Camping Le Païsserou

Walkers are well sorted round here with eight cracking routes in the area around Najac’s village and fortress, three of them starting from the site; even the 20-minute ramble (or under five-minute drive) into Najac itself is a stunner. Then there's the village, a friendly but ancient settlement perched over the gorge with gorgeous views all round and some fab local treats to be found in its shops. If you want to head further afield Cahors (an hour and 10 minutes’ drive) comes highly recommended: the medieval bridge and town are well worth exploring, the deep red local vino worth sipping, and the museums (one devoted to the wartime resistance) a top spot for historic wanders. A little further off, Toulouse an hour and 40 minutes away is the city most French people say they’d like to move to. (They haven’t yet though, making this ‘pink city’ of terracotta buildings, pretty squares and jolly bars a breeze to wander about.) Take a boat ride down the canal, sample the sausages, then buy some for yourself at the massive and brilliant foodie mecca that is Marché Victor Hugo. Bridge buffs meanwhile shouldn't miss a trip to the Millau Viaduct (an hour and 50 minutes), the highest bridge in the world. Boats from Creseilles take you right under it; a fine ride even for non-bridge buffs.