Hello, we are looking at options in the Ardeche in last week of July. Friends of ours went there last summer and are advising that we should avoid due to the intense heat (hitting near 40 on some days). However I am mindful that last summer was especially hot.
We camp in our converted Transporter camper (no a/c) with either a event shelter or airbeam awning and we've camped previously across SW France and Northern Spain with no extreme heat issues. This will be our first time down in the South of France in the van howewer, so its new territory.
Any advice appreciated.
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Can’t comment on the Ardeche region but we were in Provence in July and the heat was uncomfortable with temperatures at 41c some days and at night it only cooled down to 29c
Thankfully we had habitation air-con which made it more bearable .
We store our caravan on a campsite in the Ardeche and have done for seven years, and normally I would say it's not too hot. Choose a riverside site, with plenty of tall trees for shade, and open pitches, that way you get the advantage of the breeze which blows one way up the river in the morning, and the other way in the afternoon/early evening.
Here is some historical data for July 2021 for Aubenas, a city in the Ardeche (Unfortunately it doesn't show 2022) but probably is more typical, showing that the highest temperature in July 2021 was 32.7 and the lowest 22.8. The TM column in the table linked to. You can use the same website to show the data for other places and other months.
I can recommend some sites where you might get the benefits of the breeze, as some are better situated than others because of the terrain. For your interest we shall be there for the last week in July, with my son and his three year old - as we were last year, and didn't find it too hot! We don't have air-conditioning either.
Where was your friend staying? Last year was quite exceptional in that there were very high temperatures over much of Europe, including the UK.
My partner has pointed out that when temperatures reach the high thirties in one area, those high temperatures are usually widespread, and few areas are much cooler, apart from the high mountains.
He also added that if you choose a riverside site you can cool off by jumping in the river!
Thanks for your reply and feedback, this is v helpful. Any recommendations on sites would be great. Ardechois looks nice and I know is quite popular on these boards. We will be a family of 4 (2 adults and a 12 and 18 yr old).
Our friends stayed at Les Ranchisses near Largentier. They stayed in a rental (didn't camp) but said they wouldn't want to camp there because of the heat (they are seasoned campers too). Our friends may be joining us this year too and would likely be taking a rental option again, which is an option for us but I am put off by the cost factor!.
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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 08/3/2023
Can’t comment on the Ardeche region but we were in Provence in July and the heat was uncomfortable with temperatures at 41c some days and at night it only cooled down to 29c
Thankfully we had habitation air-con which made it more bearable .
Agree that choice of sites/pitches is key - we try to avoid anywhere too hot because of my husband's health issues but encountered high 30s both last year and 2021 (Dordogne - September !). Google maps, although not always bang up to date will give you and idea of the tree cover on offer at a particular site. Riverside sites and pitches always get the best air movement - we found it bearable in both instances by staying on the pitch on the hottest days whereas other parts of the site were just too hot.
We don't have aircon in our motorhome but used two small USB chargeable fans right next to the bed which made a huge difference - we were surprised how well we slept.
Also have a close look at photos of the swimming pools if you like swimming - some have absolutely no shade for much of the day around them other than provided by parasols.
Choice of sites: Camping Les Coudoulets at Pradons, L'Ardechois, La Plage Fleurie, Mondial Camping, or Le Provencal around Vallon Pont d'Arc, La Soleil Vivarais nearer to Ruoms - all along the Ardeche river, and will benefit from the movement of the air up and down the valley. I think it all depends on what your children are looking for. I know the site we are on now is loved by my sons and their children now, but would have been too quiet for them when they were teenagers.
My eighteen year old and several of his friends, plus my youngest and his friend, all joined us one year at L'Ardechois. Some joined us by public transport, and the others were either working on a PGL site nearby, or hitch-hiked! It was their 'cheap holiday with parents' before going off on a gap year! We ate three lettuces between them all every time we had a salad. At one point we had four pup tents on the pitch, and one evening there were thirteen teenagers, including the Dutch girls from the next pitch, and their friends, enjoying themselves, quietly. (They had all obviously learned appropriatecampsite behaviour early!)
Quote: Originally posted by Ironned on 08/3/2023
Agree that choice of sites/pitches is key - we try to avoid anywhere too hot because of my husband's health issues but encountered high 30s both last year and 2021 (Dordogne - September !). Google maps, although not always bang up to date will give you and idea of the tree cover on offer at a particular site. Riverside sites and pitches always get the best air movement - we found it bearable in both instances by staying on the pitch on the hottest days whereas other parts of the site were just too hot.
We don't have aircon in our motorhome but used two small USB chargeable fans right next to the bed which made a huge difference - we were surprised how well we slept.
Also have a close look at photos of the swimming pools if you like swimming - some have absolutely no shade for much of the day around them other than provided by parasols.
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 08/3/2023
When we have found it too hot - several times in fact - we have fired up the motor and gone somewhere else - by the sea or up into the hills.
Yes indeed, therein lies the freedom of campervan living!. We are considering the Pyrenees as an alternative to the Ardeche on the basis that it will be cooler, but am put off by the prospect that the kids won't enjoy it as much
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 08/3/2023
Choice of sites: Camping Les Coudoulets at Pradons, L'Ardechois, La Plage Fleurie, Mondial Camping, or Le Provencal around Vallon Pont d'Arc, La Soleil Vivarais nearer to Ruoms - all along the Ardeche river, and will benefit from the movement of the air up and down the valley. I think it all depends on what your children are looking for. I know the site we are on now is loved by my sons and their children now, but would have been too quiet for them when they were teenagers.
My eighteen year old and several of his friends, plus my youngest and his friend, all joined us one year at L'Ardechois. Some joined us by public transport, and the others were either working on a PGL site nearby, or hitch-hiked! It was their 'cheap holiday with parents' before going off on a gap year! We ate three lettuces between them all every time we had a salad. At one point we had four pup tents on the pitch, and one evening there were thirteen teenagers, including the Dutch girls from the next pitch, and their friends, enjoying themselves, quietly. (They had all obviously learned appropriatecampsite behaviour early!)
Post last edited on 08/03/2023 20:50:14
Thanks for the site tips. We are looking for a site with waterslides and good pool facilities for the kids. There are a few I've seen, but options appear to be limited. Les Coudoulets has no options on our dates, L'Ardechois I like the look of but no waterslides, La Plage Fleurie no options on our dates (shame as I like Yelloh sites too), RiverDarc (La Provencal) an option but no water slides, La Soleil Vivarais looks lovely but no options on dates.
We are considering changing our itinerary at this point. Ferries are already booked (Out: Poole > Cherbourg & Return: Santander > Plymouth), with us heading down to Biarritz area for the second half of our holiday. I think where we are at we need to broaden the area of our search, perhaps somewhere - Loire, Limousin or Pyrenees possibly.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have booked the below campsite for the the last week in July this year, not on the river but I prefer to be a little bit away from the busiest places, not been before and couldnt find it on here, but it looks well shaded and has enough going on to keep my two 13 &11 happy. We have stayed a bit further north before in the ardeche so this will be our first time in this area.
Quote: Originally posted by ellison87 on 09/3/2023
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 08/3/2023
Choice of sites: Camping Les Coudoulets at Pradons, L'Ardechois, La Plage Fleurie, Mondial Camping, or Le Provencal around Vallon Pont d'Arc, La Soleil Vivarais nearer to Ruoms - all along the Ardeche river, and will benefit from the movement of the air up and down the valley. I think it all depends on what your children are looking for. I know the site we are on now is loved by my sons and their children now, but would have been too quiet for them when they were teenagers.
My eighteen year old and several of his friends, plus my youngest and his friend, all joined us one year at L'Ardechois. Some joined us by public transport, and the others were either working on a PGL site nearby, or hitch-hiked! It was their 'cheap holiday with parents' before going off on a gap year! We ate three lettuces between them all every time we had a salad. At one point we had four pup tents on the pitch, and one evening there were thirteen teenagers, including the Dutch girls from the next pitch, and their friends, enjoying themselves, quietly. (They had all obviously learned appropriatecampsite behaviour early!)
Post last edited on 08/03/2023 20:50:14
Thanks for the site tips. We are looking for a site with waterslides and good pool facilities for the kids. There are a few I've seen, but options appear to be limited. Les Coudoulets has no options on our dates, L'Ardechois I like the look of but no waterslides, La Plage Fleurie no options on our dates (shame as I like Yelloh sites too), RiverDarc (La Provencal) an option but no water slides, La Soleil Vivarais looks lovely but no options on dates.
We are considering changing our itinerary at this point. Ferries are already booked (Out: Poole > Cherbourg & Return: Santander > Plymouth), with us heading down to Biarritz area for the second half of our holiday. I think where we are at we need to broaden the area of our search, perhaps somewhere - Loire, Limousin or Pyrenees possibly.
Whilst the pools/slides may seem important you may find that your family spend more time 'messing around in the river'. My sons got their adrenalin kicks at l'Ardechois, with cheap body boards, or in our inflatable canoe, going down the rapids on the river at the end of the site, sometimes all the way to the Pont d'Arc where we would pick them up later. At the Pont d'Arc there were rocks to jump from, rope slides, etc. I think many other families visiting the Ardeche do the same, as the area seems to have fewer sites with water slides than most other areas.
Have you had a look at Ranc D'Avaine, which has an Parc Aquatique and plenty of water slides, lazy river, etc., but is also on a river for those who enjoy messing about with body boards, canoes, etc. Or Camping La Grand Terre at Ruoms, which we haven't visited but has water slides.
Another possible area to have a look at is the Gorges du Tarn/Jonte/Dourbie area, around Millau (of the Viaduct), where there are sites like Val de Cantobre, in a beautiful setting, alongside a smaller river than the Ardeche but still with the benefit of up/down the valley breezes, water slides, lazy river, and a great restaurant. We stayed there for many years. In those days we were lucky enough to have two holidays - one at Easter or Spring Bank Holiday and another the last two weeks of August. One or other was usually spent at Val de Cantobre, and we got to know the owners very well.
See here: https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7430
But check out other sites along the rivers around the Millau area, which has lots of similar 'adrenalin adventure' opportunities.
You may find that instead of a change of itineraries, a change of dates to later in August would bring all those sites back in as options.
Quote: Originally posted by brendan12 on 09/3/2023
We have booked the below campsite for the the last week in July this year, not on the river but I prefer to be a little bit away from the busiest places, not been before and couldnt find it on here, but it looks well shaded and has enough going on to keep my two 13 &11 happy. We have stayed a bit further north before in the ardeche so this will be our first time in this area.
Thanks Val for the advice. What you say re the waterslides makes sense and I do wonder whether we are overly restricting our options there. There is a site Ruoms called Camping Aluna Vacances that potentially ticks all the boxes for us and may work.
We found the Ardeche (l'Ardechois) very hot even under canvas. I can't imagine what it would be like in a caravan or motor home without aircon. That's said, we would go back there as it is lovely and even better being so close to the river which we spent most of the time in watching the canoes mess up the faster water. Beware if you do go jumping off the pont d'arc, there are so many canoes that we saw many near misses with people nearly landing on top of canoes. Also, if canoeing, although good fun, some of the rapids are REALLY hard and imo quite dangerous. Something to bear in mind. Being close to Vallon was great too as there are some lovely restaurants there and a good place for a mooch about.
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Topic: Is the Ardeche too hot for campervan?
via mobile 10/3/2023 at 1:39pm
