Camping les Arches

See the area in style from the Vélorail running on a disused railway line from just outside Saint-Jean-le-Centenier, a couple of minutes’ drive from the site. On the 10-kilometre route you’ll cross five bridges and go through a tunnel as well as getting some fab views of the surrounding countryside. If you’d rather tour the area on horseback there’s a riding centre 10 minutes’ drive away where you can sign up for treks into the hills and kids can have a taste of pony riding. If you fancy getting out on the water, head over to Vogüé, 20 minutes away, to hire canoes and paddle your way down the Ardèche river as far as Ruoms or Balazuc. More canoe trips can be found at Vallon Pont d’Arc, 40 minutes away, from where you can visit the huge stone arch of the Pont d’Arc and continue between the craggy cliffs of the Gorges de l’Ardèche. There are heaps of good walks to do in this part of the world – a popular one from the site is the hour-long hike to the Balmes de Montbrun troglodyte village, to see the remnants of homes, a chapel and a castle built directly into the rocks and caves.