A seasonal bar/restaurant next to the small beach at Saint Mathieu’s lake. Expect plastic seating, a warm, friendly service and good basic food. Normally open from April until September.

Location: Saint Mathieu Lake, (5km/ 7mins)

Food: Basic French (and Fish and Chips)

Price: €

Address: Les Champs, Saint Mathieu, 87440
(It’s possible to walk to Saint Mathieu lake and this will take you around an hour, if you are physically quite fit. Ask us for help planning your route)

Tel: 06 36 83 68 02

A friendly brasserie located next to the fountain (funnily enough) in the centre of Nontron. It serves very nice, reasonably priced burgers and salads at lunchtime.

(We’ve always been able to get a table without reservation, though sometimes we’ve had to wait a bit.)

Location: Nontron (23km / 22 mins)

Food: Brasserie Basics

Price: €€

Address: 18 Pl. Alfred Agard, 24300 Nontron

Tel: 05 53 56 03 65

If you want to eat Limousin Beef, then this is a restaurant we’d recommend (although, ironically, it’s not in Limousin).

Chez Steph has an idyllic setting in the shadows of the Chateau de La Rochefoucauld with outdoor seating in the summer months. If you all like your steak cooked the same way (signon, if you want to eat as the French do) then why not order a Cote (side) of Boeuf to share!

Location: La Rochefoucauld (32km / 32 mins)

Food: Mainly Steak (but other dishes available, including a formule midi weekday lunchtimes).

Price: €€

Address: 48 Rue des Halles, 16110 La Rochefoucauld

Tel: 05 45 62 09 11