Alternative to Dordigne

[TheDogsMother]

DP and I are planning a trip to France in September for about 10 days. We're taking the dog so will be driving and have stayed in various locations in the Dordogne previously. As lovely as it is there we feel we should look at some alternatives. The Dordogne was as long a drive as we would want but it was still far enough south to be fairly guaranteed of good weather. Portsmouth or Le Havre would be preferred ports so that probably dictates the West or central route down. Any ideas or nice areas would be much appreciated.

Or the Dordogne obviously !

Try the Vendee. If you go to the south near Fontenay le comte you get great weather.

Thanks @Frenchfancy. I don't know that area so will take a look.

We spent part of last summer in the Gers, near Vic-Fezensac, and loved it.

2nd gets region though a long drive. Beautiful rolling hills, gorgeous sleepy villages, views of mountains, lovely towns like Auch. If I could buy a holiday house t’would be there

Goddamn autocorrect! I second Gers ... not gets!!

It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Noisy? I had no familiarity with the Gers at all, it was a random decision by some Paris friends we shared the holiday with. We rented a gorgeous old bastide with a lovely view, and did a lot of relaxed swimming, poking about old towns, Roman remains, and brocantes. I kept falling in love with very cheap, beautiful old houses.

It is a long drive, though.

Thank you for the suggestion, it looks lovely. I'll investigate further

Or how about Creuse? Much more peaceful than the Dordogne, fewer tourists and you can explore the Millevaches national park and the wonderful Lake Vassiviere.

The Gers is GORGEOUS. It is a long drive but what we do is to drive some of the way and then stop for a night somewhere. Alternatively, do the train and then hire a car. Hire cars at eg Bordeaux station are reliably cheaper than Bordeaux airport IME. We have been going to the Gers for years and I am not sure I would want to go anywhere else now. It's so beautiful. Having said that, be aware that July can be rainy and you are much better of aiming for August/Septemer if you want reliably nice weather. It is not for nothing that the Gers is colloquially referred to as the pisspot of France and it can be rainy at times! But this is why it is so beautifully green and lush, so swings and roundabouts.

*off

Take the ferry to St Malo and explore Brittany, beautiful coastline, ancient towns, wonderful food. Quite a different atmosphere from Dordogne.