THE stunning countryside of the Camargue with wild white horses, magnificent high-walled medieval cities and blue skies which go on forever has always, it seems, been a major destination for tourists.

South of Arles between the Mediterranean and the arms of the river Rhone delta, it is a vast plain of more than 360sq miles comprising salt lagoons and reed-covered marshes which is a haven for wildlife, including pink and white flamingos.

With so much water, understandably the best way to revel in all its glory has to be at water level in a boat - and holiday firm Le Boat has craft of all sizes to launch you on your very own Camargue adventure from its base on the Canal du Rhone a Sete at Beaucaire, just south of Arles.

Crown Blue Line, part of the Le Boat group, greeted us with the Magnifique, a spacious, well-equipped boat which had space to spare. Also, waiting for us was a bicycle made for three. I had previously asked for it as we have a blind daughter and we needed it to get around together.

We were total novices, but the Beaucaire team quickly set about teaching us the intricacies of boating and the controls - it took 10 minutes before we were proficient and were cruising downstream towards our first port of call.

The rest, as they say, was plain sailing. Heading south through the Canal du Rhone a Sete, took us through natural salt lakes and peaceful reed marshes, peeling away the breathtaking scenery at a leisurely 6km per hour.

Along the banks wild horses and jet-black bulls casually return your gaze and medieval walled cities invite you to moor up and explore beyond their ramparts - but be aware there are mooring charges (up to 20euro per day depending on boat size). The delightful 13th century Aigues-Mortes, one of the Camargue’s principal towns, boasts great restaurants, acacia-lined avenues, live music and loads of atmosphere.

You could travel for 200kms on waterways if you really wanted, but the summer heat will entice you to try the wonderful unspoilt and endless Mediterranean beaches like Grand-du-Roi and Palavas-les-Flots, which are lively fishing ports with a good choice of restaurants.

We decided to head for the beach resort of Palavas-les-Flots using our boat as a seaside cottage. We could have got there after 10 hours without stopping or set off across the Etang de Thau, a form of inland sea, then on to the Canal du Midi.

A great holiday for families and couples alike, cruising gives freedom to wile away the days as you please and the Carmargue is perfect for first-timers. With so much left undiscovered we will have to return. Next time we should find out what lies beyond the next bend ...

How to get there: With Avignon being the closest airport to Beaucaire, just a 30-minute drive away, and Southampton being Avignon's nearest UK link to Kent, we plumped for Eurostar from Ashford International and it proved the ideal choice.

Despite being an eight-hour trip, with a change linking to the TGV, it is stress free, has no weight restrictions for luggage (apart from how much you can phyically carry) and allows you to wind down and watch the French countryside glide swiftly by - I can remember the days when it took two days to get to the south of France by train.

Eurostar offers return tickets from St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International to Avignon from £109 return. Tickets are available from www.eurostar.com or on 08705 186 186. Avignon is easily reached with a simple change from Eurostar onto a high-speed French train. In the summer Eurostar also offer a weekly direct service to Avignon with return fares starting at £99 return.

Contact: Le Boat offers a range of self-drive cruisers for parties of between two and 10 people with prices starting from £480 per week, rising to £830 in peak season. No previous experience is required. Other great cruising destinations are Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England. Choose from short breaks from three nights or longer. For information call 0844 463 3577 or visit www.leboat.co.uk