We will be spending 3 weeks camping in France next August. Would love to visit Ardeche but advice in most guidebooks is don't go then as it so full of people. Any advice on sites or the surrounding area?
Thanks
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If you go for the last 3 weeks it won't be too bad.
We went to CC L'ardechois a couple of years ago which was in the middle of nowhere. Very pretty route there but it did seem as though the owners were trying to get as much money out of people as possible. Apparently no drinking water, not allowed to put up washing lines and loo roll outside the toilets only. We only stayed one night after people decided to play boules outside our tent rather than their own and we felt a bit threatened surrounded by big blokes when we were 2 women and a small kid. Also it was too far from anywhere and we didn't like the feeling that we were being ripped off.
Some-one we met on another site also told us that the campsite le domaine des plantas was very nice but also very expensive - in the order of £4 per ice-cream for example.
The area is stunning however. Vallon Pont D'Arc is great although much much busier than it was when I was a kid and now very hard to swim across because of all the blooming canoes!
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Thanks Portia. It will be the last three weeks so only the first week coincides with the French holidays. I was wondering if going further up the river above the main area might be better.
We were in Drome this year - the other side of the Rhone from the Ardeche. Not the water-sports, but much more like Provence. Fantastic, one of the best 3 weeks of my life. Not too touristy, so not much rip-off. Campsites full of French and Dutch. Apparently it is one of the areas where the Brits go least - so no chavvish behaviour. OH tells me there was 20 mins rain in the 3 weeks.
Alan
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The site is a bit steep up the hill side, but the owner has a 4by4 to help get vans to the top. The pitches are marked off by lavendar, rosemary and wild thyme. No mozzies at all, not even one, but a few wasps and hornets. They do pizzas in high season, and get bread in the mornings. Otherwise there is no entertainment/club/kids club.
You wwill need rock pegs for the ground, and the Mistral wind gets exciting at times if you are ina a tent as we were.
Quote: Originally posted by Portia Hussey on 10/9/2007
Some-one we met on another site also told us that the campsite le domaine des plantas was very nice but also very expensive - in the order of £4 per ice-cream for example.
Domaine des Plantas is a lovely site - would thoroughly recommend it. Don't remember the ice cream being that expensive! I would advise you stock up from a supermarket before you get there though until you get you bearings. The campsite shop is very basic - although the take away and resteraunt are good. Because we had a long drive to the site and the last few miles are on twisty turny roads you do feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere. There are small shops in the nearest village a larger town around 30 kms away (we were driving up from the south). Felt completely safe here and will be going back. No problems with traffic etc, Claire
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We went to Ranc Davaine which is slightly south of Vallons, this is a Sunelia site. It was great! Prices for drinks, ice creams and pizzas were fine (beer, wine etc very good - we had 2 large beers, a glass of wine and a G&T for 7euros!!) Entertainment free of charge and seemed to cover most tastes. The area wasnt too busy and we got around without any trouble at all. We were there 8th Aug - 22nd Aug.
Nicky boots I wonder if you can tell me if this site is suitable for a 16 and 17 year old? They like to meet other teenagers of a similar age and have a disco and bar they can go to.
We like peace and quiet and if our two are happy we will get that.
Nicky boots I wonder if you can tell me if this site is suitable for a 16 and 17 year old? They like to meet other teenagers of a similar age and have a disco and bar they can go to.
We like peace and quiet and if our two are happy we will get that.
Joanna, the site is perfect for your two! I have a 16yr old daughter and a 13yr old son and they were well catered for. Our friends have a 14yr old daughter and both girls made lots of friends. The site has a 'night club' on alternate evenings from 11.30pm till about 2.30am!! I was dubious about this, but the security guards are very careful about making sure the kids go straight home, and dont mess about. We arranged for ours to be home by 1.30am (we were shattered by then, couldnt sleep properly till they were in) and it was late enough for them.
The bar staff served all the girls with drinks - they all look older than they are anyway! Some got drunk as you'd expect but mostly they behaved and had a good time. We were well away from the entertainment area so not bothered by noise etc. The site felt very safe and I was happy enough for them all to roam about every evening till 11.30pm.
The camp-site is near Aubenas - about 30km from Vallon, and hence was probably a lot quieter than the sites close to the Gorges. There were very few English people there - mainly French and Dutch. We found it very pleasant and would definitely go back. The river adjacent to the site flows through gentle rapids - great for wading and exploring, and a lagoon that you can swim in. The site has a swimming pool, but their brochure and web-site illustrations make it look bigger than it actually is. There's a bar and restaurant on site, and they have an 'animator' programme, but it was nonetheless very quiet.
During our stay we left the Trailer tent at the camp-site, and went on a 3 day kayak trip down the Gorges from Ruoms to Sauze, taking our 2second Quechua tents in the boats! On the second day we hit the rapid just before the Pont D'arc just as the wave of absolute beginners arrived, and renamed it 'Carnage' because of all the capsizes we saw!
The nearest shops are in Aubenas - we found a Lidl as well as a couple of large superstores - but the bar sells croissants and bread every morning.
Thankyou Nickyboots for the information and the site sounds ideal for my two. We are thinking of doing a week there and a week on Les Sablons, which is on the coast.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Ardeche in August?
