Camping du Lac Mercus

Active types have plenty of ways to get out and about: practise paddling on the lake, then take to the river for a day out among the views and wildlife. A canoe centre 15 minutes’ drive away has kit, maps and advice; canyoning and climbing tours (both on rock faces and via ferrata climbing routes) are also on offer here. Pony rides and beginners’ lessons are at the riding centre 20 minutes away, along with treks into the foothills of the Pyrenees and alongside rivers and lakes. View the area’s scenery from above with a trial flight from the paragliding centre 10 minutes away, or experience life in the trees on the canopy adventure course at AkroBranch, 50 minutes from the site. If you fancy a calmer day out, Château de Foix sits on a craggy outcrop and dominates the town of Foix, 20 minutes away. Just outside the town, the Forges de Pyrène is an open-air living museum where you can see olde worlde skills in action – blacksmith, clog maker and traditional baker among them. For a glimpse even further back in time, head to the caves of Niaux or Lombrives (both 15 minutes) to see prehistoric cave paintings and explore the caverns that formed refuges for all sorts of folk for many centuries.