Camping Le Petit Bois

Built in the 19th century as a practical and pretty way to cross the Truyère gorges, the famed Garabit viaduct was at the time considered the highest in the world. Go snap a pic of it before setting off canoeing or sailing on the viaduct's lake or the Truyère river, or mountain biking, horse riding or hiking among the Margeride's many trails. Aumont-Aubrac 25 minutes' drive away is one of the stages of the  Camino de Santiago or St James's Way, the mighty route running all the way to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle in north-west Spain – more mountain biking as well as hiking can be hand in the hills surrounding the town. Also have a day trip to Sainte-Eulalie, 45 minutes' drive away in Lozère, for a carriage ride to the European bison reserve, followed by a roam around its 200 hectares and the recreation of a prehistoric cave. If you like local lore, zip along to Saugues's splendidly named Fantastic Museum of the Beast of Gevaudan, also 45 minutes away, which tells the bloodcurdling tale of the terrifying beast roaming around Gévaudan in the 18th century. (It could of course have been a mischievous human in a furry suit, but that would be oh so much less fun.)