Covert Cabin

To venture off site without veering too far, have a gander at the Piégut-Pluviers tower – formerly part of a castle wrecked by Richard Lionheart in 1199 – in the village of the same name or set off for a circular stroll around the banks of the Grand Etang de St-Estèphe lake (both 10 minutes’ drive). Drop by the wobbly Roc Branlant rock in the area too – it’s accessible by car or via an hour and a half's forest walk from the cabins if you’d prefer to use your feet. For a glimpse of grander structures, journey over to castles with fairytale turrets like Château de La Rochefoucauld (30 minutes) and the medieval defensive fortress of Château de Bourdeilles (45 minutes). Underground tours more your thing? Drive south and peer at the prehistoric paintings in Villars Cave (45 minutes).