FOR a summer camping holiday closer to home, Brigitte Saint Cast and Jean-Luc Mornet were busy selling holidays in the Loire Valley. Facilities at both campsites – Domaine de la Breche and La Garangeoire - include horse-riding.

“What is nice about these campsites is you are on an old country estate so you can pass by woods and lakes. Plus we are only 5kms from the Cadre Noir at Saumur so you can go and visit their stables and attend various events,” suggested Brigitte.

“La Garangeoire is only 20 minutes away from the Atlantic coast, just south of Brittany. Avoid high season though, from Bastille Day to the 15th of August,” advised Jean-Luc.

The Cadre Noir, now the base where French ecuyers, or riding masters, are trained, was originally a training base for the French cavalry.

CAVAN COUNTY MUSEUM

Military themes are also prevalent at the Cavan County Museum as 2018 marks the centenary of the end of WWI. This acclaimed museum features the First World War Trench and the 1916 Rising Experiences amongst this hidden gem’s attractions. And another is planned, according to its curator, Savina Donohoe, who revealed plans to organise an exhibition on noted hunting author, the late Stanislaus Lynch.

“He was born in Ballyjamesduff where the museum is located so that will be a really interesting addition when completed.”