Camping Le Moussaillon

This watery part of France is home to a lot of inland waters – if you like what you see at Étang de Moïsan (30 minutes' walk), check out the brill lake at Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains (five minutes' drive) or the Étang de Léon (15 minutes). This latter spot is one of the biggest lakes in the Landes region and is more exposed to the elements, making it a bit more bracing for swimming but well-suited to sailing – head to the sports centre on its southern edge to try it out for yourself. You don't have to be an expert in the local lingo to work out what Adrénaline Parc (five minutes) is all about – this ace activity centre is set in a forest where you can set out on a high ropes course, zoom around on quad-biking safaris or get competitive over a game of paintball. Seeking something more relaxed? Drive 45 minutes or so to the south and you'll end up in Bayonne, a historic city with a Gothic-style cathedral, old half-timbered houses and a cracking covered market.