Having camped in France and Holland always on grass pitches. Now pretty much all of those pitches were a mud square with a bit of grass around the edgss where awnings etc have been pitched. Now to my question, why don't sites in Europe (France and Holland in our experience) have some pitches that are hardstandings? Is it a planning thing, an environmental thing? I've always wondered. Surely a well maintained hardstanding is better than a square of dusty mud?
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May 18, Delftse Hout, Delft
Aug 18, Le Logis du Breuil, Royan
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Not stayed on too many formal campsites in France (we mostly stay on pop up temporary camp sites at a motor race meeting - now some of those WOULD give you cause for complaint!!!! - talk about take the wee wee, they put you on a bog, when it rains your tent is in the middle of a lake under a foot or more of water!!!!), but between what we've stayed on and what we've potentially looked at, it seems to be nice grass pitch for tents or MH/caravans, and quite decent HS for MH/caravans who want it, maybe say that the HS is entire pitch, so no grass for awning/sitting out, and being France, each pitch is demarked by substantial hedging.
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The future of campsites in France appears to be more & more mobile homes every year. They are not going to spend money improving touring pitches. In Holland much the same. Developments of bungalow parks appear to be the future.
Quote: Originally posted by Swifty560 on 13/6/2025
The future of campsites in France appears to be more & more mobile homes every year. They are not going to spend money improving touring pitches. In Holland much the same. Developments of bungalow parks appear to be the future.
Very much the case in the part of the Dordogne where we live. At least half a dozen independent sites taken over by chains and cabins ot whatever we might call them have increased rapidly. Attributed to covid as most people appear to want self contained accommodation and hotels appear to be struggling- the biggest near us is on third new owner since we moved out here 7 years ago.
Huge increase in campervans as well although many appear to prefer aires which nearly every village provides as well as quieter car parks and similar eg in our local village a patch of land behind the petrol station opposite the Carrefour contact supermarket.
Dear God, for a not a pessimistic or depressive person, hope that has a very negative implication!!!! I LOVE my caravan! Hope this is not a view of the future!!!!!
Post last edited on 13/06/2025 22:17:23
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Drove up the A20 from the Dordogne to the Loire on Wednesday for a short break based on the Garden Festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire. Cant remember passing a single towed caravan or seeing one heading south on opposite carriageway. Loads of campervans.
Going back to Dordogne on Sunday - will see if there's any difference,
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 13/6/2025
Drove up the A20 from the Dordogne to the Loire on Wednesday for a short break based on the Garden Festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire. Cant remember passing a single towed caravan or seeing one heading south on opposite carriageway. Loads of campervans.
Going back to Dordogne on Sunday - will see if there's any difference,
Most of the caravans I saw when I went to the minervois last week were Dutch, although aFrench outfit did arrive on site.
going by what I see going to Limoges( 2 or 3 times a week) it is mostly motorhomes.
We are quite happy with pitches as they are. It's fairly rare in the summer to get much rain in the parts of France we visit - or seems to be - and the mud isn't so different from a hard standing anyway. Having said that, we prefer grass pitches in the UK and don't really like hard standings.
I get the impression (via FB) that people with motorhomes prefer aires because they are cheap - they don't want to spend money on a campsite when they don't have to. I have seen some aires which are nothing better than a car park. Not the way I would want to spend my holiday!
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Back to the original post, we come across quite a few hardstandings in France usually mixed in with grass pitches. A few weeks ago we were at the municipal site in Rennes ( a lovely site ) and all of their MH pitches with EHU were hardstandings.
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Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 14/6/2025
Campsites that are open all year often have hardstandings that are useful in the winter, and can protect the grass pitches.
That's what had happened to Salisbury C&CC where I usually camp over Easter.
They had turned quite a few of their grass pitches for tents into hardstanding pitches and then open their site all year round.
Salisbury city centre is accessible via a pram walk, i.e. suitable for prams , and it takes me 45min to walk at my pace with the dog.
It makes sense for the site to open all year round. However, I am a tad sad to see the number of grass pitches had significantly decreased.
I prefer to pitch on a hardstanding pitch myself as I don't like soggy and muddy grass pitches when it is wet.
DK
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Topic: Hardstanding in Europe
via mobile 13/6/2025 at 4:31pm
, and it takes me 45min to walk at my pace with the dog.
