In the heart of the Périgord Noir region, along one of the most jaw-droppingly perfect stretches of the Dordogne Valley, is the village of Beynac-et-Cazenac. Nestled under the vigilant gaze of the Château de Beynac this magical little village clings to the hillside as if it’s been flung there by a giant. With its turreted witch’s hat buildings and storybook red-tiled roofs, it’s clearly medieval, though people have lived here since the Bronze Age. Pull up a chair at a riverside café, order a cool beer, and ponder Viking longships prowling up-river as they penetrated the valley in the 9th century. Head upstream to La Roque-Gageac to hire a kayak, then float downstream past cliffs and castles peeking through the vernal river bank.
Situated in this ‘five castles valley’ in the heart of the Périgord Noir, Camping Le Capeyrou sits beneath the fortress of the Château de Beynac. Waking to the sound of the nearby Dordogne River it’s hard to imagine a more enchanting view than this. The site itself is well catered for, with a generously sized swimming pool, volleyball court, and homely bar, with 120 pitches enjoying plenty of mature shade. Pitch up by the river banks or in the meadow, away from civilisation. Come evening the bar, with its exposed stone walls and outside patio, is a pleasant spot for sundowners. Inside the recreation room, its walls festooned with old bicycles, there’s a huge hearth and grill, where people bring their own meat to BBQ (there’s a butcher a few minutes from the site). And if you’re feeling decidedly British there’s even a darts board.
