Camping Le Port de Lacombe

Up for a market? They’re a great way to try out the local specialities and also to liven up your picnics as you hike, bike and drive your way round this fab region. The nearest is in Decazeville, 15 minutes' drive away, and there’s a bigger one in Figeac (half an hour): check with the site team about days and times. It’s also worth a visit to the tourist office in Flagnac, not least for information on boat trips and cruises down the Lot. There’s a host of water-based touring options departing from these parts, some taking you underneath the massive Millau viaduct, others dishing up gourmet specialities as you cruise the gorges. If you’re into history, hoof it over to the next village of Saint-Parthem (10 minutes) for a poke round the Château de Gironde, clinging to the rocky sides of the valley over the river; the village is also home to the Terra OLT Museum, a unique collection exploring and explaining how the river has shaped the natural and human history of the area. If you want to go back further in time, take a wander through the caves at Foissac (40 minutes), to see tiny footprints from 5,000 years ago, burial sites and bizarre rock formations deep underground.