Circular route around Saint-Rabier via the Moulin de la Douime

Park in the car park opposite the entrance to the Château de Saint-Rabier.

(S/E) Head due north along Rue Château du Roy; at^{the first} junction, go straight on into Rue de l’Espitallet, then continue slightly to the left onto Rue des Sources. At the bend, turn 90° to the right and take the path running alongside a wall. Walk down, skirting the pond on the right, then through the undergrowth to the road. Turn right onto it. Continue to the hamlet of Rodas.

(1) Turn left for a few metres between the^first houses. Before the crossroads, turn right between two houses onto Chemin des Terres Froides. Continue along the path that follows it. First through the forest, then across a meadow, until you reach Route du Viaduc.

(2) Take this road to the right; just before the left-hand bend, you’ll reach a crossroads. Leave the road and turn left onto this path. Continue through the woods and skirt the truffle fields on the right. Reach a crossroads; continue left on a gentle descent. Cross the fields and undergrowth to reach a crossroads, where you’ll find a laurel tree.

(3) Walk down to the pond then turn right. Continue up a gentle slope towards the plateau, keeping the rock walls on your right. You will reach the hamlet of La Queyrelie.

(4) Take the road and further on you’ll reach the Route du Viaduc. Turn left onto it for a few hundred metres and you’ll come to the junction with the Chemin des Vieux Buis.

(5) Take this path, go round the shed and continue to Le Grand Coderc and its wash house. Reach the crossroads in the centre of the village.

(6) Turn left onto Route du Marché, then immediately left onto Chemin du Moulin de la Douime. Walk alongside the rosemary field, then through the Chez Dubos neighbourhood. Continue to the junction with a footpath.

(7) Leave Chemin du Moulin de la Douime here and turn right onto the footpath. At the next crossroads, keep left and follow a circular route to reach Moulin du Douime.

(8) Walk past the mill on the right, then follow an easy climb to reach the Route du Douime.

(9) Turn right onto it, head downhill, cross the hamlet of Le Poirier and arrive at the village of La Plansonnie,

(10) Turn left onto Chemin des Roucaux. Walk past the walnut trees, leaving the barn on your right. Continue straight downhill to the A89 motorway. Pass under the viaduct, carry on and reach the railway line.

(11) Turn left onto the path running parallel to the railway line, then turn sharply left and pass under the viaduct again.

(12) As you emerge from the viaduct, turn right and walk past more truffle groves. Follow the path which first runs alongside the motorway before veering left into the countryside. You’ll come across walnut trees again. Reach the top of this short climb and enjoy the view; see §During.

(13) Head downhill to Route de la Fontenelle, turn right then immediately left onto Route du Ruisseau Durand, and continue to the hamlet of Ferry.

(14) Cross the hamlet, then cross the bridge over the Ruisseau Durand, turn right onto Route de la Font del Pey, then left onto Côte des Terrasses to reach the car park at Esplanade de l'Ormeau (S/E).

Between (S/E) and (1) Spot a few Périgord walnut trees on the right after the 90° bend.
(6) Le Grand Coderc: depending on the season, you may come across the mobile still at the wash house.
(13) Admire the Château de Saint-Rabier in the distance at the top left, and at the same time, the Château de Rastignac in the hollow at the bottom right.