Please could anyone recommend any campsites in the Auvergne/Rhone Alpes region of France for next August?
We are staying with relatives near Toulouse for a week and would like to stay for a second week (in our tent) somewhere on route back to Calais, but still be far south enough to get good weather (hopefully!)
We stayed at Le Paradis, Dordogne this year and i have a feeling we have been spoilt! We have 2 young boys so would like a site with a pool and play area. Ability to hire a fridge would be a big bonus as it was so useful last year. Separated pitches and clean loos/showers would be a priority! Near a river/lake would be nice and not too far driving/walking from a village.
Bit of a wish list i know, but any help gratefully received!
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Indigo Royat is a site we've visited, and like but I wouldn't put it on the same level as Le Paradis, I don't think.
I'd suggest L'Ardechois in the Ardeche (Rhone Alpes), alongside a beautiful river, good pools, immaculate and modern sanitary block, bar/restaurant with some lovely 'low key' activities, both during the day for families and for children, and a children's 'show' at the end of the week, some wild scenery, and wildlife, walking distance to the village, plenty of other lovely places to visit including the Gorges de l'Ardeche, and then river swimming in many lovely places along the Ardeche and at La Beaume.
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That also sounds good Val thanks, i'll take a look. I had looked at the Ardeche but wondered if it might be horribly busy when we have to go which is the second week of August and peak school hols?!
It might be, perhaps traffic might be more of a problem than it is in the Dordogne, as sites (and sights) are more concentrated along a shorter section of river. We used to do high season when our children were younger, but that's a long time ago now.
Gorges du Tarn is equally as good for scenery/everything else, but probably quieter in terms of traffic, and there are several sites I'd recommend in that area, including Les Peupliers at Riviere sur Tarn, and Les Rivages at Millau. However, recently someone surprised me by stating that they thought Les Peupliers was 'Bijou' and cramped - not something we've ever found - and I think everyone I've recommended it to has enjoyed their stay there. The pool is small, but the great river access more than makes up for the size of the pool and if anything the scenery of the Gorges du Tarn/Jonte and Dourbie are even more spectacular than the Ardeche. Another area we've visited a lot.
I've also read good reports about Le Caussanel which is in the Aveyron, and lakeside, but with good pool and slides.
Quieter, perhaps, is the Drome area, on the 'eastern' side of the Rhone Valley, a much more French area I think, and perhaps someone might recommend a site there.
we were on the Drome this year ... but a cheap and facilities free campsite (just a new sanitary block, and ... the river.
The big advantage was the Vercors park (France's largest) .... which offers a fantastic variety of walking, climbing, boating, cycling etc.
we did find a couple of very nice campsites in lovely locations.
The best seemed to be: Gouffre de la Croix
It hasn't been reviewed yet ... but the location is stunning ... on the northern edge of the Vercors ...walk into the village.
Loads to do in the area ... plus some spectacular villages and towns ... e.g. Pont en Royans ... and the Vezere river with a paddle steamer.
As Val says ... a french hol area, we discovered, and loved, this summer.
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I would recommend L'hirondelle in the Drome. We went this year and had a wonderful time. Not sure I would class it as on the way back from Toulouse although the region would more than merit a detour. I've not been to Le Paradis but their website is very impressive and L'hirondelle isn't as polished but it has a great pool complex, a brilliant paddling/dam building river, is 5 minutes drive from the nearest village and huge edge of the woods comfort pitches with gorgeous mountain views. Can you tell I really liked it!?
I haven't been able to put a review on UKCS as I can't seem to add the site but if you have a look on trip advisor I've put quite a long review on there.
Thanks so much for all the great suggestions. I'm just browsing through them now....Looks like L'hirondelle is full for our dates next year but it is some automated system which may be wrong. I wish we weren't tied to school holidays!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Foxtrot - I don't think L'hirondelle has started taking bookings for 2013 yet. We didn't book our pitch for August until June last year. If you can go end of school holidays, like we did, I'm sure you'll get a pitch.
Yep the Ardeche is a lovely region, so much so we had our fortnight campings in July at Domaine de Gil during 2009, 2010 and 2012 very pleasant 4 Star campsite at the quiet end of the Southern Ardeche, in fact we were the only token Brits on the campsite which is mostly visited by the Dutch.
Only 80 pitch's of which 40 are for tourers, but quite a good size campsite all the same, with a river side pebble beach and only a 1 mile walk from the Spa town of Val les Baines.
Well we LOVE the Rhone Alps and we went to the Auivergne this year.
Rhone Alps: Chatel - L'Oustalet (its the only campsite in Chatel. Absolutely beautiful 360 degree views of the mountains and a short bus ride to the ski lift onto the Porte de Soliel if you fancy a highy walk.
La Clusaz - On the other side of Mont Blanc, less dramataic but some lovely gentle walking country and within easy reach of Annecy. Campsite is le Plan Du Furnoy, a very basic campsite and not as luxurius as the one in Chatel but the region is gorgeous and the sunsets something to behold.
Auvergne/ Puy De Dome:
By coincidence and quite by accident we found Chatel- Guyon. (Camping De La Croze)
We were open to ideas and just went on spec. We started in Volvic (oh dear, awful place , awful campsites), so we travelled towards more dense country side and found this wonderful campsite called camoing De La Croze. The facilities were imaculate, and the pitches were terraced with fabuous views. It was like Tuscany !!! We were the only Brits on the site ate one point. I think peopel fly past on the way to the 5* up the road, but we loevd it and would definately recommend it.
It's the Pyrenees next year or the Ardeche I think. South West really is a glorious area and ticks all the boxes for us.
Going back to the Rhone Alps - If you go to Annecy DO NOT GO to the municipal in SEMNOZ. We went there 2 years ago and had to get off the site, it was raided by the police, tere was some drug dealing going on....awful.
Annecy is beautifula dntere are many,many camopsites to choose from but just a word of warning.
And if you go into Switzerland don't forget you'll need a vignette !!
------------- 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
Thanks so much to everyone for all the replies and really good suggestions. I've been off line during the last week for half term but am starting up the research again this week! Both regions look really fab so it could take a while....
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: Auvergne/Rhone Alpes
