Camping L'Oiseau Blanc

There are lots of places along the coast where you can admire the dazzlingly white cliffs – among the best are Étretat, where stone arches and needles sit just off shore, and Fécamp, home to a fishing harbour and museum... and the Benedictine palace that’s also a distillery for the local liqueur (a herbal concoction also known as Benedictine). It’s not all about the chalk though: little beaches are dotted along the coastline, with top spots including Les Petites-Dalles 10 minutes' drive from the site, or the more far-flung but pleasingly lengthy stretch running south from Saint-Jouin-Bruneval, 45 minutes away. Étretat is also home to a gorgeous golf course with spectacular sea views (don’t lose your ball over the edge here) and a riding centre where you can take lessons or gallop along the beach. In the other direction is Veules-les-Roses, the place to go for sailing and kayaking, and to hire windsurfs or paddleboards. If you’ve ever fancied flying like a bird, take the clan to Woody Park 20 minutes away, to follow trails through the forest canopy or stay down at ground level for paintballing, laser games and – how fab – inflatable sumo wrestling.