Les Ecogîtes de la Sablière

If you’ve got a sporting streak, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a lakeside golf course 10 minutes’ drive away. There are tennis courts in Oucques La Nouvelle (five minutes’ drive), and lots of well-signposted hiking trails close by, such as the Sentier Nature au Fil de l’Aigre (20 minutes). You can also go out on country hacks or have riding lessons at Les Écuries de Saint Laurent (15 minutes). Historic Blois (half an hour) is a splendid introduction to the sights of the Loire Valley, sitting by the river with an ancient centre and landmark buildings like the Royal Château, which is open for guided tours. Elsewhere, 15th-century Château Royal d’Amboise (55 minutes) is justly famed for its collections of tapestries and far-reaching views over the River Loire, while Château de Chambord (40 minutes) is an OTT extravaganza of towers, cupolas and ornate formal gardens. When the kids need a distraction from heritage, test their mental agility on challenges in the escape rooms at Château des Enigmes (10 minutes) or in the Labyrinthe de Beaugency corn maze (45 minutes), where there’s also an inflatable obstacle course for younger children.