Camping Verna

Rural hikes and other outdoor activities may fill the bulk of your time around here but it’s worth planning a bit of time at some of the local towns too. A drive of half an hour or so will get you to Avigliana to see the hilltop castle ruins and take a dip in the lake, or to Pinerolo, a medieval town that’s known for its cavalry museum and military riding schools. The Santuario Del Selvaggio (20 minutes’ drive) and Sacra of Saint Michele (half an hour) are both close by if you’d like to take in a bit more of the area’s history. However, if the kids are looking a little jaded by all of this, maybe it’s time for an outing to Zoom Torino animal Park (25 minutes), where they can see big cats, giraffes, penguins and other exotic beasts. A little further afield, the city of Turin (an hour away) should have plenty to keep you busy for a full day out, including the Egyptian Museum, the gardens of the Royal Palace and the 19th-century Mole Antonelliana, now a cinema museum.