La Rochelle area help.
The wife and I are looking at the above area for the first 2 to 3 weeks of September and it's not an area we have been to before so does anyone have any sites which you can recommend please ? Idealy a quite ish site but a pool and bar/restaurant would be handy and we would prefer to be near a town/village, many thanks.
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You might wish to consider crossing over the toll bridge to Île de Ré from La Rochelle. We spent a glorious week there early one September but be careful to check that any sites you plan to visit are open because many close early September. The site we stayed at was closing the day that we left.
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If you stay on the mainland this site might be worth considering. You can walk into town along the prom. http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_l_ocean.html
David
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We were down that way last year in September - on the mainland near La Palmyre about an hour south of La Rochelle.
On a high quality, well regarded campsite with 130 pitches there were about 125 of them empty. We paid discounted ACSI rates but the site shop was closed and so was the bar restaurant. The open air site swimming pool was open but we weren't tempted because it looked as though the heating was off. Other sites in the immediate area were either just as quiet or had closed already.. Our favourite restaurant by the beach was closed too but we did manage find one other. The season was well and truly over, the resort was closing down, and the solitude was profound.
The suggestions you have had already in Chatellaillon or over on the island may well be livelier and better at that time of year.
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There's always the zoo at La Palmyre or does that close too? I've only ever been there in July.
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Thanks for the replies folks so far I must say we are a little put off now by the thought of staying on a near deserted site and might need a re think although we can't change the dates as I have booked leave at work so might need a different destination but we preferred somewhere within a 2 day drive of Bristol but maybe we should head further South.
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We found La Pamyre deserted in September but I don't think for a minute that the Ile de Re will be deserted - it's a very popular island.
But for me the suggestion from David Klyne is the one worth following up - because you have public transport from there to get you into La Rochelle, and an easy drive to the historic naval base at Rochefort, and another nearby visit to Fouras and then a boat ride out to the Ile d'Aix which was Napoleon's hideout after Waterloo. He was hoping for a ship to escape to America but the Royal Navy picked him up and brought him into Plymouth before shipping him off to St Helena.
There's a lot to see in that area. Please don't let me put you off.
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île de Ré definitely won't be deserted, it's always popular...
you could always stay on the island and use the bus (or car) to visit La Rochelle, great place to eat on the harbour side...
plenty of places to eat on Re with La Flotte a pretty harbour town and St Martin a World Heritage site....loads of beaches, great restaurants and miles of easy cycling..
..like many other posters, we love it...
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We were in the area September last year and certainly didn't find it deserted, not full by any means but not empty either.
IMO it depends on the weather if its nice warm and sunny then folk will linger, if its wet and cold they will move further South. We have spend a couple of weeks on Ill de Re in September (the toll reduces about the 12th) the sites were certainly busy that year as the weather was good (wasn't it BB)
Last year first 2 weeks in September the weather was windy with rain showers so we didn't hang about and headed South where it was lovely at 26c however some of the sites even on the Med were closing up mid September. Enough were open but busy we got the last pitch on a site near Agde.
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Ile de Re sounds just the ticket then so maybe a week there and move on somewhere else, I noticed the club have a new site there Huttopia ile de Re does anyone know what it's like ? Cheers all.
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That site was previously called Les Chardons Bleus and the older reviews are under that name. The big Huttopia company has taken it over and has made improvements, but I haven't seen any reviews since then. You can make a booking directly with Huttopia, or the Club will make a booking for you. I haven't checked the prices either of those companies will charge you, but with an ACSI card you will pay €17 a night in September ( about £15)
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Depending on where you are coming from I could recommend a stay in Anger, the site is called Lac de Maine, it has a pool and restaurant free wifi good facilities and the pitches are a good size. We always try to have a stop over there for a few days. It is next to a big country style park on the banks of the river, Anger itself has a lovely Chateau, lots of off road cycling for miles. If you were to stay there before going to Ill de Re then you would get the drop in bridge toll which takes effect middle of September, always worth saving a few €'s
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when staying in La Flotte, we had a cycle round this site, it's great, right on the sea with some pitches having a great sea location...
road a bit narrow to get to (they all are there...) but easy access to St Marie and on to La Flotte/St Martin by bike...
another ACSI site is LeTour des Prises nr LaCouarde which we tried after recommendations from Tammygirl and Deleted User User, very nice and well placed...for either end of the island...
i mentioned the bus to La Rochelle, if you're feeling energetic you can cycle back over the bridge (for free) and drop down into the main town, lovely ride...
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Not sure on port of entry yet but it'll be western side somewhere so might have a few days in Brittany before heading down.
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I’m not sure if this will be helpful, but...
Quite a few years ago, we stayed at a campsite in Royan, which is not too far (south) from La Rochelle. We sailed from Poole (?) to Cherbourg where we had an overnight stop. Setting off the next day at around 9am, we didn’t get to Royan until around 7pm. We had a couple of stops, and I didn’t rush, but was a very tiring drive. Since you’ve mentioned a stay in Brittany, may I suggest you pick a site somewhere a reasonable distance down to save the long onward drive.
Cheers...Freddy 👍
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if you do decide to reach the Royan area, I have stayed in Vaux sur Mer, St Palais sur Mer and St Georges de Didonne thoroughly recommended....lovely area...
coming from Avon (does that still exist?...) I can recommend the Poole Cherbourg crossing, too...
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Thanks for all the replies all very helpful.
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Hi J&S, if you decide to do the Poole/Cherbourg route the ferry leaves at 0830 each morning, but you can park up the night before in the terminal near the coffee shack, it will cost you £5 if the shack is open. It wont be open in the evening when you arrive, but opens at 6am. A lot of peole dont bother to pay. We stayed there going out in Feb and coming back last week. There was at least 6/7 other units parked up with us.
BillC
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That's very handy to know if we decide on the Poole option, thanks.
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the Poole ferry returns from Cherbourg at 6:30 ish (from memory) in the evening, so it is definitely doable from Ré in a day.
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