Camping de Graniers

If you seek to see more of the Gardon valley, climb aboard the steam train in Anduze for a jaunt through tunnels and over viaducts in old railway cars, taking in the views of La Bambouseraie, old mills and sweeping vistas. Make sure to have a camera with you at La Cascade de la Vis, the spectacular Cirque de Navacelles (look it up, then add immediately to your list) and the world-famed Pont du Gard – bring your swimming cossie along to the latter, as you'll want to go for a dip below its arches. For beach times, take your bucket and spade and make tracks for La Grande-Motte seaside resort (there’s a waterpark too if you can’t face sand getting everywhere) or Le Grau-du-Roi resort, and stop at Aigues-Mortes on the way for its red salt marshes and flamboyant flamingo population. Fancy a more urban experience? The Roman arena, Roman temple (Maison Carrée) and pretty 17th-century Jardins de la Fontaine are an hour away in Nîmes, as are the museums, zoo and aquarium of Montpellier. A little longer in the car gets you to Avignon for the grand Palais des Papes, leafy Rocher des Doms and the sprawlingly fab Chartreuse de Villeneuve monastery.