This new campsite is being lovingly run and developed by its owners, Laurent and Myriam (who also own the established camping Le Marinade). There are 100 large emplacements, separated by flowering Oleander bushes, and the site is gradually being landscaped tastefully and in keeping with the local style.

At camping Le Canigou the activity "de rigeur" is not dancing in the disco until 3 am, it's more of an enjoy a pastis and BBQ with your neighbour kind of place!

The campsite is open year round which means it is popular with mobile home owners, rather than large tour operators. The guests are of many nationalities but are mainly British, French and Belgian.

The campsite's facilities include an attractive oval swimming pool (under renovation and due for completion spring 2008) and outdoor jacuzzi, reception (which currently doubles as the morning bakery), children's playground, communal BBQ area, playing pitch and of course a boules pitch, but perhaps its biggest attraction is the view of its namesake Mount Canigou, standing majestically in the background.

The anual site fees are currently around €2,200. Laurent and Myriam will also rent your mobile home for you if required.

Locally

Argeles-sur-Mer (pronounced 'Ar-jel-ess') is located on the southern Mediterranean coast of France, 15 minutes drive from Perpignan and about half an hour from the Spanish border.

As a holiday base it offers access to varied coastal scenery, including glorious sandy beaches as well as the dramatic mountain terrain of the Alberes hills with the Pyrenees only an hour away.

There are two main parts to the town of Argeles. The old town, a kilometre inland, has narrow, cobbled streets and a lively street market selling local produce twice a week. Next to the beach, there is a more recent development geared to the tourist trade, with a wide selection of restaurants, shops, hotels water parks and mini golf. Nearby Argeles-Port offers a safe harbour for yachts and a stylish setting for dinner.

For the holidaymaker prepared to travel from Argeles as a base, there are many fascinating visits that are close enough for a day trip. These include the mediaeval walled city of Carcassonne, the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres, northern Spain, the massive peak of Canigou (2784m), Barcelona, and many other attractions. A longer journey will take the traveller to the principality of Andorra, a skiing centre in winter and a popular destination for duty-free shopping.

Daily flights are available from Stansted and other UK airports direct to Perpignan. There are also services from various UK locations to Carcassonne, Montpellier and Gerona (Ryanair's second largest base and just under 1hr and a half from Argeles) in Spain - and the major international airport at Barcelona is just two hours drive from Argeles.