Camping Du Vieux Château

Has the thought of Bordeaux generated a thirst for vin? That won’t be hard to slake hereabouts. There are a handful of wineries (some in châteaux, some not) between 20 and 45 minutes’ drive away, and the site’s about half an hour from another famed wine-producing region, Médoc. Once tipples have been taken, clear heads with a foray in the great wide open, starting with a pitstop five minutes from base at la Grotte Célestine, the only underground river in Gironde that’s open to the public. There are rambles aplenty to be had in Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park (55 minutes) too, while those happier pedalling along can join the disused-railway Roger Lapébie cycle route 10 minutes away in Bellepond (or do the whole 45-kilometre stretch by starting in Sauveterre-de-Guyenne) and bike towards the city of Bordeaux. Whether cycling or driving, Bordeaux (50 minutes) is a must. The pretty city has something for everyone, from botanical gardens and the Cité du Vin to an opera house and a submarine-base art museum. For something smaller, opt for Saint-Émilion (20 minutes) instead – the UNESCO World Heritage site is a medieval village with a monolithic church, cloisters and caves, and is a famed wine producer.