Lake Annecy, any tips or suggestions

Tammygirl
Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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We are currently in the Provence  (Orange) thinking of moving on to Annecy next week. We've not been to the area before so would welcome some suggestions on sites and places to visit. There seems to be lots of sites to choose from but where should we base ourselves? Where is good to cycle, off main roads is preferred but I don't  mind doing bits on roads to reach a cycle path route. Any suggestions would be welcome, thanks.

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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #2

    TG

    Do you want to be on the Lake or further out? We have stayed here a couple of times but it's more out in the mountains at Le Grand-Bornand which is gateway to a few ski resorts and also access to high level walking. For cycling you would probably be better nearer to the Lake.

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,390 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #3

    There is a cycleway all round the lake and like David says if you want easy access to it best to stay near it. Have a lookCamping Europa at Camping Europa. A rear gate provides access to the cycleway and it is centrally located along the eastern lakeside.

    peedee

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited May 2017 #4

    Don't stay on the small Aire at Annecy as it is a concrete box with a drive over waste point...OK to park for the day though if there is room and empty/fill up.

     

    We drove further round the lake and stopped at the first campsite we found. In June 2015 there were only two other campers on site....which seems to be normal at that time of the year.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5

    Thanks DK, think we would prefer to be on the lake we are more cyclists than walkers.

    peedee,  that looks about right for what we are after.

    EJB986,   thanks for the warning but we won't  be using Aires on this trip as we have the scooter and trailer with us as well as the bikes so campsites for the whole trip. 

    We've  enjoyed scooting around this area so time for a bit of cycling smile

  • anothersunrise
    anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264
    edited May 2017 #6

    We have stayed at Camping Europa too. There is a gate at the back of the site for the cycle track. You can cycle all the way to Annacy on cycle paths from there, it took us about 40 mins.  You can also cycle in the other direction on the same path to the other end of the lake.  

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,390 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #7

    Camping Europa is of course on the western shores of the lake, not the eastern side which I stated above. Got my visualisation wrong.embarassed

    There is another good site, Le Lac Bleu but it is right at the southern end of the lake so much further from Annecy. It is right on the lake side whereas Europa is not. Not too far away from either site are the lake's ferry terminals but we found in the early part of the season the service was not that frequent.

    peedee

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #8

    Frankly Tammy, any of the ones along the western side of the lake will do at this time of year, but in summer it's manic. I would just park at the gates and walk in and have a look. 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,390 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #9

    True TG but you may also want to consider which ones offer the ACSI discount, Europa does.

    peedee

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #10

    Thanks guys, glad to hear it won't  be to busy at this time of year. It's coming up to the 2 week holiday where lots of Germans go away so was a little concerned of how busy it would be. So far every site we've  been on has been quiet for most of the week, a little busier at the weekends as you would expect. Weather is forecast  to be in the 30's for the next week for most of Eastern/Southern   France so hoping up at Annecy we should have a bit of breeze to keep it nice.