Camping de L'Étang

If fishing's your bag you'll be beaming all holiday long, with the brimming waters of Mérigot lake five minutes away on foot and opportunities for exploring the carp-, pike- and zander-filled stretches of the huge Lac de Lastioulles by boats or from the shore, a short, five-minute car ride from the site. The nautical centre on the banks of Lac de Lastioulles has all manner of other aquatic activities for families, from kayaking and paddleboarding to swimming or simply soaking up the sun on the beaches. If terra firma's more your style, you're bang in the middle of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park for weeks' worth of activities of all sort. It's half an hour's drive from the site to Puy de Sancy, the highest point in the Massif Central, and hikes through the wildlife-filled cliffs and crags of the Chaudefour Valley Nature Reserve. Prefer to take in the scenery from a comfy seat? The site is also half an hour from Riom-és-Montagnes, where the Gentiane Express train takes you up to the Cézallier plateau past ancient villages and farmsteads, over viaducts and giving you cracking views of the forested mountains. You can soak up some history at Château de Val (20 minutes) a 15th-century fortress with lavish interiors and lake views, while the nearby floating assault course, pedalos and kayaks at Aqua Loisirs Auvergne should keep the whole family as happy as the history buffs.