Tour de France: Paris may be a city for walking, but the rest of France is a country made for driving – either fast A-to-B trips along smooth multi-laned motorways that take you from one end of the country to the other in a few hours, or slow meandering forays along twisting country roads dawdling from one delightful medieval village to another. Story by Lee Atkinson

A Château of your own: stay in a beautifully-restored 17th century château, complete with towers and turrets, in the shadow of the region’s highest volcano, Puy-de-Dôme, deep in the heart of the untouristed Auvergne in central France. Story by Lee Atkinson

B&Bs French style: If you’re looking for a value-packed holiday in France, B&Bs are the way to go. When you stay at one of these B&Bs you get more than just an inexpensive bed for the night and breakfast next morning.  You get a genuine welcome from people who enjoy talking to their guests (that’s not to say it will be in English) and sharing with them the attractions of their local area and best local restaurants, where they will usually book a table for you.  This local knowledge is priceless. Story by Lee Atkinson

French roll: Three weeks driving around France – our own mini Tour de France.  No advance bookings, no set plan. With two basic ground rules: we would stay in B&Bs in towns of no more than a few thousand people and we would spend at least two or three days in each place. Story by Lee Atkinson