Have a look at all the campsites I list in my signature, all wonderful places to try.
Don't just dip into the North, you'll be dissapointed..Brittany is very over rated and full of Brits and not classed as France by even the French.
The Loire Valley is an ideal taster..Saumur is lovely.
The campsites, facilities, food and the culture far outway many campsites in the UK, apart from the Lakes.
For some reason UK campsite do not grasp the idea of separate, spacious pitches big enough for a huge tent, smaller tens and a car...people in the UK seem very 'tight' on space, but then again the UK is small compared to France.
Like pazmaz, we tent to go for space, peace and quiet, definately NOT commercial sites. Horses for courses we are not all turned on by the same thing.
Also , have a look at:
La Moulin de Geneste, a beautiful rural site in the heart of Limousin nr Uzerche.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
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No in Brittany they are Breton and proud of it. Its a matter of opinion that it could be a dissapointment. There are some lovely places in Brittany and probably not as many Brits as in the Dordogne
For me Brittany WAS a dissapointment, I have no opinion on the Dordogne as I have never been.
Good job tat France is a big country !!!
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
When it comes to favourite areas in France we all have different tastes, so it's a shame to put OP's off any particular area just because we don't like it. In fact, Brittany might be just what he's looking for - spectacular coastal scenery, amazing prehistoric monuments and wonderful food. When we were there in June 2008 there were only two Brit-owned outfits in the whole campsite, and we never met any elsewhere! You just have to avoid the full-on family sites.
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I don't want to start a riot but I have travelled extensively in france - as a child - but I too found Brittainy and Normandy ok but I agree Brittany is definately a mini Britain. I was disappointed but loved the mountainous regions of France/Germany and Switzerland, however this was many years ago and I am somewhat coloured by early experience. I have found it amazing that when I have been looking at the extensive sites, they look so much like rows of vans/tents one after the other - I feel claustrophobic just looking at them! Do the spacious sights actually exist? Can I find one with beautiful views where we are not in rows and within a reasonable drive from Calais or are we asking the impossible?
Loving the advice by the way guys and I will check the suggested sites out!
Goodness me, Brittany is a mini Britain, where in Brittany were you to experience that. I have travelled extesnively throughout Brittany and believe it to be a beautiful part of France. Rugged coastlines, small Breton towns. Lovely creperies. Nice beaches and friendly people. I genuinely do belive it is a perfect starting point for the Novice Traveller.
I think that we all equate beautiful views with long distance views of hills/mountains/castles in the background - and there aren't that many high enough hills in Northern France to put many beautiful views of that sort on the horizon! I'm sure there are some, but perhaps fewer and further between than in the south!
There are campsites where tents and caravans are all in rows - but few amongst the links that people have already provided. I do see what you mean though, if you've been using the campsite search on this website, for the Loire Valley - where most of the sites listed seem to be the bigger places.
Why not search on the Bienvenue a La Ferme website - lists farms with campsite facilities, where you might find the space you're searching for - if not the long range views of the mountains! We found a beautiful farm site in the Ardeche where we shared the pool with the owners and were the only people there - but that was many, many years ago! It may take some searching through, but perhaps somewhere might be the ideal place you're looking for.
The alternative is to be a bit 'radical' (by British standards) and just do as my friends and lots of others do, and tour around - that way if one site isn't ideal, you may find it the next day or somewhere just over the hill! In France, on the smaller sites, you don't need to book even in high season during school holidays - you just need a comprehensive campsite guide. Le Guide Officiel Camping Caravanning is one which lists almost all the 11,000 campsites in France - the missing ones are often British owned, which for some reason don't feature much.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
As I have said - it is purely child and teenage based memories, and I don't want to diss the area, but I have avoided France for many years having been there extensively as a child and wanted a change. I guess I just want to make sure I don't put myself off it again - my last memories was on a campsite near the ferry terminal where a french camper killed a chicken infront of us and travelling back on a ferry in horrendous conditions and I thought I was going to drown - as you can see trauma needs to be put to rest! ;-) Mazpaz
The link I gave takes you to the English version of the website. At the side are buttons - click the ACCOMMODATION button and select 'Camping on the Farm' then search. It will show a map of France with flags indicating the number of farms in that region. Clicking on the flag will show a list of the farms. If there are a large number then you'll zoom in on the map until you get individual flags.
The farm websites are likely to be in French.
You may find that having driven six hours, driving in France is not so bad. You might even consider an overnight stop somewhere, and that would allow you to get to the Dordogne, Lot, Auvergne, Burgundy, and even further south, where beautiful views, and space, abound!
Bless you - thank you, I am finding the sites in french but they are looking like the rural type more than any others I have found - I just need to work it all out now. Many thanks
Mazpaz
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Pazmaz, I really would encourage you re driving in France. It is fine. I was anxious as I did it for the first time ( on my own) this summer and drive all the way down to the Tarn from Calais. You need to have your wits about you re remembering you are driving "inside out" but otherwise no problems Autoroutes are less crowded than here. I needed to concentrate on smaller roads and roundabouts for a few days -especailly when tired - but was surprised how quickly I got used to it. It would be easier with a travelling companion. I am sorry I did not drive abroad sooner and allowed others to discourage me.
Thanks Neliz18 - I don't have any concerns about driving as have done it alot in the past. My only concern is how far to go. Firstly the pooch needs thought so long long rides aren't really do-able and secondly I don't want to keep putting the tent up and down as it does take a good morning to do - we do tend to glamp so we have a big tent and lots of comfort stuff, plus the job I do is very tiring so by the time we break up for summer I am usually exhausted! But it will be our main holiday so I want to get it right.
We have spent the last few years doing more "unusual" hols and travelled extensively including the jungles of Venezuela, Bali, Sri Lanka, safaris and so on, many of these hols have been put together by ourselves, but finding a campsite right for the dog and us is proving much harder! :-)
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: first timers in France - where to go?
