When I booked the holiday back in January we were taunted by the wait, however the time has flown by and we're already back home and contemplating next year!
In a moment of slight madness we decided to do the journey all in one go. Setting off at 4am was a little trying but in general everything went as well as could be expected with two children and a 12-hour drive!
We were a bit more adventurous this year and chose a slightly bigger campsite (30 pitches) just outside the village of Sainte Nathalene, near Sarlat in the Dordogne. One of the reasons we chose this site was the reviews said it was known for being geared towards children and very family friendly; it was - every family had children and many were English. The kids were ecstatic to have friends on tap, waking up to find their best buds up ready to play.
Our pitch was tucked away from the centre of the site and apart from the rocky ground (nightmare for tent pegs) and the slight slope, it was perfect as we got plenty of shade - much needed on the days when the temperature reached 38°C (100°F)!
Right beside us was a little bit of woodland, hidden from general view, that the kids made into a bar (no reflection on the activities of their parents, honest) and a den. They were very proud of their creations - they were pretty good despite not serving beer!
Quite a large percentage of the holiday was spent in the pool; Toby perfected swimming underwater (not bad for the child who wouldn't put his head in six months ago) and Beth just had a blast with her friends.
We also had quite a few trips out. We visited Castelnaud, towering over the river, Toby insistent that he could/should test out the catapult! We spent a couple of mornings in Sarlat at the market, virtually unchanged since I went as a teen, drinking coffee and (for a few seconds at least) enjoyed watching the world go by!
We also found a shady spot for swimming in the Dordogne, catching the current downstream and attempting to catch the many fish sharing the river with us.
We were very lucky to be able to spend one day with family friends at their home, enjoying their hospitality in the form of lovely food, beautiful surroundings, cooling pool and great company. A very nice day!
The two weeks flew by and it was a super holiday made all the better by the fact that we also made some lovely friends. We have loved these last two trips to the Dordogne but next year we're thinking of exploring new areas of France so any suggestions of hidden gems and small, child-friendly campsites will be greatly appreciated!
When I booked the holiday back in January we were taunted by the wait, however the time has flown by and we're already back home and contemplating next year! 
In a moment of slight madness we decided to do the journey all in one go. Setting off at 4am was a little trying but in general everything went as well as could be expected with two children and a 12-hour drive!
We were a bit more adventurous this year and chose a slightly bigger campsite (30 pitches) just outside the village of Sainte Nathalene, near Sarlat in the Dordogne. One of the reasons we chose this site was the reviews said it was known for being geared towards children and very family friendly; it was - every family had children and many were English. The kids were ecstatic to have friends on tap, waking up to find their best buds up ready to play. 
Our pitch was tucked away from the centre of the site and apart from the rocky ground (nightmare for tent pegs) and the slight slope, it was perfect as we got plenty of shade - much needed on the days when the temperature reached 38°C (100°F)! 
Right beside us was a little bit of woodland, hidden from general view, that the kids made into a bar (no reflection on the activities of their parents, honest) and a den. They were very proud of their creations - they were pretty good despite not serving beer!
Quite a large percentage of the holiday was spent in the pool; Toby perfected swimming underwater (not bad for the child who wouldn't put his head in six months ago) and Beth just had a blast with her friends. 
We also had quite a few trips out. We visited Castelnaud, towering over the river, Toby insistent that he could/should test out the catapult! We spent a couple of mornings in Sarlat at the market, virtually unchanged since I went as a teen, drinking coffee and (for a few seconds at least) enjoyed watching the world go by! 
We also found a shady spot for swimming in the Dordogne, catching the current downstream and attempting to catch the many fish sharing the river with us. 
We were very lucky to be able to spend one day with family friends at their home, enjoying their hospitality in the form of lovely food, beautiful surroundings, cooling pool and great company. A very nice day!
The two weeks flew by and it was a super holiday made all the better by the fact that we also made some lovely friends. We have loved these last two trips to the Dordogne but next year we're thinking of exploring new areas of France so any suggestions of hidden gems and small, child-friendly campsites will be greatly appreciated!