We have had our FC for 2 years now and camped in the UK mostly in adult only sites. We would love to try camping in France, but not too confident about driving abroad. Can anyone recommend any campsites not too far from a ferry point? We have looked at sites but would appreciate any help/advice
Thanks
------------- LF
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How much do you want to spend on your ferry crossing? For less than £100 if you book early you will get a return crossing Dover/Calais or Dunkirk & there are campsites only a few miles away but the area is nothing special, a bit like camping in Kent or Essex. But of course you will still get that much nicer 'French experience'
If you want a much nicer area you will have to pay considerably more for a ferry from Portsmouth to StMalo or Cherbourg or Plymouth to Roscoff.
Driving in France is much easier and more pleasant than in the UK. Generally the road surfaces are better, there is less traffic, and more user-friendly places to stop. If there are only two of you, and you're going in low season, then you won't even need to book. You could get a short crossing, and try Chateau du Gandspette, which is only about half an hour from the port at Dunkerque. It's quite a 'French' site, though with a good mix of nationalities, good sanitary facilities, and a nice (but not 'gourmet') restaurant. There are two pools, and quite a few interesting places around for trips ut - the Blockhaus at Gandspette,St Omer on market day, the canals and marshes of the area, the beaches in Calais itself and you're only about an hour away from Bruges and Ypres for the Memorial Service each evening at 8.00 pm. The site takes Camping Cheques from 01/04/2012 to 06/07/2012 and from 01/09/2012 to 30/09/2012. That means a pitch, two adults, car and trailer tent (or caravan), awning, and electricity will be just £13..95 per night.
If you want 'Adult only' sites, then generally outside school holidays, you'll find mostly adult company on most French sites. If you can only go in school holidays then you may struggle to find an 'adult only' site, as it's not a concept which has been adopted by the French. Those few sites which do exist are generally British owned.
Thank you VAL A & Tentz, we would be camping in late June. We would'nt mind paying more for the ferry crossing and we will check out the Chateau du Grandspette.
------------- LF
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You need to have a look at the Camping Cheques website, www.campingcheque.co.uk. There are plenty of other sites near to the other ferry ports, so probably best to check out the prices of the crossings, and decide on a general area, then look for recommendations in the area around the crossing you choose.
There is another post on a different forum from someone who has just come back from their first trip and they wondered what it what they'd been worrying about so much - they had a great time.
If you are ok with a more expensive crossing then look on Brittany ferries website. Plymouth to Roscoff for example will put you into a nice holiday area.
If you were to via Brittany ferries from Portsmouth to Caen you could probably travel down during the day and take the overnight ferry. Their are some nice sites in brittany and Normandy. Personally I think its a bit far out for you to travel via Plymouth.
Regards Bob.
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Hi jinty15, like someone else said already driving is much easier than you think in France. The roads are quieter than in England, much the same as they are in Ireland/scotland except better. I towed this year for the first time in France and it was grand, took a few minutes to get used to the 'wrong' side but came second nature after a while!! Btw if you are driving from scotland to the south coast, france will be a dawdle.
Can't help with sites near the ports but can confirm towing your FC in France will be a pleasure compared to driving here in UK. We have been to France many times previously and always enjoyed driving out there but this year was first time towing our FC- really no different!
I would seriously recommend taking two weeks and travelling a bit further down into France. If you do an overnight ferry to St Malo for instance the Vendee and Charente Maritime areas along the Atlantic coast are pretty much all within half a days reach or travel inland and stay around the Loire area
From the UK you also have Hull to Zeebrugge as an option which pretty much halves your Uk drive distance. You could then look at Hollland and Germany maybe (Black Forest?) as alternatives to France?
And, of course, there's the fantastic Loire Valley ... which isn't that far 'down'.
Like many others on this forum, we've travelled all over France, Spain, some Italy and Germany ... and continental driving is pretty good (road-wise) .... you can tow an FC at 81 mph on french motorways ... so you can get to and from places/areas much more quickly.
You'll love it ... but do make sure you seek good weather ... if you are going in June, I'd decide on the area, then have a couple of 'back up plans', and don't decide till really late (even on the ferry!) and go where the weather forecast is good ... you should have very little problem getting a decent site and pitch in June (before the holiday season proper kicks off).
There's nothing worse than buying a week or two, arriving, only to find that the weather is the same as it was at home!
Tentz - coming from Kent I'm a bit hurt on Kent's behalf by your comment but said with tongue in cheek. The coast around Broadstairs and the area in Mid-Kent around Tenderden/Marden are very pleasant, and the cliffs at Dover are stunning if you ignore most of the town bar the seafront!
I do agree with the sentiment tho' - if you are going to France, make sure you go somewhere with a distinct French flavour.
For my suggestion, the Normandy coast around Etretat or further down to Honfleur/Trouville. The weather may not be Mediterranean but the area is French in feel. Sandy beaches, fish markets, Eric Satie museum.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Ha! Ha!, I'm from Essex so yes perhaps Essex is worse, but I was thinking about the Kent coast, Herne Bay, Margate etc which does have similarities to 'tother side. It fair to say though that if anybody just wants a bit of French flavour you can certainly get that just over the channel.
The campsites around Calais are well used by working class French from the inland northern towns & their kids are much better behaved than on the sites on the Kent coast.
You certainly get a nice French atmosphere just a few miles from Calais port but 80miles down the coast it does start to get a lot nicer.
Yo, you're from Essex so that's OK then. It's a bit like someone criticising a family member. OK if you do it but a no no from an 'outsider'.
I much prefer Boulogne: it has a lovely beach and the old town with the castle and, if I recall, a cheese lover's paradise - a restaurant where all the menu features cheese!
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
You may be able to tow at 130kph depedning on what car you have (and whetehr you feel comfortable towing at that speed as well I guess which is another point) - nothing to do with what you are towing
Thank you all for your suggestions, information and tips. It helps no end when people who have done it and got the T-shirt describe how easy it is to take the fc abroad. Looking forward now to next camping season.
Quote: Originally posted by sunshinetours on 20/9/2012
You may be able to tow at 130kph depedning on what car you have (and whetehr you feel comfortable towing at that speed as well I guess which is another point) - nothing to do with what you are towing
Hmmm ... nothing to do with what you are towing??? ... a caravan??
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: Camping in France
but said with tongue in cheek. The coast around Broadstairs and the area in Mid-Kent around Tenderden/Marden are very pleasant, and the cliffs at Dover are stunning if you ignore most of the town bar the seafront! 
