blog post
20 activities and visits around the campsite to do when it rains
Florian Meyer • April 29, 2024
If the rain were to disrupt your stay at the campsite, we have good news: there are plenty of activities to do nearby to continue enjoying your vacation despite the weather! Indoor visits, sheltered sporting activities, artistic awakening... there is something for all tastes and all ages!
Rain is never very pleasant, but by adapting the holiday program a little it is possible to continue to make the most of it. Here are some suggestions for activities suitable for rainy weather around the campsite:
- Swimming and relaxing in Royatonic , 25 minutes from the campsite. Baths at over 30 degrees, jacuzzis, hammams, saunas... Royatonic invites you to relax in the beautiful setting of this spa town. It is also possible to benefit from treatment. Online reservation recommended. From 6 years old.
Other indoor swimming possible with young children: Chamalières swimming pool, O'Sancy in La Bourboule; Les Ermines in Super Besse...
- Indoor visits to stay dry
:
- L'Aventure Michelin (35 minutes from the campsite, in Clermont), great to do even with young children. You can easily spend 2 hours there, or even more for adults. No need to be passionate about tires or cars to be captivated by the very well-constructed tour.
- Grotte de la Pierre de Volvic (40 minutes from the campsite), you will discover the history of the exploitation of this volcanic rock which still marks the architecture of the region. Depending on the day, two visits are offered: a historical visit or the cave of lights for a majestic spectacle.
- Petrifying fountains and/or Grottes du Cornadore ( 20 minutes from the campsite, in Saint-Nectaire) where you will discover the techniques of petrifying objects in one (a true work of artists!) and the ritual journey of the first Roman baths in the other. Also come and discover the beautiful Romanesque church of St-Nectaire-le-Haut.
- Museum of the Battle of Gergovie (20 minutes from the campsite). On the very scene of the battle (but in a beautiful, dry building!) you will relive the fight led by Vercingétorix and his men against the Romans of Julius Caesar. It is also a discovery of the life of the Arverne people. Many of the elements presented require reading, so we recommend visiting ages 8-10.
- Visits partially dry but possible in rainy weather:
- Lemptégy volcano (25 minutes from the campsite), opt for the tour by little train you will almost always be sheltered when exploring the crater of this exposed volcano. The start of the visit takes place indoors and the two final dynamic films are also dry. Still bring a raincoat for the exterior passages and if you want to go down and collect volcanic stone!
- Château de Murol (15 minutes from the campsite), the visit is 50/50 between inside and outside so it's doable! You probably won't enjoy the knight show outside but you will have more time (and probably fewer people) to visit the castle rooms.
- Ferme GAEC de l'Oiseau (20 minutes from the campsite), there is not good weather to go to the farm so take advantage of a rainy day to watch the milking (in the shelter), see the calves well warm inside, as well as the pigs, sheep... Boots and raincoats are a must anyway!
- Vulcania (25 minutes from the campsite) where most activities are indoors, so it is particularly suitable for rainy weather. But these are also the busiest days...
- Indoor climbing , at the Aydat leisure area (5 minutes from the campsite) with a very nice wall or in the B'up rooms in Clermont which offer bouldering, Clip'n climb, route areas...
- Artistic awakening at
Millesformes
(30 minutes, in Clermont). This art initiation center is free and offers activities for children aged 0 to 6 (older children can accompany their younger brothers and sisters). It's great, and dry!
- Goodride park
(25 minutes from the campsite, in Aubière) an indoor skate park 100% dedicated to skateboarding, bmx, scootering... with numerous trails, a pump track, air bag...
- Indoor leisure parks
for children, for example the Royal kids or Youpi park .
But also: cinemas, bowling alleys, escape games...
Cheeses, beers, apple juice, chips, wines... We offer as many local products as possible at the campsite's grocery store and snack bar. Discover these Auvergne producers who will delight you.
Ideas for day hikes around Les Volcans campsite. Sancy ridges, Puys de Dôme and Pariou, Guéry plateau, waterfalls...
- Shaded hikes. Several hiking trails are well suited to very hot days thanks to the shade offered by the undergrowth. Among the easiest hikes (from 3 years old), the tour of Lake Pavin, the Puy de Vichatel or the Queureuilh and Rossignolet waterfalls are recommended. Slightly longer and shaded hikes are also possible such as the Dent du Marais loop in Murol (2h15), the three waterfalls of the Chaudefour valley (3h) or the Roches Tuillières and Sanadoire loop (3h). Remember to take water, there are generally no refueling points on the paths. - Hiking near the water. On hot days it is also pleasant to hike along a stream and have a picnic stop in the cool. The Gorges de la Monne (15 minutes from the campsite) are ideal for this type of getaway, the walk lasts 2 hours and it is possible to stop and play at the water's edge without difficulty. Be careful though, the end of the return path is not very shaded. Another possibility: the Chiloza waterfalls, a 2-hour walk near Besse which leads to the edge of multiple small waterfalls where children can play, build dams, make boats... Possibility of shortening the walk by doing a round trip to avoid the somewhat long second part of the loop. - Swimming at the lake. Although many lakes are close to the campsite, only Lake Aydat and Lake Chambon are allowed for swimming. It is even monitored there during the summer on the developed beaches. It is also possible to rent pedal boats, canoes, paddles... In July and August, we advise you to go there in the morning to enjoy the calm. - Adventures at the Forêts des Arboris (5 minutes from the campsite). This eco-citizen leisure park is located in the Aydat forest and offers activities suitable for all ages: treasure hunt for the little ones, game experiences (a sort of escape game in the countryside) or laser wood (laser game in the woods) for older children and adults. We then enjoy the freshness of the forest and the refreshment bar with its local drinks. The adventure also continues into the evening with Auvergne legends that come to life between land art and incredible light shows. We recommend +++ - Visit to the Grotte de la pierre de Volvic (35 minutes from the campsite). Freshness guaranteed in this old quarry from which Volvic stone was extracted, this dark volcanic rock found on many buildings including the Clermont-Ferrand cathedral. We also discover the daily life of the workers who worked there as well as the works made from this stone. Information on the Volvic stone cave site.
Our advice for hiking with young children (from 3 years old) in the Puy de Dôme: Puy de combegrasse, Lac Pavin, Lac de Servière, Mont Dore waterfall...
Discovery of vineyards and wine tastings in Puy-de-Dôme, AOC Côte d'Auvergne, from the Les Volcans campsite in Aydat.
- Puy de la Combegrasse, the must in one hour! This is the walk to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little hill to climb the puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360° panorama of the chain of puys and the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide warm clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking their time. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (be careful here the departure is not from the campsite) Want to prolong the pleasure? Add the puy de l'enfer and the narse d'Espinasse after the puy de la Combegrasse. That is about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markings) always from the campsite. This hike offers beautiful discoveries with in particular the astonishing narse of Espinasse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'enfer, which was long believed to be haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panoramas on the chain of puys. Details of the hike on Balirando. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2h30! It is the second deepest crater in the chain of Puys after the Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go down inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in the undergrowth (very pleasant on sunny days) with beautiful viewpoints at the top. The walk lasts about 2h30 or 3h with children, on a very passable path. The route is not marked from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN map or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and exceptional views of the Puys chain! To enjoy it you will have to face two beautiful hills and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: go up by the Puy de Lassolas, because its path is in pozzolan, very slippery on the way down. On your way you will also cross the puys of Charmont and Rodde. To discover these puys with young children, prefer to leave the car park provided for this purpose. Suggested hiking route from the campsite (18.5 km loop). - Lac de Servières, a one-day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to get there from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful viewpoints. It is possible to eat along the way in Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red markings of the GR from the campsite.
Campsite The Volcanoes ***
11 chemin de la Rodde, La Garandie, 63970 AYDAT
+33 (0)4 73 79 33 90
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