Camping Le Moulin du Teinturier

Learn all about brewing with a visit to Brasserie 360 (a half-hour walk or five-minute drive) to take part in workshops and tastings. If cheese is more to your taste, make your way to Musée du Fromage et de la Vache Salers (20 minutes' drive) to find out more about the Saler cheesemaking process. The Cantal area has castles aplenty to admire, including Chateau de Saint-Chamant (10 minutes), Château du Cambon (10 minutes) and Château d'Anjony (20 minutes). If you’re more excited about the area’s hiking, you’ll want to head to the Chaîne des Puys, a part of the natural park so scenic it's been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This chain of around 80 extinct volcanoes stretches for about 40 kilometres, so there’s plenty to conquer – the highest point being the lava dome of Puy de Dôme (which can also be reached by train if it seems a little overwhelming). Closer to home, but still in the park, the Puy Mary summit is another good choice. It’s classified as a Grand National Site in France and you’re in for smashing views when you’re up there. With all this talk of volcanoes, you might want to visit Vulcania (an hour and three quarters), an educational amusement park and museum with – you guessed it – a volcano theme.