Can anyone suggest routes or itinerary for a two week RV trip during the summer holidays (July/Aug) with kids aged 6 and 8 who like out door activities, beaches, lakes etc.. any advice greatly received! Many thanks. Advice on campsites/wild camping also appreciated.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Presume ship to Bilbao the take 2wks to get back to Calais? Stick to SW French coast for first part of trip up to Gironde, nice beaches, some lakes, plenty of campsites & motorhome aires all signposted or with campervan you can often get away with parking overnight in beach carparks. Then head inland to Dordogne, nice countryside & so on.
Campsites well signposted & you can always find somewhere to park overnight for nothing if you want so no need to book anything.
After much deliberation and several changes of mind this year we are:
1. Ferry to Santander.
2. Playa Joyel on Noja beach http://www.playajoyel.com/en/
This will be our 3rd time there as my kids love the beach there and the campsite has direct access. Ideal for all ages and snorkling, fishing nets, inflatable kayak.
I love that part of Spain. In Bilbao there's the Guggenheim, your kids may not have a love of modern art but the building itself is worth seeing. There's also big sculptures dotted around. The old town of Bilbao is a river walk away from the museum and is full of informal tapas places. We went one evening and there were bands and singers everywhere.
Picos de Europe you can do for a day trip, or a few days. Potes is a good base and not too far from the cable car. There are walks from the top of the cable car if you're prepared.
Santillana del Mar is an interesting medieval town, best in early evening I think for cidre, tapas, ice cream Museum of Torture. There is a zoo very close by if you make it a full on day out.
3. St Jean de Luz just south of Biarritz.
Hendaye would be a good beach for 6 and 8 year olds, its my childrens second fav beach :) Young kids can get some body boarding in. Its not usually until the beach has almost gone that the surfers descend and it gets very rough. You can get a water taxi to the Spainish side.
St Jean de Luz is a quaint beach town nice to potter and restaurants. Has a tourist site seeing train. Biarritz and Bayonne are also nice. The beaches around Biarritz are more full on surfing beaches.
There's a little train that goes up La Rhune http://www.rhune.com/uk/ you an get a return or walk one way. Also some caves close by.
I have family in the area so cant help with campsites.
4. Puy du Fou theme park
5. Big all singing and dancing campsite in Southern Brittany.
I've chosen one with a heated outdoor water complex. As well as crepes and beaches I want to take my boys to the menhirs and dolmens in Carnac. Quiberon and a boat ride to the islands, my family used to have a house there so it's a nostalgic visit.
6. Probably a night near St Malo, visit the town and Mont St Michael.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I'm don't particuarly love the area from Brittany to Biarritz but the Dune du Pilat south of Bordeaux is worth seeing. The walk up the Dune is worth it for the views and running down is great fun
Soup Dragon, we did almost exactly your itinery this year in 4 weeks with a few extra twiddly bits , but agree totally with your sentiments. Great area. For ref . you might like in addition at some point, Chatelaillon Plage, camping Port Pumay, a gem of a place nr La Rochelle, and a ferry to Ile d'Aix, which is something different. Suspect we will be heading west from Santander next year.
FM
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: 2 week European trip Bibao - Calais
