Kampaoh Talmont Saint Hilaire

In summer, catch the campsite’s regular shuttle bus service to Plage du Veillon (10 minutes’ drive), set on the Payré Estuary where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. No need to get bored with one beach though, as you have a choice of several. Lively Les Sables-d’Olonne (25 minutes’ drive) has a sweeping sandy bay backed by eateries, while quiet Plage de Sauveterre (25 minutes) has lifeguarded swimming and an area for surfers to the north of the beach. You can also hire bikes on site and set off ‘en famille’ to discover yet more beaches along the Côte de Lumière – and be sure to admire the spectacular views over the Atlantic coastline from the Puits d’Enfer clifftops (half an hour by bike). Away from the coast, most kids love watching sharks and rays at the Aquarium de Vendée (10 minutes), or trying to move the giant robotic animals at Place Napoléon in La Roche-sur-Yon (40 minutes). They’ll also be very happy spending the day watching ancient Roman- and Viking-themed shows at Puy du Fou theme park (about an hour), or inspecting vintage cars and sleek sports models at the Musée Automobile de Vendée (five minutes).