Traveller's Guide: Ardennes, France.

Getting there

The writer and her family travelled as a guest of the Ardennes tourist office (00 33 810 81 09 75; www.ardennes.com/uk) and Rail Europe (0870 830 4862; www.raileurope.co.uk). Return fares from London St Pancras via Paris or Lille to Charleville-Mezieres start at £79. From the eastern Channel ports(Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk) the drive takes around three hours.

Staying there

Tree house: Le Chêne Perche, Domaine de la Venerie, Signy L'Abbaye (00 33 679 73 52 73; www.lecheneperche.com). Basic rate ¤75 (£62.50) for two people, ¤15 (£12.50) for each additional person, including breakfast. It is closed from January to March. The adventure park opens from April to October, then by arrangement for groups of six or more. The children's trails cost ¤8 (£6.66) per person. Longer trails cost ¤13 (£10.80) for under-14s, on larger trails, ¤16 (£13) for adults. Hotel le Château Fort de Sedan (00 33 324 26 11 00; www.hotelfp-sedan.com) from ¤69 (£57.50) per room (standard double) to ¤189 (£157) (best family suite). Breakfast ¤12 (£10) per person.

Visiting there

Aventure Parc Terraltitude, Fumay (00 33 810 810 975; www.aventure-parc.fr/fumay); Open daily 22 March-2 November. The Mega-zip wire requires participants to weigh at least 35kg but no more than 120kg. The cost is ¤23 (£19); zip wire plus Treetop trails ¤35 (£29).

Sedan Fort (00 33 324 27 73 73; www.sedan-bouillon.com) opens daily July/August 10am-6pm, April-June and all school holidays and weekends 10am-12pm/1.30pm-6pm, Sept-Mar, Tues-Fri 1.30pm-6pm. Adults ¤6.90 (£5.75) and children ¤4.60 (£3.30).