Walking
With its easy-going terrain and way-marked trails, the rural Charente region is suited to ramblers of all ages and ability. From the towpaths of the Charente Valley, some of the best sights can be accessed on foot including Angouleme, Verteuil-sur-Charente, Jarnac and the barge-building village of Saint-Simon. Offshore, the quiet byways of Oloron and Re also lend themselves to exploration on foot. Long-distance routes include the Grand Randonnee 4 runs from coastal Royan, through Saintes and Montbran to eventually reach Grasse, on the French Riviera. A branch of the ancient pilgrim route of Santiago de Compostela also passes through the Charente on its way down to Spain. A series of local walk leaflets and map-based guides (Le Topoguide La Charente a Pied) can be purchased from tourist information centres and bookshops throughout the region, containing details of more than 5,000 kilometres of way-marked paths and circuits.

Cycling
Again, the Charente Valley towpaths and cycle routes of Oloron and Re lend themselves to this form of transport, with cycle hire readily available throughout the region. A local initiative has developed a way-marked network more than 500 kilometres in length which caters for cyclists of all abilities including on and off-road circuits. These range from shorter, family-friendly routes to challenging ‘exploration’ circuits of up to 70 kilometres. Visit www.lacharente.com for details.

Water Sports
Canoes and kayaks can be hired at various locations along the Charente, while the marshy Marais Poitevin is best explored by small boat, or canoe. La Rochelle and the Ile de Re have kite-surf schools, while various water-based sports are on offer at Royan’s Station Nautique. And club Nautique de Port de Barques, near Rochefort. On the island of Oloron, there is a diving school at Le Chateau with various boat tours also available from here and other coastal resorts along the mainland.

Adventure
Take to the air in a gyroplane to view the rolling, Cognac countryside, race around the track at the family karting circuit in La Rochefoucauld, or try a quad bike hike from the same centre. At Braconne Charente, a geo-caching circuit has been created; Indian Forest and Coolongalook Adventure Park – both near Royan – provide high-rope thrills in the tree-tops whilst paintballing, laser tag and quad bikes are all on offer in the grounds of the Chateau de la Gataudiere, near Marennes.

For more information about holidaying in France, visit the official French tourism website.