Camping des Gorges de l'Allier

Langeac (a couple of minutes' drive or just under a kilometre's amble away) is one of the 13 large towns of the Auvergne region, and is lively all year round with sporty and cultural activities, country fairs and a busy market on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The town's also the starting point for a firm must-do if you're anywhere around this part of the Haute-Loire: the tourist train through the Allier gorges. This splendidly scenic route runs for 67 kilometres from Langeac to Langogne in the Lozère, along steep gorges inaccessible to vehicles, and passing volcanoes, tunnels and 16 viaducts along the way. Horse riders can arrange hacks through the remote lands of the upper Allier region from Langeac: drop into the tourist office on Place Aristide Briand to find out more. There are forest trails, treetop adventuring, climbing and biking to investigate around Auvergne too, along with the swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking available along the length of the Allier.