Les Roulottes du Petit Gouffre de Padirac

For many visitors, it’s the natural wonders that really stand out around here – and with good reason. A trip to the Gouffre de Padirac (20 minutes’ walk) is a must, to see the huge subterranean cavern, the underground lakes and the river that runs through. Back up at surface level, there are lots of excellent hikes around (the woodland trail that takes you up to Autoire waterfall, 10 minutes’ drive away, is a favourite) or you could hire canoes to paddle along the Dordogne river (15 minutes' drive). Monkey Forest and the Animal Park of Gramat (both 20 minutes) are good options for animal spotting and kids’ days out. Along with all the natural landscapes are some fabulous towns to visit – Rocamadour (20 minutes) has a dramatic cliffside setting, medieval houses and a central set of steps known as Le Grand Escalier, while Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (an hour), high up on a hilltop above the river and packed with historic buildings, is like something out of a fairytale.