunningly beautiful region where woods and valleys are crisscrossed with walking trails. Away from main routes, even the roads are quiet enough to walk all year round.
The Barrage de Mialet Walk:
Our most popular walk with guests is the reservoir circuit - just 1.4km from the gite. This peaceful 9km circular route around the lake takes 2-3 hours at a leisurely pace and is suitable for all abilities. The flat, well-maintained path offers lovely views of the lake and is excellent for birdwatching, which you can do from the special birdwatching station. You'll often spot herons, waterfowl, and, during spring and autumn migrations, some interesting visiting species. There are plenty of seats and picnic tables along the route, and for those who like to keep fit, various pieces of equipment are available for free, overlooking the lake.
Walking Resources:
As Mialet lies within the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park, there are hundreds of marked trails throughout the region. At the gite, we provide two local walking maps covering routes in our immediate area - these show the quieter lanes and tracks that are perfect for gentle exploration. For those wanting more extensive route information, you can download the 'Mon Parc Périgord-Limousin' app on Google Play, which covers the entire regional park.
Cycling Near Mialet
Some guests bring their own bicycles, while others arrange hire locally. The quiet country roads around Mialet are ideal for leisurely cycling through woods, fields and quaint villages.
Bike Hire:
Atelier Cycles 24 in Saint-Pardoux can arrange delivery to or pickup from the gite if arranged in advance.
Cycling Routes:
For detailed route planning, visit Freewheeling France, which provides English-language cycling routes throughout North Dordogne.
TIP: If you like the idea of cycling but don't fancy going on the road, why not check out the Velorail, where pedalling on an old, unused railway track feels a bit safer?
Velorail du Perigord Vert - A Gentle Adventure
The Velorail at Cognac-sur-l'Isle is popular with our guests—it's a gentle pedal along a disused railway track through lovely countryside, crossing viaducts and passing through stations. Two people pedal the 5-seater bike while up to three others can sit back and enjoy the journey. A bit of effort is required (tip: pay a little extra for the battery pack), but it's a superb and unique way to see the area. Various route lengths available. Booking ahead is recommended during peak season.
Perigueux Golf Course
Golfing Near Mialet
Several guests enjoy playing golf during their stay at Beaux Souvenirs. There are six courses within an hour's drive, ranging from convenient 9-hole layouts to championship 18-hole courses.
Nearest Course:
Golf du Genet at Saint-Barthélemy-de-Bussière (30mins/25km) - New in 2018, this 9-hole course is the closest to Mialet and therefore most convenient for a quick round.
Popular 18-Hole Courses:
- Golf Club de Limoges (52 min/51.3 km) - Designed by a famous European architect, Hubert Chesneau, the course spans 55 hectares, picturesque and flat, and suits all skill levels.
- Golf Club de Périgueux (54 minutes/59.4km) at Marsac-sur-l'Isle - a peaceful wooded course where water is omnipresent, yet remains technical and surprising, accessible to practitioners of all levels.
- Golf de la Porcelaine (1hr 2mins/57.6km) near Panazol, Limoges. In an 18-hole course, the rolling landscape is a picture, and everyone can play according to their level.
- Golf de Saint-Junien (52 min/54 km), Les Jouberties. Designed in a superb wooded area, this course is challenging yet technically enjoyable for players of all levels. The bunkers defend the greens, and on some holes, obstacles are present, making this course one of the best places to play in the Limousin.
Popular 9-Hole Courses:
- Domaine d'Essendiéras at St Médard d'Excideuil (44mins/43.5km) - Variety of interesting holes with magnificent views.
Most courses offer equipment hire. Contact us if you'd like help with bookings or recommendations.
On the Water Near Mialet
Canoeing:
For those wanting a leisurely paddle, Brantôme offers gentle canoeing along the Dronne River. The picturesque route past the abbey and through peaceful countryside comes in 8km (2 hours) or 12km (3 hours) options. Beginners are well catered for. Perfect for a different perspective on one of the region's most beautiful towns. Many guests combine this with lunch in Brantôme.
Fishing:
The Périgord, with its rivers Dordogne, Vézère, Dropt, and its numerous lakes, boasts excellent fishing potential, featuring 1,800km of category one rivers and 200km of category two rivers.
- A full-year licence to fish most of France costs around €88 and allows the holder to fish 1st- and 2nd-category waters. This amount varies a little between departments.
- There is a distinction between first- and second-category lakes and rivers in France.
Game fish predominantly inhabit 1st (Premiere) Category Lakes and Rivers from mid-March to mid-September. 2nd (Deuxième) Category Lakes and Rivers are predominantly populated by coarse fish, mainly throughout the year.
- The holiday licence is now available from June 1st to December 31st and costs €32 for 15 days. This entitles you to fish in 1st- and 2nd-category waters in the region.
- Daily licences are now available for just €10 and can be purchased from January 1st to December 31st, allowing the holder to fish 1st- and 2nd-category waters. The daily permits only cover the department in which they are issued, i.e., Haute-Vienne (87), Charente (16), or Dordogne (24). Some local lakes do not require anglers to have a permit, although a daily ticket fee is usually charged.
- The easiest way to buy a licence is to buy a Carte de Peche at a tobacco or fishing tackle shop (Peches) or at our village post office. In the local lakes and rivers, you will find Trout, Chub, Carp, Pike, Zander, Perch, Shad and other species.
See flyfishinginfrance for local fishing links.
Other Outdoor Activities Near Mialet
Horse Riding:
Stables in Dournazac (9km from Mialet) offer rides from one hour to full-day excursions. All abilities catered for. Détails: Académie des Arts Chevaleresques
For keen equestrians, Arnac-Pompadour - France's National Stud - hosts racing fixtures and equestrian events throughout our season.
Zipwiring and Tree Climbing:
Espace Hermeline in Bussière-Galant offers zipwiring and tree climbing for those wanting something more adventurous.
Airsports:
Hot Air Ballooning from Hautefort provides spectacular views over the Dordogne countryside.
Parachuting:
In Dordogne, Tandem skydives can be done from Perigueux airport. Prices from €265 https://air-mauss.com
Flying:
In Dordogne, discover the villages and chateaux of the Perigord Blanc from the air. Take off from Perigueux airport.
Contact us for current details and recommendations.
Things to See & Do
Mialet
The charming village of Mialet is located in the Dordogne, South West France in the Aquitaine region.
Top 12 Attractions
There are so many places to visit and things to do in our area. To give you a little taster we have created a list of our top 12 favourites.
What to See in Our Region
There are countless places to visit within a 2-hour radius of Miallet. Here are the main sites including drive time and distance.
Where & What to Eat
Eating out is a fabulous experience in this part of France and there is a huge variety of establishments to choose from.
Festivals & Events
Annual calendar of festivals & events in the Dordogne and nearby departments.
Sports & Outdoors
The North Dordogne or Perigord Vert is a perfect location for those with a great affinity to the great outdoors.