Camping La Pibola

You'll be happily entertained/occupied for weeks around here, whether you want to join in activities organised by the site or set off into the Ariège countryside under your own steam. Canoeing and kayaking can be had on the Hers river that flows at the foot of Camping La Pibola's hill; an equestrian centre is at nearby Léran (10 minutes' drive), and caving and canyoning are both close by: ask the Pibola team for info on all these as well as on the many hikes close to the site. The team can also angle you in the right direction for local lake and river fishing, or, for truly heady types, set you up with a nearby paragliding company for dizzy adventures overhead. More outdoor days are at Lac de Montbel (25 minutes), a 1,500-acre reservoir that's a popular pick in the region for canoeing and sailing, or setting forth on the 16-kilometre hiking path around the lake's shores. The Ariégeoises Pyrenees Regional Natural Park is 40 minutes' drive away (access it via Vernajoul) for more hikes, or you could amble around the Roquefort waterfalls within half an hour. If you're here for history – it's Cathar country after all – Château de Montségur is 35 minutes away and Château d'Arques is within an hour.