Camping La Châtaigneraie

Meandering through the medieval streets of Sarlat-la-Canéda (15 minutes' drive) is a good way to get an idea of what this traditional truffle and wine-growing region's food scene is all about – especially on market days. The sandstone cathedral, Place du Peyrou square and birthplace of famed French humanist philosopher Étienne de La Boétie are all also worth a look. Out in the Causses du Quercy (roughly half an hour), there are lots of extremely pretty spots worth exploring – the ancient pilgrim village of Rocamadour (50 minutes), for instance, is a must-see with its ancient architecture and spiritual atmosphere. Meanwhile, down in Domme (25 minutes) you have a fortified bastide village to explore, with lots of narrow alleyways full of authentic local restaurants. To the north, the well-preserved town of Montignac (30 minutes) on the Vézère river makes a good day trip too, whether you're after prehistoric paintings at the Lascaux caves or fancy hiring a canoe and sailing downstream through the pretty Dordogne countryside. For more time by the water, set your satnav to Étang De Tamniès lake (20 minutes) for wild swims or a go on its floating inflatable obstacle course.