The region around Le Mas offers a wide variety of activities for those who want to do more than catch up on sleep and laze in the sun with a good book. They include cycling, canoeing, horse riding and golf. There are also many beautiful surrounding villages waiting to be explored and the region was once home of prehistoric man so it boasts a number of caves decorated with stunning paintings.

Canoeing
There are a number of places where you can hire canoes and enjoy the Dordogne and the surrounding countryside from the river.  We like Canoes du Port D’Enveaux. (0553.29.52.15).

Port D’Enveaux is located on the road from St Cyprien to Beynac (D703).  6km past St Cyprien turn right onto the C3, it is after the road to Allas Les Mines and at a small crossroads. Once you have turned right you pass a red brick building and an abbatoir on your right. Continue along the road until you reach the river.

You will be taken by minibus the river to just before Cenac and you canoe down. If you paddle fast you can do it in just over a couple of hours, or you can make a day of it and take a picnic, stopping on the way down at one of the beaches. Alternatively there are few restaurants en route. Probably the easiest such stop is just before the bridge at Castelnaud.

Caves
Amazing caves are found at Le Grand Roc, Les Eyzies. They offer guided tours of the cave and cost approximately 40F for adults or 60F, which includes a guided tour of the Gisement de Laugerie Basse. This is a sheltered spot where archaelogical digs have revealed evidence to suggest it was inhabited by prehisoric man. It’s a fascinating tour. On site there is a restaurant and toilets. Additional sites can be found at La Roc St-Christophe, past Les Eyzies on the D706. It’s another archaelogical site, but unlike Laugerie Basse it is set on a shelf in the cliff rather than in an eroded cave at the bottom.

Golf
There is a pretty rustic 9 hole course at Siorac (Golf de Lolivaire tel. 0553.30.22.69) and another, rather better, one at Vezac, between Sarlat and Domme. There are 18 hole courses at Le Bugue and at Vigiers nr. Monestier.

Horse Riding
Our friend and neighbour, Guy Lascombe has four horses and he is willing to take out riders. Alternatively try La Borderie, just off the D26, between Montferrand and Beaumont.

We’ve been told that a Pony and Trap can be found at Mayzolleres but we haven’t yet tried it for ourselves.

Swimming
If you want a change from the swimming pool then it is lovely to go and swim in one of the nearby rivers. We usually go to Limeuil, which is where the Vezere and Dordogne Rivers meet. There is a pebbly but quite nice beach on the south side, down a track just by the bridge off the D 51E. The water is fast flowing so potentially dangerous for young children and weak swimmers, but it is very shallow. It is really fun to float and let the water carry you away. It’s hard work swimming back though so we usually walk back up the beach!

Tremolat has an organised bathing area which is sign posted from Beynac. There are small beaches on both sides of the river which can be stopped at when travelling by canoe or alternatively it is easy to climb down from the banks. It is often busy with tourists. Just outside Monpazier there is a small man made lake next to the camping site on the road to Marsales. Although small you can rent pedelos there. There are two bars and one right on the water’s front. The second on the far side by the camping site is a drinking spot for the local teenagers. In Belves there is a public swimming pool. It is on the left hand side, just after the swimming pool as you enter Belves from the Monpazier direction.

Tennis
There are courts at Monpazier on the road to Beaumont (as you leave Monpazier on the right hand side). Bookings and the keys are taken from the photo shop in the far right hand corner of the main square. There are more courts at Belves on the road to Monpazier (on the left as you drive from Monpazier, just after the supermarket).

Nightlife
There isn’t any! You are in the Dordogne not Ibiza! The closest watering hole is Chez Minou in Monpazier on Rue Notredame. It has recently opened a garden terrace next door, but it’s opening hours are quite erratic. There is a nightclub at Villereal called “Le Gavroche”. At the first roundabout you reach in Villereal turn right and it is on your left after a mile or so. If you discover any other hot spots, let us know and we’ll add them!