I would really value your expert advice and recommendations on planning a trip to France in early/mid September. The trouble is we're really boring! We want to stay at a small campsite that's peaceful and quiet so we can really relax and recharge our batteries without any waterslides, swimming pools or snack bars...
Would like some sun and sand if poss (whether by a beach or lake), and need stunning scenery too! Particularly like pretty ports and villages nearby, although don't mind travelling an hour or so around everyday for trips and visits.
We have some tescos vouchers to use up so we're travelling to Calais on Eurotunnel. So wherever we end up needs to be up to around 6 or 7 hours drive from Calais.
Any recommendations greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
MJ.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Don't forget that by the mid/end September most French sites will be fairly quiet, large or small! Have you thought about using Camping Cheques or the ACSI Card to get the best deal on campsites! We stayed here last year http://www.camping-lannhoedic.fr/ it might suit.
I'd agree with David - outside peak season, when children are in school, you can find that what appear to be very busy and hectic sites are actually just idyllic. On one site in early June we were the only occupied pitch out of ten on our particular part of a usually very busy site, the rest of the site was equally quiet - and most mornings only us and one other couple were using the pool complex. OK, it did have a bar, restaurant, and snack bar - but most nights we didn't use them, we sat outside at night, with a glass of wine (or two or more, until we stopped counting) and the only sounds were the nightingales, and the owls in the trees overhead. However, it was nice to have the whole restaurant terrace almost to ourselves, and a beautiful meal prepared and served, and be able to 'stagger' home a hundred paces afterwards.
Like David, we use Camping Cheques, and an ACSI card - and have found some great sites both in May/June, and in late August/September, which is when we take our holidays. Where have you been in France before? I presume you want to go somewhere different this time?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You could also use the municipal sites (they are owned and run by the village, town that they are situated in)
They are usually of the no bells or whistles variety. Many of them can be found in a michelin guide to camp sites readily available in all bookshops in France or search out an old copy via amazon or some such site. All the blurb is in franch but don't let that put you off. Its full of symbols that have a translation in the book.
PS I agree with David et al. Camp sites in France go quiet in September. Thats why we are going then!!! (Followed by Spain in October)
Thanks for this. The Camping Cheques and ACSI card look really helpful. I just need to spend a few hours researching now! We have been to poitou-charente and annecy before, so fancy vendee or brittany next.
That looks a nice site David and Lillyjoy! Val A, you've got it spot on I reckon - all that wine! But Emmitdb, you've done nothing but make me jealous... September and October??!
Thanks for all your help. Any other recommendations still greatly appreciated!
MJ - we don't ever actually book - and sometimes we don't even have a real idea which direction we're heading in. We arm ourselves with enough Camping Cheques, and the ACSI card and guide books, plus any other current site guides we can lay our hands on, and just set off, following the weather. It's worked for us every time. This time we are also going to buy a few Touring Cheques as there are some sites in their guide which are not in ACSI or Camping Cheques, and where we'd like to stay if we end up in those areas!
We buy a paper on our first morning in France, and look at the four-day weather forecast. If there's sun then we head in that direction. We were heading for Italy one year, when we read a forecast for really bad storms for four days, so we headed for Spain instead (Only place indicating sunshine) and two overnight stops later we were there. In September you'll find space everywhere - in fact on some sites you'll be lucky to find anyone else actually there!
We do read up on sites, however, and have an idea of what sites we might actually like to stay on, in any given area - but sometimes a completely unresearched site has actually been a real find. We've found some great municipals this way, too.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The book is available on line or at "Presse" shops in France and we use it to seek out small municipal sites. In August we have a favourite little site we use to "get acclimatised " about 20 miles inland from La Rochelle (not sure about the "stunning scenery!!") but it's next to a little lake and there is marshland just down the road where the call of storks, egrets, various birds of prey are the only sounds - the site is crowded if there are more than 2 other "outfits" are there.
There is another in the forests of Limousin, lovely site, just outside village with bar, bakers and general store, swimming lake next to site and "tinkling stream" runs through site. Hedged pitched to separate you from the one other "outfit" 100 metres away. Both sites have spotless showers and loos and cost less than 10 euros a night.
I'm sure there are lots of other little gems out there (like the one in a forest about 10k outside Bordeaux where we were the only occupants of the site in the middle of August and the only customers at the auberge next door where we were treated like members of the family!)
Ideal for "boring" people like you!! (And us!!)
If you want sites with plenty of action they are there in France - if you want a quiet time they are also there! And I am sure that in Sept there are hundreds!
Val A, I saw that someone had posted info on the Cool Camping France book but it seems to have been whipped off...? Can anyone suggest whether it's worth buying? I have the Wales version, which is quite good - nice pics and the write ups seem helpful.
I love the idea of looking in the paper at the weather then just chasing the sun. When we had our camper van, that's pretty much how we tended to get around France. Now we have a tent though, I feel like I can't just switch the engine on and drive, cos I can't face all the packing up and unpacking - sorry - I'm pretty new to this camping malarky!
Thanks for the links. Phil, the campsites you mentioned sound perfect. I can see already that I'll be spending the next couple of weeks glued to the internet researching campsites!
I'm really pleased I posted this now!
MJ.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I think the Cool Camping book is probably worth buying - the website looks good, and my son who teaches, but is also a Duke of Edinburgh Award Instructor, has the series of British guides - and he thought the French one would be a good birthday present for my OH!
The Camping France guide (mentioned by Phil) is also available here and gives all 11,000 campsites in France. To the right of the Home Page is a list of categories of site - I've just looked at the 'Loveliest Campsites from the Inside' page and would agree with one or two of them, certainly, and haven't stayed on the others so can't comment! Worth looking at 'Camping a la Ferme' too - as some of these are lovely sites - where you may be the only occupant of a beautiful orchard, with your own shower block, and even a swimming pool all to yourselves (in September at least). On the map select the 'Region', then the Department, then 'Camping on the Farm'.
I do agree, unfortunately it's not so easy to up-sticks and move when you're in a tent - but hopefully you'll get good weather in September, and won't need to!
I was the one who originally posted the Cool Camping link and recommended the book (thanks for reinstating the link, Val). I have the England guide and recently bought the new French one as well. If you like quiet, small campsites in nice locations, without lots of whistles and bells then I think it's a good guide.
Like the UK versions, its full of glossy photos and is a bit of a coffee-table drool fest! It's got 60 sites listed, a handful of which are more about hireing tipis or romany caravans than tenting. So maybe 50 sites that are tent-focused. I've already spotted one near Chamonix that I fancy as a stop-over this summer!
That Camping France guide looks useful. Does anyone know of an equivalent guide for Italy or even wider Europe? I have the Alan Rogers guide but it's not really right for our needs (touring around and going where the wind blows us, mostly). We are currently using a 2002 beat-up Caravan Club book, I inherited from my parents.
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: Small French Campsites Needed!
