Camping Club Le Trianon

Local resort Olonne is a fine spot to start your Vendée coast adventures: it's known as the 'green lung' of the the Pays des Olonnes and the Vendée coast because of its lush forest and preserved marshes, covering around 2,000 hectares. There are bike paths and hiking trails to tackle, surfing via the town's two clubs, and two beaches (Granges and Sauveterre) for swimming as well as fishing from the rocks. Karting is also available in town. Next up should be Sables d'Olonne, for jetskiing adventures, three kilometres of beach, Atlantic fishing boat trips and the Sealand Aquarium of Noirmoutier. After that, mosey further west to Brétignolles sur Mer (20 minutes' drive), for a peaceful vibe and 13 kilometres of beach; Saint Gilles Croix de Vie (35 minutes), for fishing trips and boats to the Île d'Yeu, and Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez (40 minutes), home of the Atlantic Toboggan waterpark and the L'ile-aux-Jeux play park. Heady options for heady types are the skydiving, parachuting and tandem jumps from Château-d'Olonne: if you're brave enough, this is a spectacular way to see this spectacular part of Vendée coast.