Camping La Giroflée

If life on the ocean wave appeals, make tracks to the sailing school a couple of minutes’ stroll away to learn the ropes for yourself, or devolve captaining responsibilities to the pros by boarding a boat trip from Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, five minutes’ drive away. More sea-themed days out might include meandering around the oyster farms in Marennes Plage (five minutes’ drive), a trip to the maritime museum in Rochefort (half an hour) and eyeballing underwater beasties at La Rochelle’s famed aquarium (50 minutes). Sticking firmly to dry land for a while, swing by the splendid citadel of Brouage (15 minutes), where the fortified city walls guard all sorts of well-preserved 17th-century structures including a prison and an underground port. The Zoo de la Palmyre (half an hour) makes a fab day out for the small sorts, and there are lots of excellent walking and bike trails taking in beaches, forest and salt marshes on the island of Oléron (20 minutes’ bike ride over the bridge).