If your children like active fun, then you can head to the pretty Parc d’Olhain at Houdain which has its own aerial tree adventure course as well as a host of other activities, including golf and cycling.
Another, more rather relaxing, family outdoor pursuit was exploring the marshes at Clairmairais, by traditional boat with ISNOR boat tours with a guide – and I can highly recommend the restaurant here where we enjoyed a mouth-watering lunch.
You can find out more about the history of the marshes at Maison du Marais at nearby Saint Omer, which also runs boat tours.
And if the sun is shining you’re also within an easy drive of many seaside towns, like the chic 19th century resort of Wimereux; the fishing villages of Ambleteuse, and Audresselles; Cap Gris-Nez cliff; and Audinghen (Maison des Deux Caps).
Although, I have to confess that the highlight for us, as parents, was a tour of the petite Persyn juniper gin distillery, in Houlle, where we sampled its delights (and brought some home!).
Prepare for your stay in Pas de Calais by visiting: visit-pas-de-calais.com
ACCOMMODATION
Lodges de Malbrough: la-belle-vie.com
TRAVEL
P&O Ferries go to www.poferries.com
FAMILY FRIENDLY EATERIES
AIRE-SUR-LA-LYS: Hostellerie des 3 Mousequetaires
LENS: Le Pain de Bouche Estaminet, in Rue de la Gare (park at the train station).
NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE: At the foot of the hill is Al’Potee d’Leeandre and at the top of the hill behind the Necropolis try L’abri des Visiteurs.
SAINT OMER: In Rue du Marais (by the boat tour office) you’ll find Estaminet La Baquernette at Isnor where one speciality is the fabulous, extremely delicious stone oven pork.
ARRAS: L’Ami Bidasse, Rue de la Taillerie, is a fantastic underground restaurant that serves typical regional food (between the two main squares).
WW1 BATTLEFIELDS
Wellington Quarry runs interactive tours. It’s from here that the largest surprise attack of WW1 was launched and you get to go underground on the tour.
At Vimy Ridge, at Neuville-St-Vaast, you can walk in reconstructed trenches and see huge craters left over from the bombing , as well as the large Vimy Ridge Memorial.