Bobcat10 - we must be somewhere near you in Yorkshire!!! We got back this Sunday! We did have a great time, and some absolutely fantastic weather for the whole holiday but we came back to really high winds!!
Already planning, or rather looking up ferry prices, for next year!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We live in Calverley, although I am native of Scholes nr Barwick-in-Elmet.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
We had the best weather we've ever had in France which is a blessing under canvas.
The ferry costs to the French/ Spanish border are quite steep + the costs in the uk of getting to Portsmouth and a hotel. The Dordogne had crosed my mind but that 'Little England ' TV series has really put me off, who on earth would want to emigrate and take England with them rather than embrace the culture..this is what spoiled Brittany for us.
Well there's lots of time to plan :0)
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
Tbf the Dordogne dosen't seem that British. We went to Eymet which is supposed to have the highest % of British residents of any town in France, we didn't hear a single English voice & we didn't see the fish&chip van either.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Watch the ITV programme 'Little England' on Monday - apparently the chip van features on there! Mind you, our ex-pat friends all say they miss English Pubs (are there still any open) and good fish and chips!
I watched "Little England" last monday, it seems to be like the series ITV did on The Lakes.
They featured 3 couples, the first met in the Dordogne and have ended up living in and managing a Chateau for the French owners who are retiring. The second couple have a farm and decided to produce bacon & sausages to fill a gap in the market as he said he couldn't compete with the french farmers & butchers. The third couple decided their "niche" was to run a mobile fish & chip trailer which they tow around the towns and villages. They are catering for the Brits, complete with Heinz, HP, Sarsons but I'm sure they said around 50% of their trade came from french people. I thought the mobile fish & chip idea was better than setting up an English Bar/Cafe in one of the pretty towns.
I'm going to watch the rest of the series with interest as we are thinking of visiting the area next year, it looks beautiful.
Maybe I'm missing something but we've been to Brittany several times and I can't say we've found it overun with Brits, there's usually a lot of Dutch but this year mainly French.
I'm all for 'when in Rome', leave England at home. Why on earth would anyone want Fish & Chips in France.
Even the French have started to avoid Brittany and do not class it as truly French.
I have a friend who has lived and worked in Aquitaine for the past 10yrs and she rarely rents out her properties in Brittany to anyone other than Brits, she has a European property letting business, based in Sanguinet.
Brittany serves its purpose it satisfies a certain type of holiday maker which keep the rest of France clear.
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'm all for 'when in Rome', leave England at home. Why on earth would anyone want Fish & Chips in France.
Even the French have started to avoid Brittany and do not class it as truly French. I have a friend who has lived and worked in Aquitaine for the past 10yrs and she rarely rents out her properties in Brittany to anyone other than Brits, she has a European property letting business, based in Sanguinet.
"Brittany serves its purpose it satisfies a certain type of holiday maker which keep the rest of France clear"
Quote: Originally posted by BobCat10 on 19/9/2011
Brittany serves its purpose it satisfies a certain type of holiday maker which keep the rest of France clear.
I really think you are visiting a different France from the rest of us. Does just the sight of a UK reg caravan or car on a campsite offend you? The fact is you can go to any touristic area of France & you will hear various European languages being spoken, do you object to hearing English spoken in cafes & on the street?
Certainly there are complaints on UK campsites of extended family groups & young people drinking late at night & causing annoyance but these sort of people rarely cross the channel in large groups & in my experience it is mainly drunken German or French young people responsible for late night disturbances on French campsites.
I've got to admit that when i go to any foreign country I prefer not to hear or meet too many fellow Brits, or else what's the point of going abroad?
I've got to admit that when I go abroad I want a truly foreign experience and prefer not to hear too many English voices, not because they offend me, but I want a change from what I experience during the rest of the year - otherwise I might as well stay in the UK! For me, guaranteed hot sunshine is one of the less important holiday ingredients - primarily I want to experience a different culture. This is more difficult to achieve in France than most other European countries, but it is possible, even in Brittany.
I
9
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
The odd thing is that if you are on a French site with lots of Dutch they are all talking to each other, as most speak good English they are always very receptive to Brits on the site as well. Brits tend to keep themselves to themselves, if there are any on the same campsite I say hello, but generally we don't interact or converse in the same way the Dutch do among themselves or with other Brits.
As I don't speak much French, the nationality I interact with mostly in France is the Dutch. I am quite happy on a Dutch owned site in France(there are many, both naturist & textile)with everybody very friendly & talking English. They are in southern France for the same reason as me, to get some good weather.
Germans & northern Belgians also tend to speak English & plenty of French do as well & I find many French are interested & fascinated with things 'autre manche' & I frequently have amusing conversations in limited French with French folk with limited English.
We are all Europeans & I do find it odd the way some Brits go to France seeking 'Frenchness'. If you want that you only have to go 10miles inland from Calais because that is as French as anywhere else in France.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'm one of those who goes to France fro the Frenchness but don't get the vibe until I see a row of vines and that familar smell of french bread in the air.
My favourites areas are south of Paris and Rheims. France just opens up into a wonderful varied landscape.
Little England was actually quite good last night, no fish & chips thankfully.
Looking at the crazy ferry prices I think the Bay of Biscay crossing may not be an option.
Plan B
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
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: Pyrenees to Aquitaine
