Camping La Brugère

Now this is a peaceful place. Camping La Brugère is a serene site in a quiet part of the Dordogne, in a rural setting with very little traffic noise, and on a working sheep and cattle farm.

Set secludedly less than 10 minutes’ drive from the village of Saint-Félix-de-Villadeix, the site is run by Lieke and René, who’ve set up a laidback place where guests can laze about in scenic surrounds. It’s in a handy location too despite its quiet setting: Bergerac airport (and car hire) is 25 minutes’ drive from here, Bergerac city is within half an hour, and stunning Perigueux is 40 minutes to the north. The UNESCO World Heritage Site and archaeological haven of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil is 45 minutes away.

Placid pursuits are to hand if you want them: a little lake with freshwater creek is towards the lower part of the grounds for gentle walks, and there’s plenty of space around the site for strolls and games of lawn bowls or badminton (small guests, meanwhile, should enjoy meeting – and feeding – the site ducks). A forest is within a kilometre’s walk for woodland strolls – or availing of the sports kit if you’re feeling a tad more energetic.

As evening falls, mosey on over to the farm’s old cow shed, which has been converted into a communal space where the owners run a small bar selling snacks such as pizzas from the woodfired oven, fries and roasted free-range chickens, as well as drinks and ice cream. A fire is lit here too on less clement days, for guests to cosy around and chat, and a campfire often blazes outside on nights in peak season.

Also in peak season (July and August), a weekly barbecue is held for guests: bring along your meat, fish and veg to be cooked, or wield the barbecue tongs to prep your own eats. Weekly barbecues are sometimes held outside peak season too, depending on weather and the number of guests on site.

Camping La Brugère also has a volleyball net, a launderette and clean and modern amenities with lots of hot water and disabled facilities.