Circular de Calès

This walk starts in a village located on a hill. It takes you along a ridge towards Trémolat, where you can discover the Dordogne river, before reaching the agricultural plain that borders the river. The village's charm and its church overlooking the valley are well worth a visit.

Details

18777235
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 129 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 127 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 130 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 45 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is Place du Lavoir, at the entrance to Calès, 200 m after leaving the D28 (Lalinde/Le Buisson de Cadouin). There is parking for around ten cars.

Yellow markings.

(S/E) Cross the road you arrived on, joining Impasse des Peymégoux (hiking sign). After 100 metres, turn left to go up the grassy path. When you reach the road, turn right and walk past the cemetery.

(1) In the bend just after, take the path on the left (Chemin de Marie-Claire). Follow this path downhill to the road at a place called Le Genestral, then to the calvary.

(2) Turn right onto the D29 towards Le Buisson, then after 100 metres, turn left onto the path that runs along the edge of the forest to the crest of the hill overlooking the Dordogne river.

(3) At the crest, turn left and walk along the hill to a place called Le Cayre. This spot offers the best view of Trémolat.

(4) Continue through the hamlet to the calvary, from where you can reach Calès via a short detour by turning left. Otherwise, continue straight on towards the clearly visible water tower. On the hill, take the track on the left through the forest to reach the football stadium.

(5) At the stadium, turn right, then at the next fork, take the left-hand road, crossing the stop sign towards Rue de la Rive-Basse.

(6) Once at the calvary (wooden cross), turn left and continue to Chemin des Pins. Turn right and, after the wooden shed on the Lou Cantou property, turn left to reach the edge of the fields.

(7) At the fields, turn left and follow the farm track that leads back up to the houses.

(8) At the D31 road, turn right and 150 m later, turn left onto the D29E2 towards Le Buisson. 200 m further on, at the crossroads of Rue du Stade, at the corner of the livestock farm, turn right.

(9) Continue along the uphill road which leads to the village of Calès on the opposite side from where you started. At the crossroads, take the right-hand lane.

(10) At the hiking marker located 150 metres from the town sign, turn left, pass in front of the school, then the town hall and the public toilets. After the war memorial, turn right to reach the Place du Lavoir at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 80 m - Place du Lavoir
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 108 m - Cemetery
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 85 m - Calvaire D29
  4. 3 : km 1.87 - alt. 111 m - The ridge
  5. 4 : km 3.26 - alt. 107 m - Place-called Le Cayre
  6. 5 : km 5.03 - alt. 63 m - Football stadium
  7. 6 : km 5.59 - alt. 63 m - Calvary
  8. 7 : km 5.92 - alt. 51 m - The fields
  9. 8 : km 7.22 - alt. 62 m - D31
  10. 9 : km 7.5 - alt. 55 m - Cow farm
  11. 10 : km 9.1 - alt. 95 m - Beacon
  12. S/E : km 9.35 - alt. 80 m - Place du Lavoir

Notes

Note: at the signpost (10), follow the path on the right to reach Place de l'Église, which overlooks the valley towards the hydroelectric plant, then descend to the wash house.

(2) At the wash house, you can take shelter under the hall or in a bus shelter. The wash house has running water.
At the top of the hill from the wash house, at Place de l'Église, there are picnic tables available.

(10) At the town hall, there are public toilets with a small covered area for shelter, as well as picnic areas in the adjacent park.

Worth a visit

(2) The 12th-century Saint-Médard Church and its viewpoint.

(4) At Le Cayre, benches allow you to enjoy the best view of the Dordogne and Trémolat while having lunch.

(5) At the stadium, you can take shelter under a covered courtyard. A defibrillator (AED) is available at all times.

Between (7) and (9) The map shows the Traly mill, which no longer exists. Only a pond remains.

(2) and (10) The village boasts exceptional architecture.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 6591917

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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User 13261029
• Edited:

I went on the wrong hike, I can't delete this comment.

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cerbiato
cerbiato

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The description was promising in terms of the views of the Tremolat gorge. The view is beautiful but interrupted by trees that are still bare, making it almost impossible to take photos, which was our goal. The hike itself is fairly easy, but at the end there is far too much tarmac. I suggest taking the shortcut. However, we will return during the acacia blossom season.

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Dominique24150
Dominique24150

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike, mostly shaded except for about 3 km across fields at the end of the route, which is best avoided in midsummer. A short slope of a few hundred metres offers a beautiful view overlooking the Dordogne. Worth doing again.

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Dominique24150
Dominique24150

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good short hike with beautiful scenery overlooking the Dordogne, well marked, a slope of about 100m, definitely worth doing again, but avoid in the height of summer as there is a road through fields for at least 3km with no shade. Good walk.

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Bernard N1.
Bernard N1.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, with the first part mostly wooded and varied, featuring beautiful residences, and the second part more open, which is why this hike is certainly more enjoyable in spring or autumn than in the full sun of summer.

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cocoden
cocoden

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike that alternates between paths through the woods, fields and a few sections on very quiet roads.
It allows you to discover charming properties that are a little off the beaten track.

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gmevel
gmevel
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route with a group. Two people who were not feeling well that day were able to cut across at point 5 to go directly to point 9.
The others completed the circular without any problems.
The route is very pleasant.
At the point closest to the Dordogne, after the Traly mill, we took a detour to the river via a path that is not shown on the map.
This is a hike that comes highly recommended.
Thanks to the author.

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joegoux
joegoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk, many thanks to the author.

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Aldan24
Aldan24

Thank you for this favourable review. We really liked this village when we went to see the church. So we created this hike. We also created the one from Badefol to Molieres, which is well worth doing. See you soon.

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jean michel Bzdzinck
jean michel Bzdzinck

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route starting from the charming village of Calès with its church and viewpoint, its wash house and bread oven, offering beautiful views over the Trémolat plain along the ridge path and then the peaceful banks of the River Dordogne. A lovely variety of landscapes. No difficulty despite a few climbs.

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