France First Time Region Recommendations
Planning a three week trip to France from 10th Sep. Will arrive in Cherbourg.
What are we looking for? We are travelling on our own without any kids so we dont need the sites that are geared up for entertaining children. We like a site that is perhaps close to a village or town to walk in to for drinks or food. We like mountains and walking with our dogs.We are not beach people - too much sand on them LOL but we would go to a coastal site for some of the stay if it was particularly nice.
We like cycling ( not up hills ).
We would like better weather than UK so are happy to head further south in France but thats not a deal breaker
We like serviced sites with water and waste.
Having never been in France we dont know the difference between the regions but are googling frantically.
Any advice or tips to get us going would be good
Comments
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I suggest you head down to the Dordogne, around Sarlat. Not many French people left there! Plenty to do and hundreds of sites to choose from.
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I would say that in September you don't (absolutely don't) need to make your mind up in advance, or even book anything at all. I would highlight a few regions that you fancy, and then when you arrive in France (and during your booked stay at Haliotis) have a look at the weather forecasts, and head in the direction of any region you fancy with the best weather.
I would say the Dordogne is hilly rather than mountainous - and as you suspect there are a lot of British, Belgians, Dutch and Germans living there. The Lot is similar but just a bit further south. We like the Ardeche region, the Gorges du Tarn, the Massif Central, and the Drome - all are further south and they have bigger hills than the Dordogne and one or two mountains, but all those regions are good for walking. You can also cycle along the flattter river valleys or find some 'Voie Verte' (Cycle route - and there are some cracking ones). If you don't speak French use Google Translate to read web pages.
All the areas I've posted links to have fantastic river valleys, low and high walking routes, lovely old villages, atmospheric markets, and give you a real taste of France.
I'm sure once you've picked a region you will find a site (or sites) to suit you. In September some sites may be closed - France closes early - but there will still be plenty open. You realy really really won't need to book in advance. I know this is repeating myself, but there isn't a need - and anyway would you be wanting to sit for two weeks whilst it rained at your booked site at Camping Tres Belle in Region X, when Camping Even More Tres Belle in Region Y enjoyed two weeks of sunshine and has an empty pitch just waiting for you?
You may find an ACSI card useful - it will give you discounts on a lot of sites - but the website is also an easy way to see a lot of sites without any further searching, and you can look all the sites in a region you fancy.
You may also want to download Archie's Camping, which is a website from where you can download POI's to help you find more than 33,000 campsites throughout Europe.
All the bold and underlined are clickable links.
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Good suggestions from ValDa. You will be travelling well out of season so don't book anywhere and check the sites book to make sure any site you fancy is open. Re. the Dordogne, I just meant that it is very popular with the English and many live there, however, not speaking the language makes everything more fun.
There are so many places to go that it is difficult to make specific recommendations but if weather is important then you may wish to head south - Ardeche, Provence etc. I would avoid the Med. as many places will be closed and it tends to have an out of season feel. You can do what we do, flick through the ACSI iPad Ap. and just find a site that you like the sound of. It gives closing dates.
Twin axles are generally not a problem in France, particularly out of season.
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We have just come back from the French alps near Chamonix south east of Geneva and you can't get more mountainous than that. Wonderful scenery.
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This was Brantome north of Sarlat a couple of years ago in June where they were having a British week-end. We stayed a couple of nights quite entertaining. Excellent weather walked into town from campsite. There was also a barrier/card operated Aire on the other side of the town. Enjoy your planning.
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If the weather is still good in September an exploration tour around Brittany is attractive - historic towns, pretty villages, cultural festivals, seafood, cider, gardens, cliff walks, chateaux. local markets, and all that. Think Devon and Cornwall without the crowds or the expensive car parks.
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Our first trip to France was in 2000 and we found ourselves in exactly the same situation you now find yourself in and we had the same thoughts/concerns.
We only went for 2 weeks so chose an area and a site to head for. That site and area was in the Dordogne just outside of Sarlat. Since then we have travelled all over France but the Dordogne is our favourite area.
All posts on here give good advice. Remeber that sites in France close up for the season a lot earlier than in the UK so find a site and check it is open.
We, like others have never booked a site anywhere, we have been in May, June and September.
Just do what we did and go ahead and enjoy it
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This seems to be an issue that some people say is an issue and others say they have no problems with.
Anybody travel regularly with a twin axle to France?? - whats your experience?
Is it only a problem at busy times? We will be travelling in Sep
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We took a twin axle to France for four years and I used to email ahead to anywhere I thought I might want to stay to check that they took twin axles. In that time two or three didn't bother to reply but the others were happy to take us out of the main season. I understand that municipal sites don't take twins because of their 'traveller' connections.
Eventually we changed back to a single axle and that decision was partly based on finding it easier in France to pitch a single axle as sometimes the pitches are smaller or the access to them is. That was despite having a motor mover.
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Yes the ACSI book does show the sites where twin axle caravans are permitted also lengths are in there. Key to facilities provided by each site is inside front cover. Don’t know how common those sites are or about the app or searching on line. Good luck.
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The ACSI app lists what outfits are accepted - caravans, Motorhome, length limitations etc. Some specifically mention twin axle, others don't state.
We stayed on a municipal this year where there were twin axle tourers and also travellers so there is no universal rule. I think that you would be unlucky to be barred entry in off-season.
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If the OP doesn't mind now that he has lots of good info I would like to ask ET where would he recommend in Brittany.
We are going Plymouth to Roscoff at the end of August. We like sites rather than Aires but would use one if it was somewhere we couldn't get a site.
We haven't been to Brittany as a destination before so would appreciate some advice. We like coastal views, good easy cycling, quaint towns/villages. Is there any must see places you would recommend, likewise is there anywhere we should not bother spending time. Many thanks for any info received.
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Many years ago we stayed somewhere near Guerand which is a nice town and a good base for visiting La Baule, Quimperle, Concarneau etc.
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I used to live in France (Languedoc). The thing to learn - or perhaps know - about France is that the further south you go the more relaxed life is! Going on 10 Sep for 3 weeks I would certainly aim to go south of the Loire to give yourselves a fair chance of good weather. In the wine areas the grape harvest will be in full swing always a fascinating time. Why not look at the Champagne area (yes I know it is not south of the Loire!), there are plenty of cycle routes and lovely villages,. Then head south to areas that have already been covered or the mountains but there is always a risk with the weather in the Alps - look at Provence maybe cycle up Ventoux!!! Or my old stomping ground near Cessenon sur Orb plenty of cycling opportunities there.. Follow the weather, don't book and have a great time.
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Tammygirl, we stayed on a site right on the beach on Douarnenez Bay and visited lots of places around and also visited a bit further south near Sarzeau. Some of the pictures in my blog may be of interest to you.
https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/france-2012-brittany-and-beyond-2/
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Tammy, I know the PLACES we like in Brittany - the immediate coast near Roscoff ,St Pol de Leon and Carantec when you land, the north coast headlands and beaches between Erquy, Cap Frehel and Dinard, the Finistere headlands and beaches beyond Crozon and Camaret, the historic towns of Dinan, Quimper,Auray and Vannes- but choosing SITES for motorhomers is a puzzle. We have a car and we drive to beaches, restaurants and markets and honestly don't think I could manage with a Motorhome at all. But ValDa will give you my e.mail address if you are taking a motor scooter and want possibilities. Regards to you.
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We're in the Vendée saint julien des landes at the moment brilliant weather in 30s the site has large pitches (la Guyonnière) with a large lake nearby ideal for my 2 labradors they're loving it and good for walking.one point to mention is that a lot of French sites only allow 1 dog so you'll have to do some research hope this helps.
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Many thanks to those who have given me some ideas of places we might like to visit, much appreciated.
Longtimecaravanner, thanks I will look at your blog for ideas.
ET, we are not taking the scooter this time as OH has got a problem with his shoulder and is finding it difficult to managed it with the 2 of us on it. We have traveled without it before so will adapt to doing things different. We will have the ebikes with us so can cover a fair distance on them but I'm not keen on busy main roads so tend to use the cycle ways where possible. I will get the map and sites book out and look at the places you and others have mentioned worth a visit, I'm sure we will be able to work out a tour now we have some ideas. Once again many thanks for your help.
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TG we did a tour to the south west of Brittany this year. We had intended to go to Roscoff but the weather was too good an opportunity to not tour some of the coast of Normandie so we ran out of time and never got there. The record of the trip I wrote with photos can be viewed >here<. It might give you a better picture of some of the places mentioned and offer some not so far mentioned. (Click on the photos to enlarge)
peedee
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Interesting visual record. I'm puzzled why you would trek all the way to Dover rather than doing Poole/Cherbourg or from Portsmouth being around 40 minutes either way. Are you a bad sailor?
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