La Roulotte à Raven

If you’d like to catch a guaranteed glimpse of local wildlife, head for the La Ferme aux Cerfs (15 minutes’ walk), where you can feed deer, goats and wild boar. Still not had your fill of animals? Go pony riding or cuddle the donkeys at Animal Park Nahuques (25 minutes’ drive). Daredevils and petrol heads will probably gravitate to Circuit Paul Armagnac (15 minutes) for lessons in race driving, classic-car meets and truck-racing events. You can pursue quieter sports like swimming and lakeside hiking at the Base de Loisirs du Marsan (half an hour), or ramp things up a bit on the treetop rope courses and mountain biking courses. Historic Marciac (40 minutes) is a medieval bastide town with ancient half-timbered houses, walks around its defence ramparts and a rich cultural life with bars selling local Armagnac and a well-known jazz festival in late July. When a relaxing afternoon is required, you can retire to Barbotan-les-Thermes (half an hour) for a dip in the hot springs, therapeutic mud treatments and a wander around botanical gardens planted with tropical trees.