Camping Le Caussanel

If you're up for a bit of time exploring urban centres, there’s lots round here to choose from. The small city of Rodez is a 35-minute drive from base, and a must-visit for its prehistory and art museums, as well as its restaurants, shops and clubs. Spending hours out and about in nature is essentially a requirement hereabouts too, as the site is just 15 minutes’ drive from the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, placing pilgrimages to stunning spots – such as the spectacular Tarn Gorge (40 minutes), the tallest bridge in the world (the Millau Viaduct, 35 minutes away) and the eminently photographable Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux (one hour and 10 minutes) – within relatively easy reach. Much should also be made of the sheer numbers of pretty villages in Aveyron, with the lovely and scenic Belcastel, Brousse-le-Château, Estaing, Peyre, Saint-Côme d’Olt, Saint-Eulalie d’Olt and Sauveterre-de-Rouergue all within an hour. Make the trip in those directions for traditional stone buildings, winding streets and prime riverside locations. For a more leisurely way of experiencing the area, head along to Vélo-Rail du Larzac, an hour away, to pedal along disused rail tracks through a UNESCO World Heritage Site.