Camping Le Serpolin

You could easily fill a lengthy Loire Valley trip just shuttling around between châteaux: from Le Serpolin it’s less than 40 minutes’ drive to the elegant castles at Brézé, Brissac Quincé and Montreuil Bellay. If you’re touring with tiddlers who’ll only stomach one château, make it the one at Saumur (40 minutes’ drive); you can follow it up with visits to the tank museum, a show at the Cadre Noir military riding academy and a canoe trip on the Loire. You might even sneak in a few sips of the sparkling wines that the city’s famed for... Rather less fancy than a castle is the Rochemenier troglodyte village (half an hour away); similar ancient caves have also made fab homes for the animals at Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine (20 minutes). Other family-friendly outings nearby include the indoor/outdoor waterpark Les Bassins du Thouet (25 minutes), races at Karting Val d’Argenton (15 minutes) and the rides, trampoline park and shows at Parc de la Vallée (20 minutes). A journey to Puy du Fou theme park will take you an hour or so in the car.