Campsite near La Rochelle

[JonP]

Hi All, I am hoping that i can obtain some advice regarding a campsite in the La Rochelle area / on the west coast... Looking at the map, in terms of driving time from Calais, i think that the La Rochelle area is just as accessible as some of the coastal area's of Brittany. As we hope to be treating the journey there and back as part of the holiday, and hope to be staying overnight in each direction near Calais, we dont feel too daunted by the 7 hour journey....
Having looked at the campsites in the C&CC Carefree brochure, we are put off by the highly commercialised sites, and cant see anything which looks suitable.. We are hoping to camp during the last two weeks in August this year..
Without wanting to sound too fussy, we are looking for the following

1) A site we can book in advance, as we feel more relaxed know that we have a pitch reserved
2) We have a 7.5 metre twin axle caravan, so somewhere with fairly decent access without having tu push the van too much after a long drive
3) Walking distance to a beach as we all like surfing / kayaking
4) somewhere fairly close to a decent sized town in case the weather isnt great and we need something to do
5) Decent shower and toilet facilities as we dont use the toilet / shower in the van unless we can help it
6) we dont particularly want a swimming pool with a big slide and water features, although a small pool would be ok

As this is the first time we have camped in France, any suggestions/ help would be much appreciated.... Thanks all

 

[ValA.]

La Rochelle is one of the most popular destinations on that coast, and sites near the coast, particularly those with direct access to beaches, are generally larger and more commercialised. However, it's possible to book most sites on line, so instead of looking at the C&CC brochure, have a look at a site which does campsite reviews and information, such as http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/county.asp?region=France where you will find information about all types of campsite, from the smallest 'ten pitches in an orchard' to all the large commercial sites. Then you can use the campsite's own website to enquire about booking. Here is a smaller site near La Rochelle, http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7421. Although it says Caravan Club members only, it isn't and accepts normal commercial bookings (friends have stayed there)!
Have a look at the Eurocampings website, too, which gives a lot of site information: http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/france/poitou-charentes/charente-maritime/. I think you can use a form on line to reserve pitches.
Although it's away from your main choice of town, and probably a bit bigger thand you want, you could also look at l'Estuaire, at St Thomas de Chonac on the Gironde, their website http://www.lestuaire.com/fra.html. This takes Camping Cheque (http://www.campingcheque.co.uk/france/poitou-charentes/l-estuaire-c868.htmlhttp://www.campingcheque.co.uk) all season, so a pitch for two adults, car and caravan, awning, and electricity will cost just £13.95 per night - and the site does 14 nights for 12 Camping Cheques. There are other Camping Cheque sites in the area,, but not with such long acceptance dates. You can email the site to reserve a pitch - although sites accepting Camping Cheques will usually have free pitches during the period they are accepted. You can see the reviews by clicking the 'hand symbol on the campsite information page.
Believe it or not, the last two weeks in August will see sites quieten down considerably - once all the French families go home around the 15th/16th August, and before the 'older generation' arrive in September! You may find 'peace' even on the busiest high season site.
One thing I would say, as it's your first time in France and you intend to use the site facilities, many French campsite toilets are very different in style to English ones. They are designed without seats, to be easier to clean, and are not just toilets with seats missing, as many people think. Many French toilet blocks also don't supply toilet paper, so take individual pocket size packs of tissues (or carry a toilet roll if you don't mind joining in all the others carrying theirs)! We once saw Dave Gilmour, from Pink Flloyd, carrying his roll across a campsite in the Loire!!!
It's not an area we've visited in our thirty-one years of camping and caravanning in France, so I can't help with personal site recommendations unfortunately - sorry - as we like wild inland France rather than beaches.

 

[JonP]

Thank you very much for the advice Val, much appreciated - I'll have a look when i get home this evening

looking at the list of requirements, anyone would think we are fussy or something !!! Maybe, instead of the PC magazine including a booklet with the magazine detailing touring parks in the UK, they could get together with UK Campsite website or Alan Rogers to produce a country by country European guide.. that would probably be useful for those people who arent members of one of the major clubs....

 

[Gafferbill]

Hi Jon P....... I have visited the Charente Maritime many times stretching over 30 years.
Since you say this is your first time camping in France........then I would recommend you split the journey.
Your route is around 430 miles with a pack up at Calais and a set up at your destination.....that would be a tall order........it could be done but why?
I would recommend a stop at Angers... which is a lovely town on the Loire ....maybe for more than 1 night
I have stayed here at this great site in a parkland setting:-
http://www.camping-angers.fr/en/lac-de-maine-campground-tents-bungalows-mobile-homes-caravans-and-rvs-p10.html

Down near La Rochelle I have stayed at these two great sites.
http://www.campingocean17.com/
http://www.campings-fouras.com/campsite-le-cadoret-fouras.php

Other points to note.......
3rd week in August the sites will still be busy with French holiday makers and during your 2nd week they will be less than half full.
Ile d'Oleron has the best surfing as mainland beaches are too sheltered.
Many further campsites in the area &list4=279_e_fr_pc_17_Charente-Maritime%20%28La%20Roch.%29%20[17]&autres1=&autres2=&autres3=&autres4=&crit_empltentes=&crit_emplcarava=on&crit_campingcars=&crit_locations=&crit_animauxadmis=&crit_plage=&crit_piscine=&crit_animation=&crit_naturiste=&crit_siteweb=&dossier=&pref=Camping&prefurl=&postfurl=-camping&ordre=3&pagedappel=&debut=0]here

 

[JonP]

fantastic, thanks for the advice Gafferbill, i think you are probably right regarding the journey it might be better to break it up a bit more... Would i be right in guessing that Angers is around 300 miles from Calais ? My original idea was to leave Leighton Buzzard early on Saturday morning, get a mid morning crossing from Dover to Calais, and then hopefully be parked up on a campsite in Northern France by mid afternoon, have a rest on Sunday, and then set off again on monday morning, to go to La Rochelle in a day... maybe drive 3 hours in the morning and have a break for an hour or so at lunchtime, and then do the rest of the journey in the afternoon.. I was thinking that the journey to La Rochelle would be similar in terms of time to getting to North Devon, but its a bit of a guess, as i have no idea how busy the roads will be etc.. I suppose the last thing we want is to be stuck in traffic and arrive late, hot and stressed... I've heard that Angers is a nice town, so we could perhaps spend a day sightseeing to break up the journey... For the way home, is Le Mans en-route ? if so, do you know anywhere to stay around there ? That might add a bit of variety to the journey home...
Thanks for all your help, its nice to get feedback from people who have done it before..

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Jon
As you say this is your first time camping in France.it may be useful to bear in mind that on a journey such as you are proposing,some French filling stations close on Sundays and in my experience they are not as frequent as in England,also many other shops will not be open on Sundays.

 

[Gafferbill]

Hi Jon P....... I have only stayed at this site near Le Mans It is OK but nothing to shout about.
I stayed there just to visit the town of Le Mans and see the Motor Racing circuit and it's museum.
There is a very good restaurant or the river Sarthe just opposite this campsite's entrance .....very picturesque but quite expensive!

 

[ValA.]

Hi Jon
As you say this is your first time camping in France.it may be useful to bear in mind that on a journey such as you are proposing,some French filling stations close on Sundays and in my experience they are not as frequent as in England,also many other shops will not be open on Sundays.

All service areas on the autoroutes are open on a Sunday, as are most service areas on the main roads. Shops in towns and villages will be open Sunday morning - bread shops, butchers, flower shops, etc but supermarkets may not be - although in tourist areas they're often open until 12.00 noon! There are now an increasing number of 24/24 fuel stations, which will be open 'All Hours' but you have to have a credit card or debit card, with a large balance, to use them. The reason for the large balance is something to do with the pump taking what is effectively 'a deposit' of the maximum amount of fuel it delivers - and even if you only fill up with half the amount, until the transaction is completed by your bank your account may be debited with the maximum amount. In practice it's rarely a problem, but might be towards the end of the month, perhaps, when your current account balance may be quite low!

 

[Merlin53]

Having read the other posts, I would say that the advice given is excellent, We have been holidaying in this area in spring time till late June for the last 10 years.
Not to alarm you, I would advise that you check which ever campsites that you decide to stay on, so as to ensure that they accept twin axle caravans. Some sites are refusing entry to twin axle's due to the 'Traveller' problems associated with large groups of 'travellers'. (They call these 'traveller's van Quatros', and so as not to discrimate against the travellers, they refuse access to vans like yourself with twin axles).
I would go 'the exra mile' and ensure that you are not barred entry into your chosen sites.