I would like to plan a trip with our caravan. Ferry to Santander then taking 3 weeks to arrive at st Malo or Caen. I'm sure this route has been done many times before. From your experiences please could you recommend a route and or sites to stop at on the way through France.
------------- sues
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It's not really a route as such. It depends whether your preference is for coast or inland. You could do worse than follow a coastal route all the way round. Plenty of campsites along the way.
If you just want the nice bits then do a few days around Santander, then Dordogne, then a bit of coast halfway up both sides of the Gironde then Brittany. Best bet is to get a large sheet map of France & study it to get an idea of the lie of the land. I wouldn't bother booking sites. You will always find somewhere even Jul/Aug
We did something similar last year (though over two weeks not three). There are links to the sites we stayed at in my trip report. We went last two weeks in August and didn't book any of the sites.
------------- Sean
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You did not say when you were going, but to be honest I would not plan too much, and stay where the weather is best for as long as you can.
Northern Spain is absolutely stunning, we love it, but we have been there in September and the weather has been very iffy, we were in Brittany at the latter end of last September and it was 27c. You just cannot guarantee the weather.
We travel the west coast of France at least once a year.
Recommendations really depend very much on what you like doing. We enjoy a mixture of visiting cities, cycling and just lazing around on some days but vary the actual route from year to year. It also depends on what time of year you intend to do this. We usually go outside of the main season (May/June or September) so I can't say if the below is the same in high season.
Places we would recommend visiting would be:
Biarritz for the beach front around the Plage du Miramar - all very 'Belle Epoque'- and other beaches for surfing etc. Plenty of campsites with bus access to the city, some taking ACSI.
The Dune du Pilat - the biggest sand dune in Europe. Loads of campsites all the way up the coast. The whole area is a vast pine forest with small villages and towns almost hidden in it. Arcachon and Cap Ferrat are the biggest towns.
Bordeaux - fabulous city with good public transport. Village du Lac campsite is in a rural setting with good public transport access to the city. All around Bordeaux are the great vineyards with their chateaux and many lovely towns and villages and, of course the Loire Valley. We found some lovely small campsites in this area, especially along the Garonne valley.
La Rochelle and Ile de Re - La Rochelle is an interesting city with a municipal in the city itself. There is a bridge from there across to the Ile de Re which has a great network of cycle paths. Loads of campsites but we like the Municipal at St Martin du Re which has an easy walk into the town and access to bike paths across the island.
The coast from here on up to Vannes is a real holiday area with a multitude of campsites but there is not much to do except lazing and the beach apart from an excellent infrastucture of cycle paths that go on for miles. The area inland, the Le Regional Park du Marais Poitevin, is criss crossed with waterways and, for us, a lot more interesting.
Nantes - a fabulous city. The Ile de Machines is a must. The municipal Camping le Petit Post is a lovely site and has great access to the city by bus and tram.
The Gulf du Morbihan is well worth a visit. Great for bird watching, sailing and the standing stones at Carnac. Once again loads of campsites in the vicinity but Flowers Camping De Conleau is a good base to explore Vannes and the wider region including boat trips around the gulf.
Brittany has much to offer and feels unlike other parts of France. The old walled of town of Concarnau is lovely if a bit touristy. Camping Les Sables Blancs on the outskirts is an ACSI site with a beach very near. Finistere, the 'end of the world' is rugged and good for scenery, walks and beaches. There are loads of campsites to choose from in the region. Dinan, a medieval city is well worth a visit for its history and architecture, as is the old part of St Malo. Camping Hallerais in Taden is a good base to explore the area around the two.
This is only a taste of what's there and the route more or less sticks to the coast. It is really the 'highlights' and best known cities and areas. Outside of these there are many other less well known gems, too many to mention really. We tend not to plan an itinerary or book but just follow our noses and have found some of the most interesting and lovely places and campsites this way. We've never had a problem so long as you start looking mid afternoon.
Hope all this helps and, by the way, if you would like to use our Brittany Ferries code to get 10% off your ferry price do drop me a line at sandra701 at googlemail.com.
Hi,
Take some warm clothes, as you will need them as you drive up from the South.
One year we froze our'B*tts' off on the final night camping just outside St Malo, after coming up the coast from the warmth of Bordeaux.
------------- sueze
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
This is all really helpful, thank you Chris and Sandra and very kind of you to offer your code.
we've decide to do Brittany this June but maybe plan this trip for 2018.
Thanks once again.
We did this exact trip last year, but in 2 weeks rather than 3.
The ferry journey was fab, very relaxing and not at all boring. I saw loads of dolphins as we approached the Spanish coast and it was a good opportunity to 'change gears' from a frantic work life at home to the relaxed world of camping.
We spent the first week in Northern Spain including the Pyrenees and the whole of the second week on the coast near Bordeaux.
Apart from visiting the Pyrenees we didn't have a plan. We didn't visit northern France at all, just drove straight through any areas we could access easily from the northern ferry ports any time. Stay south & visit places that may be harder to get to on a usual visit using the channel crossings. This way you make the most of getting the ferry so far south.
We would definitely do it again, but try a different route next time for variety. The options are endless.
Like others, would suggest spending a considerable time in the north of Spain ...
The Picos de Europa are amazing, as is the Cantabrian/Asturian coast and towns/villages.
Lots of other things/places/trips to see and do.
If the weather is good, you can't beat it ... see my reviews for several sites and suggestions of things to do.
On your way up the coast, in France, don't miss out on the Marais Poitevin ... an undiscovered gem west of Niort ... again, some reviews in my collection.
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: santander to caen or st malo
