Camping Mas de la Cam

Hiking trails and road cycling start from Saint-Jean-du-Gard: ask the Camping Mas de la Cam team for recommendations or join in with one of the organised cycle tours in high season. Saint-Jean-du-Gard's also the starting point for the Cévennes steam train, running scenically for 10 kilometres to Anduze. Both towns have tree climbing parks for the energetic; less adventurously, the train journey includes a stopoff at the Bambouseraie de Prafrance botanical and bamboo gardens, about six kilometres from Saint-Jean. If you're new to canyoning but keen to try, the waters of the Canyon du Soucy seven kilometres away are topping to dip your toe into for the first time: there's a fairly easy descent where the Gardon narrows, along with high jumps for the experienced and easy bypasses along the riverbank if there's an obstacle you don't want to tackle. Within 10 kilometres is the Desert Museum, not about an arid area but covering the Huguenot period and the history of the Camisards from the post-Reformation 'Desert' period between 1685 and 1787. Hiding places, weapons, maps and paintings are all here, along with events and family activities in summer.