France west coast site recommendations please!

[Jonboy_t]

We’re off on our jollies at the beginning of July, ferry booke to st.malo and then back from Caen two or three weeks later (booked for two but can maybe extend to three if work and funds allow before May!). We’re looking for places within a 3, maybe 4, hour drive from st.malo initially and then somewhere else to move to midway through that’ll be about the same distant From Caen for coming home.

It’ll be two of us and our lad who will be nearly 5, we’ll have bikes for us and a tag-along thing for him, so looking for somewhere that;

- ideally has a pool (he’s not a fan of the sea...yet!), although this isn’t a deal breaker,
- in or near a nice town for ride outs during the day
- maybe a few places local enough that we can get out to on bikes during the days.

We’ll be in our T2 van, so will have a vehicle to use if there’s something a little further afield, but I hate packing the damn thing up so the closer to places, the better IMO!!

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[Simes205]

Try and get down a bit further than Brittany to the Il de Re
.
St Malo
Rennes
Nantes
La Rochelle

Then the Il de Re.

I think we’ve camped there 3 times in the last 14 years. Go for La Couarde which is in the middle of the island.
Take bikes!

Arcachon if you fancy another 2/3 hours.

My folks live near Caen, it’s about 5/6 hours from il de Re, but worth the extra drive.

Edited by Simes205 on Monday 26th March 23:43

[MG Mark]

Have a look at Noirmoutier and Fougeres - both great places that we have enjoyed that should fit the bill.

[Jonboy_t]

Cheers chaps

We were looking at Noirmotier but kind of put off by the apparent lack of things to do there other than the beach. Will have another look at it though, as well as the other suggestions, thank you

[Bill]

Carnac is great. We stay in the camping des Menhirs iirc. There's a nice front, market, tidal island and some cycling to Trinity Sur mer where there's a harbour.

We've been to the Isle de Re loads. It's criss-crossed with cycle tracks, there's a lighthouse or two, Napoleonic forts, donkeys, forests, beaches, salt harvesting, oysters etc etc and it is stunningly pretty. The municipal campsite in St Martin is basic but great, but no pool, or there's a load of others to choose from.

[feef]

The public site in Saintes in the Charente is very good. Right on the river and in walking distance to the town center without being loud.

http://www.camping-saintes-17.com/en/home/


Also enjoyed staying at La Grande Tortue in the Loire, not far from Blois

http://www.la-grande-tortue.com/en/

[smifffymoto]

If it were me,I would head down to Arcachon,Biscarosse or a site next to Pyla(the sand dune). The whole area is cyclable with a network of well maintained cycle paths.

[Antony Moxey]

Bill said:

Carnac is great.

Have to disagree with that, sorry. Went there years ago when my lad was just crawling (he turns 20 this year) and it was fantastic. Unspoilt, friendly, hardly any Brits (a real bonus) and clean empty beaches. When through for an overnighter two or three years ago and what a difference - shirtless lads in Union Jack shorts everywhere, litter, everyone speaking English, couldn't wait to leave. What a shame.

[Antony Moxey]

Jonboy_t said:

Cheers chaps

We were looking at Noirmotier but kind of put off by the apparent lack of things to do there other than the beach. Will have another look at it though, as well as the other suggestions, thank you

Don't be, it's superb, not least of all the approach road that's underwater (by a good few feet) when the tide's in, it's a mile or two long too so great fun going over that as the tide's dropping. There are a number of sites on the island, the town centre is pretty and a nice place to wander round and there are a number of marked cycle routes - you should be able to get maps at your campsite - of varying lengths to explore the island. We were there for five nights, admittedly with grown up children, on a site literally a couple of yards from a beach and it was a real shame to leave.

[Bill]

Really??

[Antony Moxey]

Bill said:

Really??

Yes, sadly. We were really, really disappointed as we were looking forward to passing through as it was one of the first foreign trips we'd taken the children to 18 or so years earlier when they were tiny. Wouldn't ever go back there again.

[shatter]

I can't recommend enough Il de Re, we have been camping in France for 4 years now and always said we would always try somewhere new each time but for us its a great place to holiday we are going back for our second week of a two week break at the end of August. I haven't decided what to do in the first week yet but the Loire Valley is a distinct possibility.

The fact that so many French people go is a pretty good barometer, if you take your bikes you can get virtually everywhere it's as flat as a pancake. The towns are all very nice and have bars and restaurants that were child friendly when we were there, I think our lad was 5 the when we were there last.

Il d'Oleron is very similar if a touch cheaper and a bit scruffier but basically the same thing. Make sure you take a boat trip to have a look at Fort Boyard, I couldn't see Melinda Messenger but maybe you will have better luck!

The resorts on the Vendee coast are places we have stayed in previous years both on their own, and as stop before going onto the Islands places like La Tranche sur Mer and Les Sables d'Olonne have plenty going on and there are loads of sites around them to choose from virtually all had pools from memory.

Edited by shatter on Tuesday 27th March 14:37

[Bill]

Antony Moxey said:

Yes, sadly. We were really, really disappointed as we were looking forward to passing through as it was one of the first foreign trips we'd taken the children to 18 or so years earlier when they were tiny. Wouldn't ever go back there again.

That's a shame. We last went 4 years ago and it had got busier but was still mainly French people.

[Antony Moxey]

Nantes is also worth a visit, we stayed at a site (https://www.nantes-camping.fr/en/) that had a tram stop right outside the entrance that took you direct to the city centre. Once there check out the giant mechanical animals (https://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/en/discover/the-grand-elephant/) as well as the surrounding architecture.

I think on the camp website are also details of the Puy du Fou (http://www.puydufou.com/en) which is utterly superb. The Roman Coliseum was a particular favourite for my kids, plus you can wild camp too with disposal and fill up points for motorhomes/campers.

Finally just outside of Nantes - I think it’s called Atlantique or Atlantis Village or something like that - is a pretty decent sized shopping complex with a Decathlon the size of your average Ikea.

[Bill]

Ha, yes, Puy du Fou is mental!

[Kneetrembler]

Antony Moxey said:

Have to disagree with that, sorry. Went there years ago when my lad was just crawling (he turns 20 this year) and it was fantastic. Unspoilt, friendly, hardly any Brits (a real bonus) and clean empty beaches. When through for an overnighter two or three years ago and what a difference - shirtless lads in Union Jack shorts everywhere, litter, everyone speaking English, couldn't wait to leave. What a shame.

Quite agree

[mike9009]

We are doing a similar trip in our 1982 T25 this summer. Sailing to and from St Malo, and have a couple of campsites down near Les Sables d'Olonne and St Jean de Monts. So I cannot recommend them yet...... - but the area (Vendee) is great having been there for many times over the last 20 years.

Others have recommended Ile de Re and Ile de Oleron - both are great - but we deemed it a little too far for our two kids (5 and 9) to travel in a 36 year old, air cooled, noisy, hot vehicle!

A stop off in the Loire is also worthwhile - particular favourites are Saumur and Angers.

Last year we stayed near St Mere Eglise - fairly close to Caen (within one hour in a quicker vehicle). The site we stayed at was right on the coast on the Normandy beaches. Great flat cycling country, along the coast. The site was family friendly, indoor/ outdoor swimming pools, bouncy castles, goats, play park, pedal go-karts, 20 yds from the quietest, most expansive sandy beach you can imagine. Campsite was called CAMPING LE CORMORAN.

Enjoy!


Mike

Edit : just saw you are doing this trip in a T2 camper! So you will have the same issues we will have. After four hours driving last year our throats were sore from shouting and ears humming! I am currently sound insulating our van - at least in the cab area!! I reckon it will take about four hours from St Malo to St Jean de Monts in our 2.0L CU (at least that is what I told the wife)

Edited by mike9009 on Tuesday 27th March 22:27

[Chicken Chaser]

Watching this with interest as I havent decided whether or not to visit France this year, but if I do then the Brittany and Vendee is on the radar. I either go West coast or Eastern border!

[Antony Moxey]

Last time in France we had a week or so in Noirmoutier, this summer we’re flitting about between Angers (first site has its own vineyard!) and La Rochelle. Got four sites booked, each one staying for three nights. Can’t wait!

[Jonboy_t]

Cheers for the replies . There’s lots to choose from, will have a look at all of them over the weeekend but liking the look of Ile de Re especially!

Mike - we will be in the van! I’m in the middle of rewiring it so am redoing all the insulation while it’s stripped out. Not sure it’ll make enough of a difference, but the bigger stereo and speakers might help! Some Queen turned up to 11 will drown out the screaming 4 year old...