Seeing as we are probably (well, hopefully) becoming caravanners by next season (woot!) we can consider a two (or more) stop holiday next season.
Am currently thinking about a slowish drive down to La Siesta in Palafrugell, probably taking a couple of days at Le Neptune in Agde on the way, then spending a week or so in Spain, then driving up to the Tarn gorges for another week-ish before driving home.
I've got both Les Peupliers and Val De Cantobre bookmarked on my laptop, so they've obviously been recommended on here, but which would you choose, and why? Three kids -11,10 and 7 by then, if that helps. Will be going high season.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Les Peupliers or Val De Cantobre? I am assuming you mean the Les Peupliers in the Tarn Gorge and there are several and we met a couple on our stay who had booked the wrong one!
They are both great campsites, it depends what you are looking for. LP has riverside pitches and a river that you can swim in. VdC has a much better pool complex. Both are in a fantastic Location, the Tarn/Jonte/Dourbie gorges. LP is in the village of Riviere sur Tarn. VdC is a half hour walk from Nant. LP is a flat campsite, VdC is on a terraced hill.
Thanks Ollie. Did you visit VdC recently? I've seen some recent reviews that seem to indicate that since it was taken over by the new company (Dutch, I believe) that things have gone downhill somewhat there.
And yes, Les Peupliers in Rivieres Sur Tarn. Thanks for the piccies, very useful.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
It's funny, we have recently got back from Les Peupliers, having stayed at V de C a couple of years back and have had exactly the same conversation re next year!!!
We listed the pros and cons and have decided on Les Peupliers for a few of reasons.
River access good swimming/canoing from site/general messing around.
Walking distance to town and small shops.
Slightly cheaper- definitely in high season.
Flatter site (V de C is steep and tiered) so DD could use bike/scooter.
There would be enough there for your children and I think it's slightly better suited for younger children. DD loved the trampoline which was visible from our pitch and had a three max rule which made it safe and fun.
V de C has a better pool complex and is a very lovely site. I would be more than happy to go back there and found the staff very helpful and the site well run. It's also quieter at night (though our last minute pitch at Les P was fairly close to the bar/shop area).
We are going to be booking a week at Les Peupliers for 2011. OH is laughing at this as I will probably ask his opinion on hundreds of different sites between now and then!
Thanks Claire! I've pretty much settled for Les Peupliers if we go to Tarn, and Soleil Plage if we go to the Dordogne. We'll almost certainly spend a couple of days at Le Neptune in Agde en route to Spain and have already plumped for La Siesta in Spain.
We went to the Dordogne in 2006 and said we'd definately go back once the kids were old enough to canoe, but the better weather of the Tarn region is a pull in that direction.....oh decisions, decisions. Sadly we wil have to decide at some point as in August I think we'll need to book.
Of course, it all stands on us buying a caravan before next summer as I'm NOT doing a three centre holiday in a blooming tent! LOL!
Quote: Originally posted by pink sequin on 04/9/2010
We did three sites in our tent this year and we've said never again. We enjpyed it but at times it was too much like hard work!
Yup, we did two stops in 2007 and said never again. It could have ended in divorce LOL! The tent itself wasn't too bad, it was packing and unpacking eveything else - it takes *hours*! Not ideal in 30 degree heat when you've been in the car for 5 hours.
Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 04/9/2010
Thanks Ollie. Did you visit VdC recently? I've seen some recent reviews that seem to indicate that since it was taken over by the new company (Dutch, I believe) that things have gone downhill somewhat there.
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And yes, Les Peupliers in Rivieres Sur Tarn. Thanks for the piccies, very useful.
I think it was 2006 the last time we went to VdC, the last year Claire was the owner. I understand it still is a good site it is just that it was exceptionally good when run by Claire.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
Hi Exessexmum
We spent a week in Val de Cantobre this year-Last week in June.OUr children are aged 8,11 and 13.We went with Eurocamp and while our mobile home and the eurocamp couriers were great, I wasn't particularly impressed with the site. The pool complex is good but the water was cold in all the pools (very cold in the kids pool/lazy river)and this area needed a good cleaning.The restaurant food was not good and the pizza's were re-heated from frozen.On the plus side, it is a beautiful area and there is plenty to do out and about.
Quote: Originally posted by giltowngirl on 04/9/2010
Hi Exessexmum We spent a week in Val de Cantobre this year-Last week in June.OUr children are aged 8,11 and 13.We went with Eurocamp and while our mobile home and the eurocamp couriers were great, I wasn't particularly impressed with the site. The pool complex is good but the water was cold in all the pools (very cold in the kids pool/lazy river)and this area needed a good cleaning.The restaurant food was not good and the pizza's were re-heated from frozen.On the plus side, it is a beautiful area and there is plenty to do out and about.
Yes, that reiterates what I've read elsewhere. Will give it a miss.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Of the two - Les Peupliers I'd go for (though both sites very well managed).
Easy access for novice-ish caravanners.
Water slide (asap toboggan) open 4 x a day for 45mins a time - Perfect for your kids. Pool generally peaceful at other times (lots of towels reserving sunloungers though).
Tip - Try the butchers a couple of hundred yards away. Avoid his "Mexicane kebabs", but anything else in his marinade (esp. lamb) is devine.
Not a very "French" site. It has all many Northern Europeans want in a holiday park...but is only c.113 pitches.
Val de C ok if you are prepared to tow up a moutainside in first gear from a standing start tghey don't tow you up any more caravan club used to advertise as such but no more we went and were told cc had it wrong oh dear. long haul uphill to loo block from a major chunk of the site if that's what you want then ok high season price is for a pitch with six people hard luck if there are only 2 of you you still pay the same price we went back to the area this year and stayed in nant at les 3 vallees no problem whatsoever easy walk into the village reception spot on friendly site even allowed a musical family to put on an impromptu concert with the kids cannot fault them
We've just got back from spending a week at Le Neptune and a week at Cantobre.
Both are lovely sites, with good pools.
At Cantobre they offered to tow our caravan up to our pitch for us but after having had a look OH decided it was no problem. Yes, it is steep but we managed to take a wrong turn on the way out, drove right to the top of the site where there are only statics, and still had no major problems. We have a fairly large 5 birth van.
The biggest problem was that because the site is steeply terraced the kids were a bit reluctant to explore, particularly since they couldn't really use their bikes. The pool is really good, couldn't get our youngest out of it. It was only cold on certain days. If the weather was hot the pool was warm enough. Unfortunately, because the site is quite high up the temperature seemed to drop some nights and this cooled the water. The only other downside was the distance to get to anywhere. But because of that the wildlife and scenery were spectacular. I have never seen a sky so full of stars as on our last night there.
5 birth caravan? a roving maternity unit congratulations what are the babies called?
you are right - the mountain can be managed we managed but would not go back want to do more than just manage you are right re the hike to loo block and the unsuitability for kids and bikes major issues for some the path to nant is really good for walking or as in my case - running met the guided walk from the site one day and they all applauded as i ran through the file wanted to run to the site from nant this holiday but missed out
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: Les Peupliers or Val De Cantobre?
