Hi
We are travelling to dordogne from Calais this august and are looking for somewhere to stop to break the journey. We would like to break the back of the journey and stop with around 2-2.5 hours left to go. We are looking for a hotel or campsite with a pool so we can have some fun before resuming our journey the next morning! Any ideas would be much appreciated.
TIA x
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We live in the Dordogne and used to do the journey from the tunnel for holidays most years before moving out here in 2018.
I'd think you're maybe being ambitious with overnighting and only leaving yourself a couple of hours down to the Dordogne - that would usually be a good 8 hour drive from Calais - maybe more - especially in summer.
I remember doing Calais - Dordogne non stop except for toilet breaks / refueling and taking 12 hours in August - in a 2.5 litre V6 Mondeo.
When we came via Calais we used to break our journey in the Loire - that normally left 4 hours the next day. Most campsites have pools and have used the Novotel at Amboise and the Hostellerie du Chateau in Chaumont in the past - both have pools.
These days we cross Portsmouth - Caen which usually leaves us the best part of eight hours home - and are very familiar with the route and only have to open the door, put the kettle on and we're home.
The first question always is, What time of day are you leaving Calais? The second is, How many miles do you want to do that day inAugust traffic and still arrive in time for swimming? I would be happy to help with campsites if I knew the answers to those two questions. But if you can manage 300 miles on day one that takes you to Camping de Sologne at Salbris. Take care
Post last edited on 15/02/2022 09:21:10
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I think you might be underestimating the journey time. Obviously the Dordogne is a sizeable region and it would also depend on how many times you needed to stop on the journey and for how long, but I reckon that you could easily be looking at 10 hours of driving from Calais. So even if you were to stop 2 hours short, that's still a full day on the road.
We towed from our home in the Midlands to the Dordogne a few years ago and it essentially took us 2 days of driving with a stopover at Camping Sainte-Claire at Neuchatel-en-Bray, which is about 2 hours from Calais if I remember rightly. From there, our site in the Dordogne was a further 420 miles / 9 hours away.
We found Camping La Bien Assise in Guines, about 10 miles from Calais, to be a pleasant place for a stopover with a nice heated outdoor pool, if that's any help to you.
------------- "Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 15/2/2022
The first question always is, What time of day are you leaving Calais? The second is, How many miles do you want to do that day inAugust traffic and still arrive in time for swimming? I would be happy to help with campsites if I knew the answers to those two questions. But if you can manage 300 miles on day one that takes you to Camping de Sologne at Salbris. Take care
Post last edited on 15/02/2022 09:21:10
We would suggest something very similar but Camping de Sologne no longer takes ACSI.
Just before it is Nouan le Furzillier .It has very large pitches and it is easy to stay hitched up if required.
A large supermarket/petrol station nearby and a couple of rather nice restaurants just outside the campsite if you don't feel like cooking.
Hi all
Thanks for all your replies. We are planning to be leaving Calais approx 7am and thought we would try for a stopover about 3pm.We are quite good at driving long distances with minimal stops but would really appreciate any advice on good places to break the journey or campsites/hotels that you would recommend.
TIA xxx
We stayed at the castels Leychoisier near Limoges which was a couple of hours from the Dordogne - it’s a bit quirky has a nice restaurant and a simple but lovely pool.
An earlier stop is Camping Olivet near Orleans, very relaxed and friendly but no pool :(
Just to the south of Olivet and sharing the same access road to the motorway is the district "La Source" which has a number of hotels.
The Novotel has a pool - it is now the long winded "Novotel Orléans Chemins Sologne-Demeures Campagne Hotel" - when we stayed a few years ago it was Novotel Orleans Sud La Source.
Don't know if any others have a pool - the Campanile doesn't - stayed there 3 years ago.
The nearby Parc Floral de La Source is well worth a visit. It is the source of the River Loiret which is a tributary of the Loire.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Another vote here for Camping Grande Sologne, Nouan Le Fuzelier. Just south of Orleans and about 5 - 6 hours in to your drive if going via Paris including loo stops and for the dog lol!
Lovely Municipal (or sort of) a lovely lady call Marie bought the "licence" from the council.
Nice flat site. Lake, Fishing, red squirrels right next to the van :-) Never tried any of the restaurants but there are a couple of nice patisseries in the town (5-10 min walk)
Then about 4-5 hours to Perigord Vert (North Dordogne) after that.
And if you want to stay longer you are bang in the middle of Chateau country... Chambord, Cheverny, Beauregard, Valençay etc.
We live in the Perigord Vert now, but I must admit we did do it in one go after a few trips. takes about 9-10 hours (Via Rouen, Dreux, Evreux, Chartres) so an early ferry/tunnel is a must
Plus one for Camping Grande Sologne at Nouan. Its our preferred stop between the ferry and the Dordogne. Easy simple camping, not far from the autoroute.
We always stop at the hotel b&b at Limoges. The car park is secure (proper gates and fences) and has a nice steak restaurant next door and a maccy d's up the road if that's your thing. Also, its right next to the auroroute so it's quickly back on the road to holiday heaven!
------------- ---------------------
May 18, Delftse Hout, Delft
Aug 18, Le Logis du Breuil, Royan
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: Stopover from Calais to dordogne
via mobile 22/2/2022 at 6:41pm
