WALKING

There are lots of local walks around the house along roads, through woods and by old drovers trails. Simple maps are available in the house.

Campagnac is 20 minutes walk across the fields and has 2 caves selling wine from the local vineyards.

The ancient forest of Gresigne is 15 minutes by car and has varied walks to suit any capability.

A walk from any of the lower carparks in Cordes to the top of the city is steep at times but rewarded by views over the countryside below. The petite train runs regularily to the top also if you're not feeling so energetic.

SPORT

There is a leisure lake near Castelnau with swimming, boats, a beach and tennis courts.

Between Vindrac and Cabannes there is La Garissou - a leisure park with an outdoor pool with slides at the leisure park.

Cordes has tennis courts.

Further afield, 30 minutes away towards Albi is Cap'Decouverte, a unique leisure facility in the crater of an open cast mine. It has swimming, skiing and tabogganing on dry slopes, huge zip-lines and a mining museum.

Kayaking is available at many places on the Averyon with the closest at St Antonin. We've done the 10km from the centre of St Antonin and that was far enough for us! Its generally pretty calm most of the way but there are a couple of small rapids and 2 calls to negotiate. With a picnic its a great day out.

GOLF - the nearest course is in Albi on the banks of the river Tarn  at Lasbordes

EATING

The nearest eating place is the small Bistro on the roadside at Le Verdier on the road to Castelnau - I've not eaten here yet.

The Auberge des Arcades and Hotel des Consul are in Castelnau. The Hotel is more formal and a bit more expensive, but the food is excellent in both.

There are 2 restaurants in Cahuzac sur Vere and 1 in Vaour - again we've not eaten there yet.

In Cordes there is a large selection of touristy eating places. L'Etape Occitane, L'Auberge de la Cite and Le Panoramique are at the top of the city and are pretty average. The restaurants in the 2 hotels, Hostellerie du Vieux Cordes and Le Grand Ecuyer are expensive but better food. At the bottom of the hill the main cafe/bar also has a nice restaurant where the food is better than the three up the hill.

In Cabannes, on the main road below Cordes, the Hostellerir Du Parc serves reasonable food, but for a local home made lunch, the auberge at the bar on the main street serves a wonderful 5 course fixed menu (take it or leave it!) for 10 euros.