The Beautiful Lot Valley in France

My family have one of their holiday homes in the Lot Valley and we stay there three or four times a year. Having been travelling to France from a very young age I've seen many different areas from the northern coast of Brittany to the southern mountains of the Pyrenees but I've never found anywhere that is quite like Tour de Faure and the Lot Valley.

For me the area really does provide everything you could ever want from a holida; great weather, welcoming locals, fantastic food, outstanding wine and plenty of things to do. From fishing to canoeing and from cycling to wine tasting there is something for everyone.

One of the things I really remember the area for is its natural beauty. Tour de Faure is located in the heart of the “Parc Naturel Regional des Causses du Quercy” and situated on the banks of the River Lot. As the roads wind their way along the river you start to notice all the different buildings and houses built into the hillside. The geology of the area has led to the fantastic caves (or “grotte”) at Grotte de Pech Merle well known for the great quality of cave paintings. I've visited the caves on numerous occasions and I still learn new things each time. A great activity for all ages and English translation is available. The village of Rocamadour is only a short distance away from Tour de Faure and again is packed full of charm and character – well worth a visit if you like little French streets, brimming with great restaurants and shops selling all types of wares. None of the areas around Tour de Faure give the impression of being overly touristy which I think is a bonus!

One of our favourite things to do is jumping on a bicycle and cycling round the incredible roads that cut away into the hillside. The Tour de France uses this area as one of its stages so it must be good! We also seem to spend a lot of time with the guys at Kalapca (located at Conduché, a 10min drive from Son du Chêne) – usually canoeing or kayaking down the River Célé. If you're like us and would enjoy a fairly gentle paddle down stream then we recommend the 14km trip from Saulliac. We tend to fill our provided waterproof barrels with picnic food and drink and then stop off half way down to enjoy a splash around to cool off from the heat (summer weather is generally excellent, averaging temps of around 30-35 °C during peak summer months). Kalapca also offers more extreme sports for those of you brave enough – including caving, rock climbing and canyoning.

There's something really special about driving through the winding roads and coming out above St Cirq Lapoppie to see the sun setting over the Lot river. The medieval village of St Cirq Lapoppie is approximately a 15min bicycle ride from Son du Chêne and is well worth the visit. There's plenty of little shops offering local art work and gifts, and a good number of very decent restaurants. We've been there during the summer when there's often live music in the outdoor theatre and have even been lucky enough to watch the impressive firework display above the church, which is perched on the edge of the cliff top. The wine of course has to be mentioned – famous for its depth and longevity, Cahors wine, made predominately from Malbec grapes is older than Bordeaux, almost black in colour, full bodied and vigorous in flavour.

I hope you enjoy the region as much as we do. I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on the area and what you've enjoyed doing whilst there.