Dordogne Retreat - a farmhouse tale

After Pompadour, we drove to Segur le Chateau.  As we were going to Pompadour we met the Dutch neighbour who told us we must visit.  He was right.  Segur is a well-preserved mediaval village on a loop in a river winding through a steep valley.  The chateau - ruined - sits atop a hill in the middle of the loop.

Our last day was pretty grotty, weather-wise.  However, the sun came out at about 4.30 pm and so we went to Pompadour.  This beautiful small town is devoted to horses.  We arrived just as the day's racing had finished, but we were able to see the beautifully maintained racecourse.  We then stumbled across a showjumping competition in the grounds of the haras national (national stud - no, not M. Sarkozy!)

La Buse - French for buzzard.  This overhead cable is a favourite perch for this bird.  I crept round the corner in the car, and I was able to fire off a few shots before it took off.

No luck with the other challenge, although Caroline and I did see the snake again in the pool house.

Mark set me a challenge to photograh a buzzard.  This is my best effort.  Unfortunately my camera has too much of a delay between pressing the button and the picture being taken.  Not a problem I'd ever noticed before, but these beautiful birds will not stay still!

The lizards, on the other hand, will sit still for hours if you do not disturb them.

And this is how baby slugs are made!

Other wildlife news:

• the mole trap Richard is seen planting in my first post has claimed a victim, so we've chalked up no. 11.  Richard is chuffed.
• No Loirs.
• This evening I caught a fleeting glimpse of a snake in the pool house.  I'd say about 2 feet long, and black or dark green.

Not far away is Lac de Rouffiac, a water-base adventure playground.  As well as a plage, about 200 metres of real sand, it offers a large lake with boats, canoes and pedaloes, and walking and cycling trails.  Part of the lake is cut off by an articial barrier to separate an area for "teleski".  Imagine a drag lift going round a lake towing water-skiers!

There are also shore based activities.  We saw archery butts.  Wildlife included families of grebes and swans, and Richard assures us that he saw a vole.

Recommended for families with children/teenagers.

The Dutch neighbours own a large area of woodland running down to the river at the bottom of the valley. A walk in these woods is a wonderful way of passing an hour. A word of caution: do wear good shoes, the path is a little steep in places.

We were told that if you sit patiently by the river, there is a good chance of seeing kingfishers.