Verdons tour

We started in Villecroze exploring the extraordinary caves fortified by Bendictines hiding from the Saracens. Then a stop for coffee in Aups where the market was in full swing before continuing north up to the Lac de Ste Croix. This picture shows the lake: it's actually a reservoir created in the 70s - we stopped on the shore at Salles-Sur-Verdons but weren't quite brave enough to swim.

From there we drove east to Aiguines, which perches between the lake and the Gorges du Verdons - we stopped for an aperitif in the sunshine. Then we drove along the Corniche Sublime road, which hems the gorge. It's spectacular: France's version of the Grand Canyon, 700m straight down. We had lunch in the Hotel Grand Canyon du Verdons, a truly dramatic setting. Further along the Corniche Sublime we stopped at Pont d'Artuby - the highest bungee-jumping spot in Europe, a drop of almost 200m.

Then back down into the softer country of Var - stopping at beautiful Tourtour for drinks and dinner at La Table. An amazing day.