We had a lovely time in Dordogne and Lot areas. We were there for about 12 days. If you would like to view our pictures:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0SbuWbhk5ZMOe

Oh, and BTW, I have labeled all the photos so you will know which of the many towns we were in the particular photo is from.

Click on "Play Slideshow" for best view.

You can find those "little trains" in central cities all over Europe>

every city in France I've been in has those little trains - 'petit train' - so do not judge a place by its having 'tacky' trains.

kenav, I liked your photos. What time of year were you there? Most places didn't look too crowded.

Blaise - We were there from September 19 - October 1, 2010. Beautiful weather. Just beginning to get cool.

The crowds swarm in during July and especially August when the famous villages are seriously overrun with tourists like the OP says ruined Domme.

Thanks for the input, kenav and PalenQ. When I am able to go I think I'm going to target October because I honestly prefer cooler weather and I really hate crowds.

Welltraveledbrit, thanks for posting this report. The Dordogne and Lot River valleys have long been among the places I most want to go, but it's good to hear balanced criticism to manage expectations. I loved your pictures. None of your criticism has lessened my desire to go though, as I think your travel preferences differ from mine. And like you said, timing is very important for visiting any heavily traveled place.

The irony is that we were there in early May and our visit coincided with a series of holidays plus the school vacation so it is important to check the vacation schedule, clearly I didn't follow my own advice!

Blaise 22 Glad you enjoyed the trip report and that you felt it was a balanced criticism. I'm sure you'll have a great trip!
kenav- I'm just going to check out your photos! Thanks for posting a link.

I've just posted a blogpost and some pictures of Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac in the Dordogne. This was my favorite site, it's a lovely garden and a "must see" if you are a serious gardener. There's something magical about the place, I really liked it - but then I'm crazy about gardens!

http://somuchmoretosee.blogspot.com/...s-jardins.html

lovely pics, welltravelledbrit - despite the rain, the colours of the hedges and topiary have come our brilliantly.

we loved d"Eyrignac too, but what we remember particularly was that we had to have a guided tour, in French, and about half way round, the guide explained, presumably for what she thought was her exclusively french audience, that this was a "sensible" french garden, [ie well-ordered and in nice straight lines] unlike those ridiculous english ones.

whenever we go to a french garden now, we make a particular point of admiring how "sensible" it is - or not!

Eyrignac is so lovely, despite being "sensible.". Thank you for a lovely remembrance of a day we spent there a year or so ago!

ttt

Great trip report, and great photos. I appreciated your honesty and totally understand the effect weather and crowds can have on your enjoyment of a place.

In defense of the Americans (since I am one) -- much of Europe feels "off the beaten path" to us due to the time and expense it takes for us to travel there

Great trip report, and great photos. I appreciated your honesty and totally understand the effect weather and crowds can have on your enjoyment of a place.

In defense of the Americans (since I am one) -- much of Europe feels "off the beaten path" to us due to the time and expense it takes for us to travel there

What a lovely trip report, and I am enjoying both your blog and kenav's photos.

We were thinking of going to the Dordogne next April, but our dates would be around April 25 - May 4th. I think that's when the French holidays are in 2014. Is it crazy busy and crowded then? We're interested in walking, architecture, gardens, history, and not so much in hiking and floating down the river.

Thanks.

No, it's not crowded and busy then at all. One of the best times to visit - all the orchards are in bloom, and it's beautiful.

Oh hallelujah. Thanks St Cirq!

Hr

Iwan - our week in the Dordogne with our kids was in April [the UK Easter school hols were very late that year] and we had excellent weather and very few crowds to contend with.

for sightseeing it's a great time, and light nights too.

If I had been to the places in your pictures, then I'd be raving right now.