Camping Le Moulin Vieux

The Célé river winds through much of the varied landscape of the oh-so-excellent Lot department, so investigating as much of the river as poss is very much recommended, whether that's canoeing, kayaking and rafting on the water, or biking or mountain hiking to the nearby caves and clifftop viewpoints. From Camping Le Moulin Vieux's local town of Brengues, take one of the several trails overlooking the Célé valley for more spectacular views, or drive from the town to one or more of the other handsomely scenic villages in the region, like Corn and tiny Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie; and high-up Cambes or Boussac, with ancient ramparts, 15th-century buildings and 12th-century castle. Also nearby are the famed and viewsome village of Figeac, a medieval must-see with ancient buildings, narrow streets and old half-timbered houses. Start off at the tourist office in the 13th-century Hotel de la Monnaie for Figeac info, then amble around the Musée d'Ecriture for a read of the history of writing through the centuries, including the tale of how clever boffins decoded the writing on the Rosetta Stone. More musts? The Pech Merle cave in Cabrerets is a topping Lot department pick, or stick to the region's villages with a potter around the markets in Sulpice, Marcilhac-sur-Célé and Sauliac-sur-Célé.