Camping Le Grand Pré

 Welcome to the Vienne. Situated between the Loire Valley and the Atlantic Coast it offers the perfect location for a stopover. 

Get out and explore by hiring a bike or canoe from the site; friendly reception staff can also give you details of hikes both gentle and strenuous. There are some pleasant little fishing spots along the Gartempe river and the nearby Anglin, and more than 100 routes for experienced climbers along the limestone cliffs around Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé.

Drive up to Angles-sur-l’Anglin (10 minutes), to potter about in the pretty village and to wander around the ruins of its hilltop fortress and see the prehistoric carvings in the Roc-aux-Sorciers cave. If you’re partial to a castle or two, fit in a trip to Chauvigny, where there are five to pick from (or visit them all on a castle crawl).

La Roche-Posay, a 20-minute drive from the site, is the place to visit for a golf course, horse racing and thermal spa sessions. Even if you’re not actually heading into the baths, the Parc Thermal is a handsome place to wander around, with its gardens divided into themed areas.

If the kids demand to up the adrenaline levels somewhat, the fab Futuroscope theme park is 45 minutes’ drive away.