…lots to do !
La Cordonnerie is in the hamlet of Belaygue, midway between the villages of Penne and Vaour and about 10 minutes drive (or 30 minutes by bike) from the mediaeval town of St Antonin Noble Val.
Guests have the use of the 12 metre pool in the garden – with a diving board if you want to be athletic, but also ideal for relaxing with a good book! If you like wild swimming the Aveyron, 5 minutes away by car, offers numerous little beaches – some with a convenient café/bar to cool off afterwards.
It’s a perfect area for walking, with more than 30 marked paths in constantly changing countryside – from scrambles around the spectacular Aveyron Gorge to gentle strolls along the river. Marked bike tracks cater for everything from a quiet pedal to find a picnic spot to challenging mountain-bike trails. Electric bikes can be hired in St Antonin to help with the longer hills!
Other sports abound. Canoes and kayaks can be hired on the river, with a pickup system so that you don’t ever need to paddle upstream. There are good tennis courts, and every village has its petanque pitch. Climbers will find plenty of graded routes on the cliffs of the gorge, and there is an excellent ‘Via Ferrata‘ – a route along the cliffs provided with safety cables and zipwires – for the adventurous.
Riding lessons are available, and horses can be hired – or you can take a guided donkey ride from St Antonin Noble Val.
If you would like to fly, the Gorge provides superb conditions for paragliding with marked and approved take-off and landing sites. It’s occasionally possible to book a demonstration ‘tandem’ flight to give you a taste of the sport.
And lazing in the sunshine is always an option….!
La Cordonnerie 