This was our third stay at the Des Roches. We found it initially 10 years ago when it was featured on the BBC Holiday programme. It is a simple three star hotel, but fabulously situated in one of my favourite Dordogne villages. Its greatest strength is probably the lovely pool set in a large lawned area to the front of the hotel, and the peaceful shady rockery garden to the rear with little tables and chairs under the trees, and a lovely babbliing stream running along below.

The rooms themselves are simply furnished, in fairly typical French style. Our rooms this time were in a seperate building to the rear, and could perhaps have done with a new carpet and a lick of paint. But nevertheless it is clean and comfortable. There is a lounge bar area for cooler evenings or to escape from the rain (the Dordogne has to get its lovely green glow somehow!). Breakfast is an optional extra 9 euros a head - continental buffet style. But the village is just a 5-10 minute walk and has three bakeries - and a bag of croissants costs less than 5 euros!

The village itself is also a key reason for staying here - set against a backdrop of sheer rock on one side, it is small enough not to be overrun by tourists like some of the bigger Dordogne villages, but big enough to offer a reasonable range of resturants and shops. That being said, as with much of the Dordogne, several shops sell nothing but products made from various parts of Geese and Ducks!! This theme extends to the resturants. Don't be too surprised if you find a Table D'Hote menu offering two choices - breast of duck or leg of duck (or as we found on a previous visit - three choices - breast of duck, leg of duck or duck lasagne!!!!!).

The village is well placed for exploring the Dordogne, although the windy roads do mean a journey that looks short on the map can take a while! In addition to being able to visit a range of picture postcard villages, the hotel has numerous leaflets advertising a wide range of caves, castles and gardens, as well as canoe trips on the river and other more active pursuits. There is a huge amount to do here for all ages, and whatever the weather.