Circular walk through woods and meadows at Saint-Amand-de-Coly

From the hiking information point at the Montignac Tourist Office, head towards Sarlat (D704). After 6 km, turn left towards Saint-Amand-de-Coly. Park your car in the car park on Place du 14 Juillet: there is a picnic table and a shelter.

(S/E) Before setting off, take in the view of the village and its abbey. With your back to the car park, turn right towards the cemetery.

(1) Head due south along a lovely shaded path, lined with dry-stone walls, until you reach a meadow. Continue straight on along the road to reach the Les Malénies campsite.

(2) Go round the campsite on the left. Keep left at the road, then carry on straight ahead along Impasse des Malénies to join the tarmac road to Saint-Laurent. Turn left and carry on until you reach the young walnut grove just past the next junction.

(3) Take the path on the right and head down the valley, passing through a wood of tall oak trees and continuing along the path, which later runs alongside the fields at the foot of the hillsides. Carry on until you reach the D704 (Route de Sarlat).

(4) Walk alongside the road on the right for about 300 metres.

(5) Take the Chemin de Claveillieras on the right, follow the valley up a stony, shaded path. Ignore a track on the right and carry on for a few dozen metres to reach the start of a footpath.

(6) Turn right and follow this path until you reach the tarmac road.

(7) Head straight on towards La Genèbre, then descend along a charming, narrow path lined with boxwood back to the tarmac road. Turn right and return to the starting point (S/E).

(7) You’ll enjoy a beautiful panoramic view (lime kiln to the north-east).
You will notice a cross whose base bears the date of the Holy Year 1900: crosses of this type and boxwood hedges marked out the route of the processions leading to the abbey.
St Amand-de-Coly Abbey Church.