Camping Royat

The Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park – home to Europe’s largest group of volcanoes – is filled with hills strewn with volcanic lakes, ridges, valleys and plateaus, and thus a rather excellent place for some outdoor adventure. From the top of Puy de Dôme you can take a tandem paraglider flight for scenic sails over the lands below, and there are countless hiking and biking trails around the vicinity too. A right royal pampering, anyone? If one requires some much-needed R&R after all that hillside hiking, then the thermal spa town of Royat is the place to head while on hols here. And aside from indulging in all manner of spa treatments, you can wander around the town’s old thermal village, the Gallo-Roman baths, or Bargoin park too to soak up a bit of l’histoire. The Volcano-themed thrills of Vulcania are also a quick and easy 20 minutes away by car – take the tiddlers here to have them learn about the planet (and, of course, volcanoes) through a set of interactive exhibitions, games, activities and workshops and keep them muchly entertained.