We've not been to l'Etang de la Breche, but have done Calais to the Saumur area several times. If you leave Calais after breakfast you will easily reach the site the same day without needing a stopover.
Our suggestion for a first time abroad with a 'van would be to drive to the Dover area the day before and stop on one of the local sites; both CC and CCC have them, and they are geared up for people catching ferries. This makes for a much more relaxed journey down to Kent, as you aren't under the pressure of time to catch a boat and an hour lost on the M25 won't matter! ( I would avoid Friday afternoon though!)
Then catch an early boat, have breakfast on board, and still not feel under any pressure.
From Calais, the route is the usual (and largely toll-free) run down via Abbeville, Rouen, Evreux and Dreux to Chartres, and then the N10 to Tours. Take the A10 Autoroute (free here) across Tours, and then the A85 (for Angers) will take you very close to Varennes.
You can drive all the way if you want to. It depends on how far you wish to drive and what time of day you pop onto French soil. It is about 350miles - so at 50mph average that is about 7 hours plus breaks. But if you are a fast driver and enjoy the speed you could manage 60mph and just do it in 6 hours plus breaks. Are you happy doing that NB the autoroute to Rouen is not free! I'm a stopover type of person so I'd peobably stop round somewhere south of Rouen - Bernay is a reasonable sort of area to stop.
How happy are you driving? How happy are you driving abroad for the first time. Some old lags forget what it was like when they first went abroad. Some lack any EQ so just blast on no matter what. Some are more cautious, so stop. You need to do what you feel easy with. Caution is not being stupid, it is doing the right thing for you - and the family.
Whatever you do, think first, then give it your best shot. Don't end up going home and saying - never again.
The autoroute from Calais to Abbeville is toll - but from Abbeville to Rouen is free. The toll with car and caravan, Calais to Abbeville, is currently 11.60 euros according to Viamichelin. Calais to Saumur, via Le Mans, the tolls would be 59.60 euros.
I've seen campsites recommended at both Bernay, and Sees, which are not far from your route, and around the half-way point.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We were thinking leaving WOrcester on Sunday to arrive campsite on Monday about 4 ish. We had thought an overnight in France somewhere - so suggestions are helpful. Whilst doing it in one is tempting, I dont think our little boy would cope. But we shall look at that. We are thinking chunnel as we have a few tesco vouchers and the early mornings are cheaper too.
I had dreams, once we had the van, of the south of france, but reality with driving is another thing. As we only have a 2 week window, I cant see us ever going south of dordogne unless OH can wangle 11 nights off work.
When we were stuck to school holidays we always used to leave immediately after everyone finished on a Friday - and drive down to catch a late night ferry, Dover to Calais. We used to drive, then, for about an hour, and stop-over in an Aire (or elsewhere) and then the following morning be up and off early and could be well down France for Saturday evening!
Our first camping trip to France was in 1981 when our son was just six months' old and we made the Dordogne! We were in a ready-erected tent, then, though, and it was easier as you'd no real setting up on arrival - though unloading seemed to take forever. We got used to minimalist stop-overs, with just bedding and one overnight bag taken into the overnight tent or hotel (we used to do either). Our sons became great travellers, and still are!
We've carried on doing this ever since, and though neither of us are working now, we still prefer to set off late afternoon and catch a late ferry on a Friday! Habit I suppose, but it works well for us.
Coming home we used to catch a Sunday morning ferry, so even with just ten days off work it never stopped us getting as far as we wanted in France, and we felt like we'd had seventeen days holiday instead of fourteen!
We did Calais to the Loire in one go last summer, it can be done, you should see how your son gets on with the travelling and not book anywhere for your overnight stop.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you are driving from Worcester & crossing via tunnel or from Dover, a popular overnight stop just off motorway before Rouen is here Its signposted after you leave motorway, cheap & access is reasonable. No need to book it.
We drove to L'Etang de la Breche last summer from Mid-Wales via the Tunnel...we left about 10pm at night when the roads were lovely & quiet, kids slept until about 30 mins from the tunnel and we swapped over driving the other side. If you stick to the autoroute it's an easy drive.
The year before we took the ferry from Dover/Calais and opted to stay overnight in Dover, though tbh hubby said it was more hassle than it was worth and I think the kids were even grumpier because they were late to bed, early up etc.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
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: Calais to Etang de la Breche - stopover
