Villatent at Camping Les Bois du Bardelet

Say ‘Loire Valley’ to someone and you’re likely to conjure up images of vineyards and châteaux – and it’s no surprise to find that both are in strong supply around here. On the wine front, you may choose to walk or bike locally for gorgeous views across green vineyards, or set forth for Sancerre (50 minutes’ drive) to get to the heart of one of the world’s top grape-producing regions. Château-seekers, meanwhile, should plan for a few days out – starting with the Castle-Museum in Gien (10 minutes) and then moving on to the turreted Château de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire (15 minutes) and the excellent medieval Château de Sully-sur-Loire (half an hour), surrounded by a moat and pretty parkland. While you’re in Sully-sur-Loire, put your canoeing skills to good use for a paddle down the river; if you’d like your river trip to be a bit easier on the arms there are sailing boats to hire in Gien. If the kids fancy seeing the scenery from on high instead, take them to Nature Adventure (50 minutes) for the treetop trails.