Camping l'Îlot du Chail

Camping l'ilot du Chail is very well placed for weeks' worth of active and relaxed days: right next to the site are the mini canals of the Mouillé Marsh, perfect for canoe paddles, boat trips and fishing expeditions, and there are lots of lovely waterside walks to be had almost direct from the site. Also in La Garette is a public pool, an equestrian centre and a shooting range. Bike rides are also a splendid thing to do here – rent yourself two wheels from a company nearby to tour the little maraichin villages of La Garette, Coulon, Amuré, Le Vanneau-Ireleau, Saint-Georges-de-Rex, Arçais and Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud. Elsewhere, Les Oiseaux Ornithological Park, 20 minutes’ drive away, is a pleasant spot for birdwatching by boat: this eight-hectare park is home to more than 70 species of bird, and once you’ve ticked them all off you can reward yourself with a luncheon of local produce at one of the park’s picnic areas. If you fancy a day by the sea, then that’s very achievable from here too: the lively coastal city of La Rochelle is less than an hour’s drive away, and from here you can hop on boat trips out to the Île de Ré, spree around the shops or go for a swim in the sea.