Camping Wirthshof

Lake Constance is also called Bodensee and Das Schwäbische Meer (the Swabian Sea); they gave it three names because you can cram at least three holidays into one. The lake also joins three countries, centrepiece of a region where meadows become vineyards, Alpine peaks overlook beaches and Roman ruins flank baroque cathedrals. Walking trails to the lake start right in next-door Markdorf (under five minutes' drive): if you've got 10 days spare, you could hike or bike round the whole lake. Ferries (a joy in themselves) link up with cable cars and mountain railways and onwards to a network of sky-high trails stretching to Liechtenstein. Few towns on the lake are without a watersports centre catering to keen canoeists and wobbly first-time windsurfers alike. Few towns are not worth a visit either... Meersburg (15 minutes) is a medieval affair, with vine-studded slopes leading to the sort of castle Rapunzel might have tossed her hair out of (let your own hair down sampling the local pinot noir). At Friedrichshafen (15 minutes) zip round the Zeppelin museum and step on board a reconstructed Hindenburg. For heights without hot air, you can head up the lighthouse in Lindau (40 minutes) and see the Alps.