Loire Valley

[Chicken Chaser]

I'm looking at the Loire next week with the camper, wife and 3 year old. As there may be other PHers who have camped in the area before, I wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I'm going for a fortnight so not sure how many bases it's good to make use of to see the area and get plenty from the holiday.

[Chicken Chaser]

Domaine de la breche is one of them I've looked at

https://www.camping-castels.co.uk/mobile/en/campin...

[Chicken Chaser]

Thanks for the replies, we dont actually travel until a week on Sunday so Le Mans will be finished by the time we board the ferry!

We are travelling Hull-Zeebrugge as originally intended to visit the East, with hindsight I'd have booked Portsmouth!

[Chicken Chaser]

Think we will stay at Domaine de la breche and then head for La Rochelle or one of the sites on the coast recommended above. I'm looking for somewhere to head towards for a few nights on the way back so that we are a bit closer to Zeebrugge. I was tempted with Normandy beaches (last year we did the Somme on the return from the Alps) but its still a bit of a trek back to Belgium and looks to be a slower route. I might have to just head back a bit further up Loire towards Orleans and accept a 4hr+ drive back.

[Chicken Chaser]

shatter said:

I can definitely +1 the recommendation for Il de Re and we also spent the summer before last in La Tranche sur Mer. Make sure you have a bike for Il de Re, it is easily the best way to get around the island especially as it is pan flat. La Tranche has much more going on as beach resort and you would certainly be able to keep a 3 year old entertained. The two are only an hour or so's drive apart you could always do both We stayed at Chateau des Marais on the way down in the Loire, it broke the journey up perfectly for me from Yorkshire to the Vendee

Where did you stay at La Tranche Sur Mer? Looking at heading for the coast midway through the trip now and a recommendation would be great.

[Chicken Chaser]

Tada, we also made it to Saumur today, rattled past Le Mans around 4pm after an all day trip across from Zebrugge. No fun at 34 deg without air con though! We are stopping at Domaine de la breche which is a fair bit further out of town but has some good pools, nice restaurant and the site is nicely laid out. Looks like we are in for a few hot days. Plans to be busy look like they're out of the window.

[Chicken Chaser]

Rosscow said:

Get yourself over to Robert & Marcel for a cellar tour, lovely and cool down there! It's at Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg, not far from you.

https://www.robertetmarcel.com/en/

Also, in the campsite shop they have a great little wine cave (it's at the back on the right). Try some of the Robert & Marcel sparkling red (Mousseux Rouge)

https://www.robertetmarcel.com/en/shop/plaisirs-qu...

Get it nice and cold and it goes down lovely in the evening!

Will do just that Ross! Too hot for tramping about today, did a 24 mile cycle this morning just to scope out the surrounding and now playing in the pool with the young CC. Great site and a lovely area.

[Chicken Chaser]

feef said:

For future reference I can recommend La Grande Tortue campsite: http://www.la-grande-tortue.com/

I might spend some time there on the way back from la Rochelle or tranche sur mer if we don't go into Normandy

[Chicken Chaser]

We were heading west to the Vendee but looked at the forecast and saw low 20s which isnt that warm for lying on a beach. Decided to stay longer in Loire. Moved site yesterday and now staying near Amboise in a Yelloh! Site at Mesland. Its a big site a bit out of the way with great facilities. Does seem to be one of those sites which is a favourite for kids though as theres an entertainment programme for them through the day. Stopping until Thursday when we head North near Caen.

[Chicken Chaser]

Go to DDLB definitely. It was that Yelloh! one, and unless you like it rowdy and Dutch I'd probably say not bother. DDLB is excellent.