Camping Sierra de Francia

Pack your boots and/or bikes, as there are dozens of marked trails to follow through the Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park. Some have been designed to include things like ancient rock art sites or religious shrines, while others are all about the nature and wildlife. The park has a wide variety of ecosystems, including areas of mountain broom, Pyrenean oak forests and Mediterranean-style orchards and vineyards, so there’s plenty to see. For a dip into the area’s history and culture, plan visits to villages like La Alberca (five minutes’ drive) and Mogarraz (15 minutes) or to Ciudad Rodrigo (half an hour), a city with ancient roots where you can now see the castle, cathedral and a whole host of gorgeous palacios from across the ages. The wonderful city of Salamanca (55 minutes) should also be on the bill. Closer to home, it’s well worth taking the drive along winding roads up to the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia (15 minutes) for spectacular views across the area. Intrepid kids (and grownups, in fact) may also enjoy heading up into the trees at Parque de Aventuras Las Batuecas (10 minutes).