There are many opportunities to canoe here, but you’re just a short drive from the beaches of the Vendée, where there’s excellent windsurfing, surfing, sailing, kite-surfing and sand yachting.

For those with a thing for equestrian pursuits, the gentle hills and valleys of the Loire have a wealth of horse riding and pony trekking centres. Point your pony to those at Bréhémont, Oucques, Vendôme and Gizeux.

If you get around, you can play 18 holes on no less than 18 courses in the Loire valley. Golf de Touraine and Golf du Château d'Augerville la Rivière both offer golf in the grounds of some very fine Châteaux.

Up there, where the air is rare, you can enjoy hot air balloon rides enabling you to peer at the peerless scenery and many fine Châteaux in the Loire Valley. You’ll find some of the centres at Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont and Loches.

The Loire Valley is really popular with cyclists. The 'Loire à Vélo is a 900km long cycle route, passing many of the most popular châteaux, but we don't expect you to cycle it all!

Canoeing is popular for all ages in the Loire valley, but this centre at St Dye makes it especially easy for you to hire kayaks, with organised outings as well as the chance to float your own boat.