Four distinct natural areas give Lozère its magnificent, varied landscapes. Each is a world apart. Each, another new idea for a holiday in France.

Yet all share the same sense of space, of nature untamed, of a world on which man has had little impact.

Outdoor activity holidays to gentler nature holidays could not be in lovelier countryside.

Landscapes are infinite on the high Aubrac plateau. Giant weathered boulders rise out of vast basalt plains, resembling menhirs and dolmens. Drive, walk, ride the route of mountain lakes, burbling brooks and shepherds’ huts. Here, Aubrac cattle wander the pastures, producing milk for the Tomme cheese used for traditional ‘Aligot’ (dish of potatoes, garlic & cheese). Traditions live on. Farmers markets make convivial meeting places for locals who warmly welcome visitors who, like them, enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Peace and quiet in an eco-friendly corner of France bordering Ardèche. Time stands still on the magnificent granite moors, alive with legends. The Gévaudan Wolf - at heart a timid creature, now protected in a Nature Reserve. Dense forests. Pastures and meadows 1000-1500m high. Brilliant fishing on the Truyère. Country lanes to yourself. Excellent for rambling, walking holidays and nature holidays.

The Cévennes Natural Park covers huge swathes of SE Lozère. Sustainable tourism is practised. The soft Mediterranean climate of Languedoc Roussillon belies a turbulent past. Homeland of Huguenots and Camisards (Calvinist partisans of 1702 uprising). Charming villages, winding roads with fantastic views, trails for hill walking. Walk like Robert Louis Stevenson with a donkey or without! In winter, cross-country ski, ride on husky-drawn sledges. Take a pampering health spa break at Bagnols-les-Bains Health Spa or at La Chaldette Health Spa. Unwind.

The sources of the River Lot and River Tarn are in Mont Lozère in the highlands of Languedoc Roussillon. The Tarn Gorges are deep and ragged. If you love great scenery or outdoor activity holidays, this is the place. Try out gentle canoeing or white-water rafting; take a cycling holiday or walking holiday. See swooping birds of prey on the Causses. The fertile Lot Valley is Lozère’s ‘granary’. Castles, fortresses and churches line the Lot Valley. See Le Truel hanging gardens. Follow pilgrim ways to medieval towns like Mende (capital of Lozère).