The river from the house
The Dordogne flows past Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, 15 minutes from the house, on its way from the Massif Central to the Gironde estuary. Here it is wide, calm and lined with poplars, vineyards and the occasional château. In summer the water is warm and low enough to wade in from the gravel beaches.
Canoe trips
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande to Pessac-sur-Dordogne: the easiest trip, about two hours of paddling with a minibus back to the start. Flat water, a few islands, swimming stops. Ideal for families and for a group doing it together in a flotilla of canoes.
Bergerac: canoe and paddleboard hire on the quay, and the gabare boats for those who prefer someone else to do the work. A one-hour trip explains the river’s past as the wine road to Bordeaux.
Trémolat and Limeuil (about an hour’s drive east): the classic Dordogne scenery of cliffs and loops. The Cingle de Trémolat viewpoint shows the river doubling back on itself, and Limeuil, where the Vézère joins the Dordogne, has a beach at the confluence and canoe bases for half- and full-day descents past Cadouin and Lalinde. Worth a full day if you want the postcard Dordogne.
Swimming
The house has an 11 m private pool, so most days nobody wants to go anywhere. When they do: Lac de Gurson is a leisure lake about 20 minutes away with a sandy beach, lifeguards in July and August, pedalos and a café. The leisure lake at Eymet is similar. On the river itself, the beaches near Port-Sainte-Foy and Pessac are popular with locals; currents are gentle but there are no lifeguards.
Fishing and walking
The Dordogne and the Dropt are good for coarse fishing; day permits are sold at tobacconists and online. The riverside paths at Sainte-Foy, Bergerac and Lalinde are flat and shaded, and the Voie Verte cycle path follows the river in places. Bikes can be hired in Sainte-Foy and Bergerac.