The route planning site, Viamichelin.com gives the route as 364 kilometres, with a driving time of around 6 hours from Dieppe to St Catherine de Fierbois.
I suppose if you arrive early morning then it would be a fairly easy day's towing, but if you've an afternoon arrival time, and want to be on site in time to set up fully and not immediately be rushed into making an evening meal, or bedtime for the little one, then it would make sense to stay overnight somewhere. I always think it's nice to arrive on site no later than 3.00 pm - so you can set up, then sit and relax. The following morning you then feel as if you've already been there for a day!
Again, overnight suggestions would depend on your ferry arrival time. If you're travelling with Transmanche Ferries from a quick look at the timetable, it looks like your choice of arrival time would be at 2.30 in the afternoon, or 3.30 in the morning! Not ideal times to get to Fierbois the same day.
Looking at your location you've not got far to go this side of the channel. I'd be inclined to look at a nice early crossing and keep going till I got there.
Partly depends on the child and how they respond to long journeys. Has he been on many long journeys, have you taken him on many long journeys etc.
We went Calais to Loire (east of Tours ,from Cambridge area, camping) last September with the kids (8 and 4) then. Because of illness and delayed dept we ended up breaking the trip and Rouen and then continiung next day. THe run from Rouen, was pleanat enough in an Autoroutiny way and left us with enough time and enrgy to pitch without being stressed.
We went home in one hit (about 500miles, about 12 hours IIRc wih crosssing , food stops etc.)
Yopungest coped fine with both trips really, but it's not that much fun for them tuck in the back of the car for so long.
I think it's be more enjoyable for him, and there fore you all to stop over once in France. I think he will find it much more fun to have soemwhere different to stay, time to absorb the excitement of the crossing, some where woth time to explore the local village, walk along the river/woods etc. etc. Refreshed and then able to enjoy the rest of the journey more
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Thinking back to when ours where young that overnight stop on the way may be a good idea now, perhaps Rouen - have always fancied a visit to the cathedral
We've don't tow and we wouldn't do Fierbois in one hit from Milton Keynes, but we have done the Loire with an overnight at Dover... and that included setting up a tent.
I think as long as you don't have to pitch a tent when you get there it is doable in one hit from Kent. Invest in a DVD player... kiddie won't even notice the journey!
I wouldn't even consider a stopover to the Loire - we did it with 3 kids for the first time in 2008 when the youngest was 2. The kids had the dvd players in the car, watched 2 films & then we were there!..took 4.5hrs from Caen to Saumur.
Not sure where Fierbois is in relation to Saumur, but even if it's another hour, I would do it in one go. We went to Domaine du Chalain in Jura last summer (2 teens and a 4yr old in the back) and again, in one go taking about 8 hours. Easy.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
He hould be fine, our son has done it since he was 2 and due to our terrible planning, getting lost and map skills had to sit in the car for whole days at a time!
He is usually a handful but for some reason when we go to France he is golden in the car
Have to add that we are getting lots better now our 4th year.
The advice I've learnt from this forum is aim for about 250 miles in a day, if you have a long way to go if you get further then it's a bonus otherwise you're stressing the whole time to make sure you get somewhere by a certian time when you have kids, they still need feeding and bedtime!
It's doable in a day from Dieppe but you don't say what time you are planning on getting the ferry, if you got a very early ferry yep you could do it ok with time for lunch and a few wee stops on the way!
The only thing I will warn you about and I've noticed it more now my son is 4, he has what we call a "Funny five minutes" when we arrive at a site after being in the car all day, he gets a bit excited, hyperactive and naughty. Can't blame him as he's been so good in the car all day (although he did start the "Are we there yet" last year) so we always try and stay on a campsite with a pool (if it's an overnight) and I'll take him off for a swim whilst the other half gets on with setting up or I take him for a walk round and find the park. You just have to plan something in that focuses some time on them and tires them out ready for bed!
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: Loire with a kiddie
