Bread oven route in Bétaille

This hike will take you through a pretty village, which you will leave behind for a circular route offering a variety of landscapes, from the plains of the Dordogne valley to the hills of the Lot and the pretty hamlet of Plagne. A long, gentle descent will enchant you with views of the cliffs of the "river of hope" and the Gallic oppidum of Uxellodunum de Vayrac.
You will then walk alongside walnut groves before returning to the narrow streets of the village centre, the fountain/wash house, its lively centre with shops and the old wine press.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 122 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 116 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 226 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 123 m

Photos

Description of the walk

You can park in any of the three car parks in the village. Here, we have chosen the Place de la Mairie. For groups, it is better to use the car park about 200 m from the shops, towards Vayrac.

(S/E) From the information board for the light blue marked route, head towards Place de la Fontaine, which you leave opposite to go to the church.

(1) Cross the D119, take the small steep path opposite, passing in front of the castle ruins, then turn right at the cemetery and follow a path for 800 m to reach Peyratel.

(2) Turn left until you reach a crossroads and continue straight ahead towards Ruisseau du Palsou. When you reach the tarmac road, turn left for 500 m (wash house on the right) and you will reach a sharp right-hand bend with a path on the left.

(3) Take the path on the left that climbs up through the chestnut trees, following the edge of the woods on your right and then on your left. You will reach the hamlet of Plagne.

(4) Turn right and cross the hamlet, passing in front of the old bread oven. At the next intersection, turn left onto the stone path. At the four-way intersection, continue straight ahead to Le Pilou.

(5) Look for the marker separating two municipalities, two departments and two regions! Cross the D119 with caution and take the slight downhill path opposite.

(6) You will come to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Dordogne valley on your left and the oppidum of Uxellodunum opposite. Continue straight ahead until you reach a four-way intersection.

(7) Continue straight ahead. Pass by the foot of an oak tree that is at least a hundred years old, then come out onto a small road at a place called Pech de Cor.

(8) First turn left then right, follow the road for 1.5 km and you will come to a T-junction at La Teulière.

(9) Turn right towards the village. Ignore two adjacent streets, then turn left at the bottom of the hill. Immediately turn right to reach Place de la Fontaine, where you can admire the Saint-Georges fountain/wash house.
Turn right one last time to reach Place de la Mairie and its old wine press (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 123 m - Town hall square. Near the - Gare de Bétaille
  2. 1 : km 0.17 - alt. 130 m - D119, church
  3. 2 : km 1.15 - alt. 132 m - Le Peyratel
  4. 3 : km 2.05 - alt. 135 m - Path on the left
  5. 4 : km 3.51 - alt. 197 m - Plagne
  6. 5 : km 4.64 - alt. 215 m - Le Pilou, standing stone
  7. 6 : km 4.96 - alt. 209 m - Viewpoint
  8. 7 : km 5.63 - alt. 163 m - Ségala junction
  9. 8 : km 6.29 - alt. 141 m - Old oak tree
  10. 9 : km 7.51 - alt. 141 m - La Teulière
  11. S/E : km 8.14 - alt. 123 m - Town hall square

Notes

Water point and toilets at Place de la Fontaine.
Toilets: on the right-hand side of the post office.

(2) Option1: continue to the junction, take the path on the left which leads to the road to Plagne. Turn right and rejoin the route at (4).

(7) Option2: turn left and stay on the same path until you reach the Ségala Haut crossroads (elevation 160). First turn left then right and head for the Teulière crossroads at (9). Finish the route.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE

So, you must have taken the wrong route at Plagne...

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MUMBEAUNE
MUMBEAUNE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The start of the route is interesting, but the rest is average. Not much to see.
We did it in January, so there was no one else on the route.
We didn't see any bread ovens.

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MUMBEAUNE
MUMBEAUNE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We did the route in January, so there was no one else around.
We didn't see any bread ovens.

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jano le doc
jano le doc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We went hiking on Sunday afternoon. It's an easy route that's also suitable for families, with beautiful sights to see, such as the Gariotte castle, an old wash house and bread oven, etc. The views are superb.
Avoid hiking in the summer heat.
Very well marked.
Thanks to the volunteers.

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Blandine46
Blandine46

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful walk around small villages, nature and tranquillity on the agenda.

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Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE

A few days ago, we repainted the signs. We plan to do this every year... to get such good reviews! Thank you.

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Visiorando
Visiorando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good signage. Congratulations!

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Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE

Thank you for leaving your comments.
A new route is currently under construction.
It will be longer and located in the Bétaille plain.
See you soon...

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JJMVA
JJMVA

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk, mainly on paths. The best part, when you reach the highest point after Plagne, is the beautiful view of the valley.

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Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE
• Edited:

Thank you for your comment and feedback. Yes, there is only one bread oven on this route...which is why it is called: the bread oven route. For your information, this oven will be completely renovated in 2024 or 2025.
The Bétaille Nature et Patrimoine Association is preparing asecond route, this one in the valley on the Dordogne and Laborie side. It will be approximately 12 km long.
It will be open in early spring...

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jo1703
jo1703

This future restoration is excellent news, as this oven has great architectural potential.

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Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE

Thank you for your comment and feedback. Yes, there is only one bread oven on this route...which is why it is called: the bread oven route. For your information, this oven will be completely renovated in 2024 or 2025.

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jo1703
jo1703

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed this beautiful route on the Causse de Bétaille on a lovely autumn afternoon, surrounded by nature in its first warm colours, and thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Admittedly, there is a bit of tarmac, but the road section is sometimes lined with beautiful houses of remarkable architecture. However, we only saw one bread oven.
Thanks to its author.

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Alain 19
Alain 19

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, fairly easy route. A charming village to explore, beautiful countryside and stunning views.

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Pierre CONTE
Pierre CONTE

Indeed, the end of the route is paved! Far too much... that's true.
Your comment will help us when planning future routes...

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