Camping Bois de Valmarie

Make the most of that Mediterranean setting by taking a boat trip or renting a sea kayak from Argelès Port (20 minutes’ walk). In this area, you can also master the art of navigation among the cascades and crevices of the Canyoning Park (10 minutes’ drive) or gear up for something a little more spin-crazy with a round of go-karting next door at Ludi Kart (10 minutes) or the tosses and turns of the rides at Luna Park (10 minutes). If all the activities have left you feeling a little lightheaded, a gentler form of fun can be found in the tanks of Oniria Aquarium (30 minutes). The fish theme continues into the arty fishing village of Collioure (10 minutes), once home to the French painter Matisse – and surely the inspiration for many of his strokes. Further afield, gastronomy and wine-lovers will want to make a day of Perpignan (20 minutes), where you can munch on crispy fried pancakes as you walk past small turrets and wrought-iron bell towers. In the opposite direction and just over the border, Figueres (50 minutes) is the home of the Dalí Theatre-Museum, a place packed with surreal sights.