Off Circuit Camping

[Jmracing66]

Hi All,

We are looking for a nice place to camp off the circuit for next year. We have had many years on the circuit and now fancy something a bit more civilised and quiet at night.

So the places I have seen are Chateau de Chanteloup and Chateau D'Eporce. Has anyone on here stayed at either ? I would like to stay somewhere that offers a bus shuttle service to the circuit.

Are there any other options apart from these two ?

Cheers,
james

[WhyTwo]

We've stayed at Chanteloup since 2000, it's a fantastic place! We usually drive into town on Friday and down to the track on Sunday for the finish of the race. Saturday we get a pre-booked mini bus from the chateau to town and a taxi back from outside the main entrance in the wee small hours. Works for us

[Cpt Stirling]

I've stayed at the latter for the 24 hour race; as a group package, if I remember correctly via Travel Destinations. It was basic camping in a field adjacent to the chateau, pitch and tent provided. Was only approx. ten pitches in total, mostly classic car owners. Showers/wash facilities/toilets on site in an outbuilding. Breakfast provided in the chateau. A bbq was put on for the Friday evening. It is a way from the circuit and yes, they provided a shuttle bus to/from. I found the experience quite functional. I remember travelling back home thinking I'd missed out by staying off circuit. Bonus was some of the Aston entourage were staying there too.

[SEE YA]

I stayed at Bounty off the track one year.
Nice site on the river bank.

Mini bus to the track.
Food ok veggie option not good.

Always my luck at every campsite.

[Jmracing66]

Thanks guys. I have visited Le Bounty a few years ago for a PH meet up there, it looked pretty good.

Canteloupe looks like a really nice site, but is a bit further from the track than Le bounty. How do you arrange a private minibus from there or do you just book a cab ?

Thanks

[SEE YA]

Jmracing66 said:

Thanks guys. I have visited Le Bounty a few years ago for a PH meet up there, it looked pretty good.

Canteloupe looks like a really nice site, but is a bit further from the track than Le bounty. How do you arrange a private minibus from there or do you just book a cab ?

Thanks

Hello at Bounty,they have mini bus running they let you know the times.
It's a free bus service.

[webby23]

One of the keys to keeping lovely, quiet campsites lovely and quiet is that the people who use them don't advertise where they are!!

Ours is 40 minutes from the circuit, but if I tell you where I'd have to kill you..........!!

[Herbie Hammer]

Camped with Le Mob at the latter one year for the Classic - really liked it. It is a bit away from the circuit though - we now use either Travel Destinations and Porsche Curves or SPeed Chills at Blue Sud - both excellent.

HH

[gdaybruce]

I've stayed at all three sites (Chanteloup, D'Eporce and Bounty) for both the main race and the Classic and would certainly recommend Chanteloup as my favourite. Yes, it's a little way out of town but there is a shuttle service provided and the facilities on site are first class, including resturant, bar, shop, swimming pool, table tennis, large screen TVs, etc. Camping pitches are well spread out with no sense of crowding and the showeres, loos, etc. are all up to scratch. Moreover, the host and his staff (aka the 'Dream Team') are so helpful and friendly, really welcoming to their Le Mans visitors. The entertainment includes a free Friday evening combined garden party and car show and a Sunday evening BBQ. In fact it feels like a holiday destination in its own right with the race a bonus on the side!

[Jmracing66]

gdaybruce said:

I've stayed at all three sites (Chanteloup, D'Eporce and Bounty) for both the main race and the Classic and would certainly recommend Chanteloup as my favourite. Yes, it's a little way out of town but there is a shuttle service provided

Thanks, this is the bit of info I was looking for....I didn't realise that Chanteloup ran a shuttle service. Do you remember roughly how often it runs and was there enough space on it for it to be useful ?

Thanks

[gdaybruce]

Jmracing66 said:

gdaybruce said:

I've stayed at all three sites (Chanteloup, D'Eporce and Bounty) for both the main race and the Classic and would certainly recommend Chanteloup as my favourite. Yes, it's a little way out of town but there is a shuttle service provided

Thanks, this is the bit of info I was looking for....I didn't realise that Chanteloup ran a shuttle service. Do you remember roughly how often it runs and was there enough space on it for it to be useful ?

Thanks

We didn't use the shuttle service ourselves (we were at the Classic last week) but from memory we were told it ran every 30 mins at a cost of 20 Euros (not sure if that was the return price but I guess so). Also, not sure if the 30 mins interval applies to the entire 24 hours!

[Bob Falfa]

Has anyone had experience of driving to and from the track when staying off-site? I've heard a couple of reports saying that the main entrance is jammed, and it takes hours to get in?

[SEE YA]

Bob Falfa said:

Has anyone had experience of driving to and from the track when staying off-site? I've heard a couple of reports saying that the main entrance is jammed, and it takes hours to get in?

Not worth the trouble,traffic and idiots around.I arrive Thursday park
up car moves again on Monday.

[DS240]

Bob Falfa said:

Has anyone had experience of driving to and from the track when staying off-site? I've heard a couple of reports saying that the main entrance is jammed, and it takes hours to get in?

I do it every year for the 24hrs.

It can be a nightmare, but you need to pick your access direction and car park carefully.

I approach from a village south of the circuit.

I have dual carriageway most of the way until jumping off to park in Expo. With a clear run it is 15mins from leaving the village to parking in Expo.

Only hold up can be the main roundabout on the approach. But it is all traffic going elsewhere, once past the roundabout the approach road to expo is clear. Outside the main rush for the start of the race it is totally clear though.

Then once in expo, it's a short stroll across the road through the main entrance.

I wouldn't do it any other way now. Certainly no camping at the circuit.

[OvalOwl]

I'm with DS on this. Come from a less popular direction and the worst of the snarls can be avoided. You need to be there reasonably early on Satdi morning but it's no great hassle with the car stocked with food to have a picnic in the carpark like the froggies do. Rouge and Expo are but a short stroll away from trackside.

Later in the day after the start and Sunday morning the traffic magically disappears. The one place to avoid all race seems to be going south from the main entrance. The temporary roundabout they put in by parking bleu seems to snarl it all up. If I go out to Mulsanne and Arnage corners I take the diversion to the D338 along the D304 as far as the turn for Ruaudin.

[WhyTwo]

Jmracing66 said:

Thanks, this is the bit of info I was looking for....I didn't realise that Chanteloup ran a shuttle service. Do you remember roughly how often it runs and was there enough space on it for it to be useful ?

Thanks

For the 24 hour you go into reception and book your taxi/mini bus for whatever time you want to leave to head to the track. Advice is to book it thurs/fri to make sure you get the time you want. We usually book for around 11:30 and get them to take us into town for lunch before enduring the nightmare that is the tram to the circuit. Costs about €20 each one way. We then get a return taxi from the cab rank outside the main entrance. Usually leave sometime between 1am and 7am. Never more than 20 mins wait

[Paul.B]

gdaybruce said:

. . . . . . . In fact it feels like a holiday destination in its own right with the race a bonus on the side!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ - This. We've been using Cantaloup since 2001 and this is why we return every time! To be honest it has been known for us to not even venture into the Circuit!
Race? What Race?

To spend 4,5 or 6 days just relaxing in the atmosphere of the place and venture out & about taking in the pre-race events and meets, let alone what is organised on the site is a strong enough pull to keep us returning. If we want racing we go late evening and watch through the night. By far the best time to soak up the true Le Mans experience. Easy parking and none of the crowds.

[Nobby Diesel]

WhyTwo said:

For the 24 hour you go into reception and book your taxi/mini bus for whatever time you want to leave to head to the track. Advice is to book it thurs/fri to make sure you get the time you want. We usually book for around 11:30 and get them to take us into town for lunch before enduring the nightmare that is the tram to the circuit. Costs about €20 each one way. We then get a return taxi from the cab rank outside the main entrance. Usually leave sometime between 1am and 7am. Never more than 20 mins wait

Mr WhyTwo,
Please don't mention this place, Chanteloup, ever again, on here.
It's an awful place. Nobody will like it. It's scruffy, dirty and full of undesirables.
The more it gets mentioned, the more people will experience the horrible conditions there.
For your own sakes, stay well clear.

[WhyTwo]

Sorry yes I'd forgotten how awful the place is. Avoid it at all costs. Horrible place. It's not the real Le Mans experience unless you're camping trackside. It's such a hassle getting in and out of the centre and to the circuit. Definitely don't book to stay at Chanteloup

[cmsapms]

We originally used the municipal site at Ecommoy - basic but perfectly adequate. Then we discovered Chanteloup and have used it for the last 12 years. It's got better and better!

As for getting in and out of the circuit, we tend to go in on the Friday mid morning, Saturday about midday for he start, Sunday morning about 02:30 (Arnage/Mulsanne) and then Sunday at about midday for the finish. We park in the green car park (Parking Vert) and rarely have much, if any, wait to get in. This year I'd say that over the three days we were waiting for no more than ten minutes in total. We've thought of using the shuttle, but driving in, out and around the circuit roads is part of the experience for us, especially at night. I shot a video of the Sunday 2016 drive in which will give you a good idea what it's like - Clicky.

As said above, you wouldn't like it, you really wouldn't - and neither would anyone else, including the regulars! :-)