Just got home today from a lovely week in the Dordogne (not camping this year) and now starting to plan for next year's holiday. Not 100% sure if we'll be heading to France but if we do we're looking for a site that's within 10-15 mins drive of a good surfing beach with a surf school. I'd prefer the Vendee mainly to keep the travelling down, especially since we'll be back to towing a caravan.
We've stayed in the Vendee twice before, at La Guyonniere and La Ferme du Latois. Both very good sites but quite pricy so we're hoping to find something a bit cheaper. Main things needed are a pool, quiet after about 11ish, no loud late night entertainment, fairly large pitches preferably with hedges between. A small shop and takeaway would be a bonus. Don't mind whether it's got a bar or not. And it must allow a pup tent as well as an awning. Don't mind if it does have more facilities as long as it's quiet at night and we're not paying the earth for it.
We could possibly look at the area around Royan as well, and if anyone has any info on good surf schools please let us know.
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Hi, we have been to the vendee for the last 15 years or so, but dont recall any surf beaches, loads of windsurfing, and now kite surfing, but not the actual boards, however up the coast road from St. Gilles towards La Rochelle, their is the cote sauvage, which may have surf, (but may be rocky)no doubt someone with more knowledge will be along to advise, campwise we have stayed at both La Guyonniere and le pin parasol, but found our perfect (for us) site at camping Brettoniere, near la Guyonniere, its more of a traditional french campsite, and it ticks all your other boxes, great mix of nationalities, and never an issue getting a sunbed at the pools, this year we paid approx £333.00 for 14 nights pitch with electric, massive pitches we had van, car, full awning, and event shelter, snd still had plenty of space.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The area around Les Mathes/La Palmyre (Cote Sauvage) is surf city. And there were surf schools from what I recall obersevationally, but not practically. The sea can be very rough with lots of cross currents.
We stayed at Atlantique Foret, but it doesn't tick all your boxes (no pool) although not far to walk to l'Oree du bois for a bar and shops. Try L'Oree du Bois (option for personal loo block), La Palombiere, Les Charmettes, or Le Cle de Champs - all nearer the Les Mathes bit, and about 4km inland but cyclable to the beach as pretty flat overall. Busier towards La Palmyre but loads of cycle paths which is great. Would go back there for sure.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
La Clé des Champs at les Maths no longer exists - it was taken over last year by Siblu and now only offers mobiles. I think Les Charmettes (also Siblu) is only mobiles too. La Palombiere is a nice site with pool ( nothing fancy) - a few activities and an onsite restaurant and a snack bar by the pool - no hedges between pitches. There is a surf school which goes to the Côte Sauvage daily - timed to get the best of the tides for waves, i would imagine the tourist office at La Palmyre would know the details - if not a visit to the Palmyrwind surf shop would no doubt sort you out or just go and ask on the beach - Park at La Bouverie and walk to the lifeguard nation and turn left - you'll see the surf school flags.
Another good site in that same area is BeauSoleil - which has the advantage of being in the heart of La Palmyre village, within walking range of shops, market and a calm-sea beach , though you need a bike or a car to go round past the lighthouse to the surf on the Cote Sauvage. There is just one review on here from someone who didn't like it, but more generous and accurate reviews in other places!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you're prepared to go a little further Camping La Cote in Messanges is very close to many surfing beaches with surf schools.
Site ticks your boxes. Lovely pool. No bar or entertainment - small shop but Super U 5 mins cycle away, and quiet by 11pm.
Take away vans visit several nights a week.
Quote: Originally posted by Kittiwake on 28/8/2017
PS Don't you just love walking through the door and starting the next year's planning - drives my husband insane!
Absolutely love it! Same here regarding hubby, but it's my favourite hobby.
Will take a look at the site, with a longer crossing it might be doable.
Camping clos pins is very close to BUDBUD/Les Conches which is a great break on the longville coast
There are schools all the way up the Longville coast.
But one of the best is KOA which is on the la Terrie beach which is great ( OLIVER the owner is a star teacher whos been there for for 12-13 yrs and taught all my boys )
My favorite site is Bel in la tranche and would cover All your criteria but its not cheap €45 for 2 adults and 2 kids, €35 for 2 adults only)
Driving to the Vendee even with a tin tent is simple (i always go overnight St Malo and am on site before 13:00) Price wise once you put the mileage and tolls in its not a lot more expensive from the Midlands than the tunnel or ferry.
if you do want to go this way drop me a line i'll give you the ferry discount code (andrewdavies.mobile 'at' virgin.net) it'll save you 10%
Post last edited on 30/08/2017 14:41:11
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
'Wyrd bith ful araed-Fate will out'
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Kittiwake on 28/8/2017
PS Don't you just love walking through the door and starting the next year's planning - drives my husband insane!
i've already booked my ferry for 2018, 3 days after i got back lol
------------- 2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche
Thanks andyd. Not being into surfing myself it's a bit confusing trying to work out where the best place would be. Pleased we won't have to go any further than the Vendee. We're considering a longer crossing but might have to travel via Kent to pick our son up en route from his summer camp. But thanks for the offer of the code, if we do take that route will email you.
€45 a night isn't a ridiculous amount. I've seen some that were €70!!!
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: Quiet site in Vendee nr surfing beach
