Camping de l'Orb

Canoeing, kayaking, paddleboating, fishing, swimming, sailing, yachting and boating are among the heady mixture of Orb-based activities to bounce along to from here, either directly from the site's beach or with the assistance of the kayaking centre a few minutes' walk away. Over the river, wander the 10 minutes or so to Roquebrun, a big village with the moniker of the Nice of Hérault because of its mild microclimate and lush Mediterranean garden with mimosas and cacti: do clamber up to this hillside spot, as the views from here are spectacular. About 25 minutes' drive to Roquebrun's north west, the handsome village of Olargues, on the banks of the Jaur river and in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, is a pretty place for a day trip as well as a good starting point for hikes and bike rides in the regional park. A must-see in the area is Béziers, one of France's protected history towns and slap bang in the centre of the country's biggest wine-producing region. You should also carve out time for a trek around the Hérault valley and its gorges (a UNESCO World Heritage Site): swimming and boating are popular in the valley's waters in summer.