Tendi at Camping L'Ardechois

Seriously sporty types can hire mountain bikes from the campsite and whizz off into the Ardèche hills, climb the extinct volcano at Mont Gerbier de Jonc (45 minutes), or go canoeing down the Eyrieux river (20 minutes’ drive) and canyoning on the Besorgues (55 minutes). Get the kids out on zipwires over the river at Aquarock Aventure (15 minutes), or have a break from nerve-tingling activities and treat family members with a sweet tooth to tastings of the local nougat at the Palace of Sweets and Nougat (an hour and five minutes), while another family-friendly option is a drive through rhino, giraffe and zebra enclosures at Safari de Peaugres (90 minutes). Visits to fragrant produce markets in this corner of the Ardèche reward with fresh vegetables, herbs, local cheeses and wines; some of the most colourful are Lamastre (Tuesday, 50 minutes), Le Cheylard (Wednesday, 40 minutes) and Saint-Sauveur-de-Montagut (Saturday, 10 minutes). If you love browsing pre-loved treasures, head for the ‘brocante’ markets in Tournon-sur-Rhône, (every third Sunday, an hour and 10 minutes) or La Voulte-sur-Rhône (every fourth Sunday of the month, 45 minutes).