Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne review: Exceptional riverside camping in the Dordogne valley

Top-notch camping and glamping in an incomparably unique riverside setting: Discover why Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is an unexpected gem in a region where there’s much more than meets the eye.

The Dordogne river valley is quintessential south-western France. Sleepy towns and villages, steeped in history and brimming with sandy-coloured stone houses, scatter the landscape of gently rolling hills. The river snakes languorously through the sun-baked countryside, a focal point and a source of refreshment. It’s not super quiet here – it’s long been a popular destination, especially with Brits – but it is peaceful, with a steady pace of life that centres around simple pleasures, like the delicious foods of this region.

It’s all very bucolic. But – and here’s the important bit – don’t be deterred if a quiet afternoon strolling in the shade is not for you. There’s much more to this region than meets the eye. With the right base, it’s also a fantastic spot for families and anyone seeking an active holiday away from the usual suspects, such as the Alps.

And, I’ve found the perfect base. Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is an outstanding camping and glamping site literally in the middle of the Dordogne river. On the fringes of a beautiful yet authentic once-fortified town and right on the water, it offers the best of both worlds. A charming slice of rural France but with heaps of outdoor activities on your doorstep (that’ll keep folks of any age easily entertained). It’s a campsite with a broad range of smart glamping options in cabins and treehouses – on top of regular pitches – as well as simple but well-executed facilities like a pool and cafe-bar. There’s even access to a small riverside beach directly from the site. It’s a camping experience of the very best kind – everything you could want but nothing more, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and an excellent setting. Lively, but not too lively. Great facilities, but with a focus on off-grid fun. An unexpectedly spectacular setting, yet only a short stroll from a characterful town centre.

Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne ticked a lot of boxes, including ones we didn’t expect. It’s a fantastic base for walking, cycling and exploring – and for having fun in and on the water. We stayed with our toddler, but a location like this could be a hit for us for many more years to come. Here’s my review of the excellent Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.

There’s no AI here! Every post on Travels with a Saddle Bag is written by myself and based on my own travels. This post was published in September 2026 and based on my visit to Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne in July 2026.

Who are Huttopia?

I first stumbled across Huttopia years ago on an entirely unplanned camping trip that led my friend and I eventually to the Ile de Noirmoutier, a gem on the Vendée coast. The (now Huttopia-badged) campsite lingered longer than I expected in my memory, as a fairly inexperienced camper. Who knew campsites could be so good?

Fast forward several years and Huttopia came back onto my radar as we started to seek more rural holiday destinations (after a busy few years packed mostly with city breaks). They’re a chain of campsites operating largely in France, but slowly expanding into other European countries and even North America. And they’re genuinely different to the other campsite chains you’ll find in this part of the world. They pride themselves in offering low density sites in outstanding locations, with a focus on encouraging offline and outdoor activities.Their sites are a pleasant mix of traditional camping pitches and glamping options, from safari tents to wooden lodges, making it hard not to find something that captures your imagination. 

Huttopia don’t conform to ‘bigger is better’ principles. If there are facilities like swimming pools on their sites, they’re modest in size but extremely well-maintained. And they appear to genuinely have no interest in squeezing out traditional campers to make more room for glamping – they recognise that the diversity of pitches make it more appealing. Perhaps most important of all, their prices are reasonable – mid-market camping and glamping rates for what consistently feels like a high-end experience.

In short, Huttopia is a little unusual. In the best possible way. And I think you might like it.

The location: Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is located, quite literally, in the middle of the Dordogne river. Let me explain.

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is a pretty riverside town in the Dordogne valley, just far enough south and west to be described as in the South-west of France. Descending through the departments of the Cantal, Correze (where you’ll find Beaulieu), Lot, Dordogne and Gironde, the Dordogne valley is synonymous with the enchanting rural countryside and picturesque towns of this region. And Beaulieu itself offers everything you expect in this part of the world; a charming old fortified centre knotted around an ancient church and abbey, market squares shaded by plane trees and a gorgeous riverfront, where visitors stroll whilst locals paddle and swim. It strikes an unusually perfect balance between being an attractive town to stroll around, and one that’s packed with things that will make your stay go with a splash – everything from a riverside beach to easy outdoor exploration and access to a good supermarket (because let’s be honest, French camping trips are powered by such things).

But it’s the island location that really makes this spot stand out (and a truly memorable stay). The campsite is uniquely spread across two islands midstream in the river. The wide, main channel separates them, but an elegant pedestrian bridge connects both together and to the town. Smaller channels separate both islands from the main river banks, meaning access by vehicle (to park) is easy. But you remain surrounded by water in the best possible way. Both islands are shady and sandy under-foot, with a superb view of Beaulieu’s pretty waterside from the pedestrian bridge, and the fringes of the smaller island.

Types of accommodation at Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

There’s a really varied selection of accommodation at Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. 

Camping pitches

As I’ve previously mentioned there’s a generous amount of camping pitches, mostly located close to the reception and pool or on the riverbank. All pitches offer electric hook-ups and access from paved paths suitable for vans and caravans, and are shaded from the summer sun. And personally, I can’t recommend the riverside options enough. Generously-sized and screened by mature hedges, they look on to the water and in some cases offer direct access into the water to paddle or fish. They’re well-worth the slightly higher prices for the really remarkable location. 

Pre-erected canvas tents

A happy middle-ground for folks who enjoy camping but appreciate a few mod-cons, there’s a selection of pre-erected glamping tents scattered across the main island, all with their own facilities and decks with patio facilities. There’s a handful with outstanding riverside locations worth looking out for – they have spectacular terraces.

Glamping cottages and chalets

Or as we took to calling them, cabins. These are mostly located on the second island, a little further from reception and pools but linked by the impressive pedestrian bridge across the river (separate parking nearby means you won’t be hauling luggage across the site or river). There’s a really nice selection of chalets, from very modest one bedroom affairs to large two or three bedroom cabins including some with dramatic treetop locations. All have well-furnished terraces, private bathrooms and kitchens and modern furnishings. They all face onto the main river, or the smaller channel that meanders along the far boundary of the site. We booked a one bedroom cabin (sleeps three – we used a travel cot but there’s also a single sofa bed in the sitting room) and we couldn’t fault it. We didn’t have a river view aside from our bedroom (however it was very impressive), but it’s well-worth scouting out the campsite map and even paying a small premium for this memorable extra. Over on the main island you’ll also find a handful of roulottes (similar to shepherd’s huts) which offer a charming option for short stays.

One of the best things about a cabin stay here? They’re enjoyable whatever they weather. Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne opens April-September each year, but those shoulder season days can be cooler and wetter – and a chalet means you won’t enjoy this any less. Equally, staying during a July heatwave meant we appreciated (slightly) cooler and shadier spaces for naps and at night.

Facilities at Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Huttopia sites do a really good job of striking a balance between offering plenty to do without feeling like a resort.

The heart of the campsite is the pool area. There’s actually three pools here, a modest-sized adult pool, a kids pool and a toddler splash play area. All are really well-maintained and somehow never seemed to get too busy, even in July. The adult pool is just big enough that you could swim some laps in the early morning, yet the kids pool is plenty big enough for family fun. It’s worth noting that although there’s no lifeguard, the pool is securely (and attractively) fenced in line with French law so you needn’t worry about this if you’re letting kids explore.

Adjacent to the pool is a large decked area with a smart little bar, open all day, and a food truck that opens most evenings. This space is also used for hosting events, something Huttopia is really good at. A couple of evenings a week you can usually find something going on – from live music to open air cinema screenings. It’s really well done, not on a scale big enough to disturb guests who want to do their own thing, but more than convivial enough that it’s hard to resist joining in. During our stay they screened two World Cup semi-finals on their (small) big screen outside and the atmosphere was fantastic.

For active guests, you’ll also find table tennis tables, a volleyball court and a games room nearby – all well-equipped with the kit you’ll need to play. There’s also ebike hire available from reception, the only bike hire option you’ll find locally. We highly recommend this as a way to spend a day or half day, it’s a fantastic way to explore the quiet roads and villages in this area – and the combination of ebike and available toddler seats was a game-changer with our little girl in tow. 

Lastly, the actual facilities are very good. Although we stayed in a cabin with private bathroom, there are lots of toilet and shower blocks across the site. These are clean, up-to-date and well-maintained. The laundry room requires tokens purchased from reception but the machines are high end and appear to be brand new, and were a huge bonus for us on a two week trip. And reception itself was consistently staffed with friendly, multi-lingual folks who were happy to help, or assist with sales from the small but thoughtfully stocked shop.

What to know about Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

As with any destination, there’s many helpful things you can only glean once you stay there. Here’s what we learned;

Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne used to be two separate campsites, run by different operators. The site closest to the town centre is the original, well-established Huttopia location. Across the pedestrian bridge is the newest offering, which previously traded as Limousin Riviera. Bringing these two sites together under the Huttopia umbrella has been an indisputably excellent idea. The recent addition brings more lodge-style accommodation into the mix, and guests here now benefit from all the original Huttopia facilities across the water. Staying in the summer of 2026, there were still signs of the ongoing renovation of the old Limousin Riviera site (including the literal signs!). Like most others, our cabin had had a full decorative refresh with smart new furniture. A new games room had been created in the picturesque pigeonière on site. A new play area was under construction (I believe now complete). Only the central reception building remains empty – but I’m curious to see what excellent use Huttopia will likely find for it in future.

There is excellent access to the water here, aside from the campsite pools. Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne has its own, larger municipal outdoor pool complex a five minute walk away upriver. With slides and more, it looks perfect for bigger kids with energy to burn. Then there’s the river itself. You’ll see locals dipping and paddling in the river and it’s easy to spot popular spots and join them. Kayaking or paddling a SUP is fun here as the water is shallow but limited in range as the weir below the pedestrian bridge means a roundabout route is needed to go far downstream. If your idea of fun on the water is more ambitious than this, you’re in the right place. There are multiple companies offering kayaking trips here. Most involve a short minibus ride upstream to Argentat, where you can launch and enjoy a pleasant few hours paddling back downriver to Beaulieu.

Good food shopping is easy here. There’s an Intermarche supermarket five minutes away in Altillac, just over the river and walkable if you prefer. And if French supermarkets are your thing, there’s an even larger E Leclerc supermarket in Biars-sur-Cere, a ten minute drive away. Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne has three boulangeries to choose from (our favourite was La Piplette, opposite the church) as well as a convenience store. The campsite has a smart little food truck serving pizzas and café breakfasts, and offers a bread and patisserie service if you’d prefer not to stroll into town. And last but by no means least there’s a weekly market in the town centre every Wednesday and a charming local producer’s market on Monday evenings on the waterfront during July and August (with live music, buvette and barbecues most weeks).

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is best reached by road, with good connections to motorways heading towards both Limoges and Toulouse. There are also rail services to nearby Biars-sur-Cere, making public transport an option for short trips (although you’d want to spend the bulk of your time in Beaulieu as connections elsewhere are limited and infrequent).

How we holidayed at Huttopia

We spent eight nights at Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne in July 2026 as part of a two week trip to central France (we spent the first part of our holiday at the equally excellent, although very different Camping Le Monteil in La Creuse). We booked a 3 person Comfort Cottage for our stay that was perfect for a family of three. Everything we needed, nothing we didn’t. The site was super toddler-friendly but would just as much have suited us in our pre-parenting days. A week is about right here, there is lots to do if – like us – you want to explore local towns, walk, cycle and muck about in the water. The location, not far from motorway routes south, is a genuinely excellent destination in its own right but equally good as an extended stop on a road trip. We drove from the UK. Not the fastest way to travel but super convenient, and we found that having a car here added to our enjoyment of this region.

Find out more about what we got up to in my guide to the upper Dordogne valley, coming soon.

How to book Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Like all Huttopia sites, head direct to the Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne website.

Glamping at Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne: Family-friendly campsite perfection

A lot has changed since my first trip to a Huttopia campsite. My holiday priorities have shifted to more active adventures and I’m now travelling as part of a family of three. But here’s the thing – Huttopia is just as perfect now as it was then.

I sincerely think Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is one of the best places to base yourself for a stay in the Dordogne valley. It has all the vibrant, small town charm you might hope for with the added bonus of outstanding river access for splashing about all summer long. And Huttopia Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is the icing on the cake. Accommodation that’s simple but simply perfect, and a focus on helping you to enjoy the great outdoors. Which is ultimately why you want to come here. 

There are bigger and fancier campsites out there. And there are far smaller and more off-grid. But Huttopia strikes a brilliant balance whether you’re travelling with big kids, little kids or with friends. It definitely leans towards those who prefer a little gentle conviviality – a drink on the terrace, a game of volleyball or simply friendly hellos with neighbours at the pool or over the washing up. But equally there’s no forced fun here and the atmosphere is relaxed and peaceful. 

I’d genuinely recommend this spot for anyone looking for a slightly different way to enjoy rural France. And if we’re heading this way in future I’ll without hesitation book a few more nights here (but treat ourselves to a riverside view).