We (my wife and I...plus one cocker spaniel) are planning/considering an adventure to the South of France (never done this before...) so please allow for my 'zero' knowledge on this 'subject'....
Would love to hear 'suggestions/advice' please?
Haven't got a scooby about best routes/sites etc.....
Would prefer to stay at a pre-erected tent etc...dont want to be taking all my own gear.
Travelling from B'ham Uk (July/August- 2 weeks flexible)
Route advice appreciated.
Only preference is to be near to water, as my dog loves a swim and I imagine it will be fairly hot?
Thanks in advance for anything that helps build the trip.
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A fortnight won't be enough. No idea about routes, but would suggest the Millau area rather than the Med. Rivers, gorges and south enough for good weather.
Suggest you take advice from Mrs Bonce. It could well take you 2 or 3 days to get there so that just leaves a week to sit around on a jam packed beach with horrendous traffic if you want to drive anywhere.
If you are dead set on South then I suggest you go out of season.
France is lovely and far better geared up for camping but everyone who is everyone goes on holiday in August!
DaveS1
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Plus in July/August it will be too hot for your dog on the Med. It will be heaving as Dave says, plus I am not sure about dog rules on beaches, if they are anything like here it's a no go.
Ardeche, loads of sites with river beaches that allow dogs, possibly only on certain sections.
We go for three weeks, but we are towing a caravan from Scotland.
You certainly have a head start on us, and are not towing.
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South west France coast will be better at that time of year. Along the coast west of Bordeaux. Lovely beaches. Usually dogs banned from beaches 11am till 7pm in peak season. Although ok on more remote beaches away from towns.
Coastal sites will be busy at that time of year so you need to book now. We go to CHM Montalivet & they have pre erected tents but other sites are available plenty of them have pre erected tents or safari lodges as the more luxury versions are called.
What crossing route are you using ? There might be delays at Dover when you are going due to heavy traffic so a good & probably cheapest route is DFDS Newhaven to Dieppe. 4hr crossing.
Decide your crossing route & your destination then you can get directions. If you are going well south so you will need an overnight stop. Plenty of hotel chains in France. Premier Classe Ibis budget B&B etc. Search online for them.
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
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Essentially there are three main arteries down to the South.
(1) A20 Limoges/Toulouse/Carcassonne
(2) A75 over the Massif Central. Clermand Ferrand/Millau/Beziers
(3) A6/A7 down the Rhone Soane Valley
Not actually too far South but Lac d'Orient would fit your criteria
I’d second the suggestion of Millau; there are several sites along the river, including a Huttopia, who do chalets, shepherd huts and the like. Also a nice little town, with a Southern vibe. Use SGThomas’ route 2.
Tbh, most of the great rivers of the south have campsites with beaches and tend to be dog friendly. If it has to be the Med, down on the plain is good wine territory;( temperature is likely to be in the mid 30s,) then I’d suggest Mèze on the shore of a lagoon. Not a beach as such, so local dog walkers use the foreshore. Mind where you step! They used to have a dog shower, but not been for a while.
If you want pre-erected accommodation, I suggest that you look at Eurocamp or one of the other, similar tour operators. They have available campsites all over France. Alternatively, campsite groups such as Huttopia provide ready accommodation.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 04/4/2024
Plus in July/August it will be too hot for your dog on the Med. It will be heaving as Dave says, plus I am not sure about dog rules on beaches, if they are anything like here it's a no go.
Dogs are a no go on 90% of the beaches in the summer, plus it is to hot for me then, the dog will suffer.
We're taking our girls (a cocker and a retriever) to France for first time this year. Just started making appts for the boosters, rabies etc as some are quite time sensitive. We have travelled to most areas of France (without them) We're travelling from Cheshire, so quite a long drive even before the tunnel too. We are towing though.
We are staying fairly north - Normandy and Brittany, as I think they would struggle further south at the end of Aug. There are lots of lovely rivers around the Ardeche area and have seen dogs swimming in there regularly. We stayed in Beynac a couple of yrs ago, the site had river access and dogs were in there often.
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
To be fair we only ever had two weeks as we were working. We took three weekends and the two weeks in between. Did an overnight on the Friday night near Folkestone, tunnel early Saturday then stopped overnight in a budget hotel near Dijon and were onsite by Sunday early afternoon. Left on the Friday, one overnight up near Lac D’Orient and we were on the tunnel Saturday lunchtime, home for bedtime and Sunday to unpack. Was long driving days, but kids had dvds and so on and we shared the driving.
We liked areas with lots of wild river swimming, so Ardeche, Provence, or alternatively Dordogne, which we’ve done from home one one (very) long drive before.
Travelling with a dog, I understand, adds a complication around the vet visit on the way back, so needs to be factored in. Dordogne is very doable for two weeks though.
Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 12/4/2024
To be fair we only ever had two weeks as we were working. We took three weekends and the two weeks in between. Did an overnight on the Friday night near Folkestone, tunnel early Saturday then stopped overnight in a budget hotel near Dijon and were onsite by Sunday early afternoon. Left on the Friday, one overnight up near Lac D’Orient and we were on the tunnel Saturday lunchtime, home for bedtime and Sunday to unpack. Was long driving days, but kids had dvds and so on and we shared the driving.
We liked areas with lots of wild river swimming, so Ardeche, Provence, or alternatively Dordogne, which we’ve done from home one one (very) long drive before.
Travelling with a dog, I understand, adds a complication around the vet visit on the way back, so needs to be factored in. Dordogne is very doable for two weeks though.
Agree, we are off to the Dordogne in August, just over 2 weeks. Sail Wed night sail back on saturday 2 weeks 3 days later. Done it for the last few years.
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
I have done this trip several times, and, yes! I have done the trip and stayed for 2 weeks.
I sail first thing Saturday morning(landing at approx' 9am in Calais), I drive all day(until about 5pm, overnight in Macon and then drive until about 3 pm when I arrive at my destination (Esterelle Campsite, in San Raphael/Frejus).
I go in mid July, the dog has been, and contrary to popular belief, dogs actually survive and thrive in the SoF.
The only thing that I can say is that it's not "fairly hot" it is very hot. If you like hot, then wait until you pass through Lyon and stop for a break!! You know you're on hols then!!
Traffic has never been an issue really, certainly no worse than the UK.
If you go on a weekend most lorries are off the road due to a more expensive toll(To avoid congestion).
Get on the the first autoroute, cruise control on, and you won't touch your brakes for 200miles(Honestly).
French services (Aires) are unbelievably better than our services(In the main)
Let your sat nav guide you, don't be tempted for scenic non motorway routes, it'll take forever, and the French love a roundabout
The South of France is gorgeous. Do the trip, two weeks is fine.. It's an adventure.
P.s I tow my caravan there, just for clarification.
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: Camping South of France
via mobile 04/4/2024 at 9:24am
