Camping Piper

A bus that stops 50 yards from Camping Piper takes you to Follonica where there's a splendid waterpark with two indoor and outdoor slides and a relaxing Hawaiian-themed tropical pool fed by dreamy cascades, all of which are set to keep you and the kids properly entertained for a good few hours or more. There's also an amusement park in Follonica that's made for small kids, who can play safely on inflatables and squishy mats set among a grassy playground, or seek their little thrills on tiny amusements such as the baby gondola (aww) and the mini merry-go-round. Still in Follonica, which is presided over by the ninth-century medieval hilltop Castello di Valle, there's also the Museum of Cast Iron Arts of Maremma, which tells the story of Follonica's steelworking heritage through heaps of interactive displays and the huge National Technological and Archaeological Park of the Colline Metallifere. A vast area that's among UNESCO's Global Geopark network, the park is basically a ginormous open air museum where every village – from Massa Marittima and its photogenic square and famed annual archery tournament to the medieval fortresses of Montemassi, Roccatederighi and Scarlino; the Tuscan mining centres of Ribolla and Niccioleta; and the chestnut tree forests of Montieri – has its own part of the story to tell. Another place well worth a wander to nearby is Scarlino Nature Reserve, which is a really great spot to hit early in the morning; pack up a breakfast hamper and be sure to stroll over there early if you want to catch a spectacular sunrise above the Tyrrhenian Sea horizon. The beaches of Mamai and Follonica are both within three kilometres, and there's a paragliding school, a shooting range and an equestrian centre all within about eight kilometres, giving you plenty of options for day and half-day trips involving outdoor activities that aren't too far from base.