What makes an ideal site?
Having read and enjoyed David Klyne's latest blog, I started thinking about one of the comments he made about still waiting to find his ideal site in the South of France.
In over 50 years of camping and caravanning we have visited hundreds of sites in most countries of Europe, although our great love is France - after Britain of course! My wife and I then started to discuss the sites in France that were particularly enjoyable
and how our priorities have changed over the years; for example how we now avoid sites with 'animation' for children whereas once we would have sought them out. This led to an attempt to describe our ideal site and this is what we came up with:
1. Small(ish) quiet sites with reasonably-sized pitches and the option of sun or shade.
2. Within walking distance of a (picturesque) town with shopping facilties. A weekly market would be a bonus.
3. Clean, well maintained toilet facilities.
4. Good walks off site with a stream or lake for the dog to cool off in.
5. Interesting places (within striking distance) to visit on the days when the weather is not so good.
6. Friendly, helpful wardens and (hopefully) fellow caravanners preferably not dominated by any nationality unless they're French.
We can think of several sites that satisfy nearly all of these criteria, such as the Municipal at Chaillac and La Filature at Ebreuil, but we can't think of one that meets them all.
How does our 'ideal' match up with other members' ideas? What would you add or omit? Do you know of a site that could qualify?
All contributions gratefully received!