Recommendations for Dordogne in June with preschooler?

[SquigletChocolatePotato]

We’re thinking to avoid French and English school holidays and go to France in June. We’d like medium hot weather, with that being as assured as possible. Looking for 26° to 30° as the expected sort of temps, not to expect it to be consistently as high as mid 30s. Hot enough to be in a swimsuit or swim without being cold when you get out, but not so hot that walking or cycling is unbearable.

Does the Dordogne sound like a good option? I’m reading that there’s a big variety depending on which region you go to.

Any recommendations for places which would be those sorts of expected temperatures and have the following all within 30mins?:

• river beaches with sand
• canoeing with options for places to pull over and picnic
• castles with gardens to explore
• beautiful villages with ice cream shops and maybe a carousel
• historic sites to visit
• flatish, car free cycle routes with bike hire and trailers readily available (ideally e-bikes as I’m really not a cyclist!)

We’re two adults in early 40s and a (by then) just turned 4 year old. We want to be active, but with young child friendly, chilled activities, rather than super intense hiking/biking/paragliding type activities.

Just to add, I know weather is unpredictable! I’m just struggling to process all the information I’m reading on different areas of the Dordogne having quite differing climates and would love some personal recommendations!

I would say the Dordogne sounds like a great option! What sort of accommodation are you hoping for? We have been twice, the first time with a pre-schooler and we stayed in a gite on a gorgeous small campsite, which also had pitches and mobile homes. Bear in mind it was about 9 years ago, but we have friends who have been a few years since, and they also said it was lovely! The set up looks to be the same as when we went - swimming pool, playground, cafe, tennis courts, boules, visiting food trucks in the evenings. https://www.mathevies.com/

Our second visit was more recent and to a much larger Yelloh village site (similar to Eurocamp), by which point our daughter was older and wanted the excitement of a pool with slides/splash park, mini disco/evening entertainment, etc. We stayed in a mobile home on this site and really enjoyed it. There were lots of smaller children there and they seemed well catered for. https://www.yellohvillage.co.uk/camping/lascaux_vacances

Both sites are close to a gorgeous told called Sarlat, which has an evening market, lots of lovely restaurants and shops. You can easily do canoe/kayak trips on the river, we hired canoes for the day and had a lovely time spotting all the castles up above. Plenty of castles, chateaus and gardens to visit, gorgeous little towns for ice cream stops, caves, etc etc.

We are returning to the region this summer with a nearly 13 year old, so we’re trying a different, bigger Eurocamp site with plenty to keep her occupied, but are looking forward to going out and exploring once more!

Oh, I seem to remember Sarlat has a carousel!

Also, I’m not sure about bike hire, but I notice that the Mathevies website has a section about walking/cycling routes, so they may well have links to hire places. The Yelloh site I mentioned also had bike hire.

Can recommend St Avit Loisirs near Le Bugue and Les Peneyrals nearer to Sarlat. Also Le Banquet gite complex near Les Eyzies. Sarlat is gorgeous. Le Bugue has Le Parc de Bornat - which is a mix of old fashioned village and fairground rides, also an Aquarium. You can also do canoeing from there. Le Roque Gageac with cliff side cave dwellings. Gouffre de Proumeyssac (sp?) Lovely castle at Beynac overlooking the river. Domme is also very nice. Chateau de Milande and Marqueyssac gardens

@MissAmbrosia Saint Avit Loisirs is where we are off to this year, good to know it is recommended! The tips for La Bugue are also helpful - would you say Le Parc de Bornat would be a nice day out for a 12 year old girl? We will be aiming to canoe from La Bugue as well, having only previously done it further up the Vezere near Montignac.

Parc De Bornat should be OK for a 12 yo I think. The aquarium and mini golf are next door. When we were there, they had a weekly food festival in the square by the river in le Bugue - different stalls spread around the outside and tables in the middle. That was quite good fun and everyone could have what they fancied. https://www.visit-dordogne-valley.co.uk/french-living/markets/night-markets/ A quick Google says they still do it.