La Petite Cachette

Lac de Lavaud will be your first port of call, surely – it’s got a sandy beach (with lifeguards in July and August), a miniature golf course, watersports rentals and places to fish (if you have the right licence). Bikes are available to rent if you’d like to explore on two wheels, and in summer there are horse riding lessons on offer too. There are lots of lovely landscapes to explore in the area – perhaps on one of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park’s many trails, or the vélorail, ziplines and treetop courses at Espace Hermeline (45 minutes’ drive). If you’d like to take in some historic sights too, then head to the likes of Château de Rochechouart, which houses a contemporary art museum, and the Roman site of Cassinomagus (both 15 minutes). Other outings might take you to explore medieval Confolens (half an hour), the porcelain makers of Limoges (45 minutes) or the museums and street art of Angoulême (an hour).