Hardstandings in France
being spoilt by the caravan club, I would like to know if anyone knows of any sites in France, big or small, that have hardstandings. Tia
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I have stayed at probably 150 plus campsites in France over the years and my experience is that very few have hardstandings as we would recognised them. There are a few out there but they are in a minority in my view. Where are you heading?
David
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As the weather is warmer the ground is naturally firmer. In fact, as you go further South there is not much grass on the pitches and they are often stony and compacted so they are naturally hard standings. It is also very common to have hedges and bushes around each “emplacement” so, overall, the camping experience is often superior to UK sites - that’s why it’s so popular.
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We are looking at heading to the South West in November but nowhere specific yet. We have been to France several times, but even in September have been pitched by on muddy sites, on one occasion in the Gorge Du Tarn even been asked to stay on the road it was that wet!!
just wondered if there were some sites who had more firm pitches.
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Based on our extensive experience of a single month in France earlier this year
travelling down to the Dordogne, across to Provence, back up via Ardeche & Auvergne, I agree with earlier comments, the majority were firm grass. One or two were grass over a stony base, eg at Vernon. We had deluges from thunder storms in a few places, and the further South we were, the quicker it drained. Even the site at Montolieu, (if I've remembered the spelling), within reach of Carcassonne, which was the soggiest, drained reasonably fast, though the sandy mud on top clung to everything.November might be different, of course....!
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We have toured in France a few times now but are not veterans. The only site I have seen with soggy pitches was Le Lac in Bordeaux. Their emphasis is on their chalets so I can't see that changing. Every other site we have visited have had some combination of surfaces but nothing like the granite rocks of UK sites. You can usuaĺly pick your own pitch so just take the one that you like.
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We have toured in France many times over 30 + years and I have no recollection of ever seeing a hardstanding similar to those on CMC sites. You may find roughish pitches not grass but not the stone type you have experienced. In the south of France towards the end of summer you will probably find that the ground is rock hard anyway. As said above it is not a problem and you are unlikely to get into difficulties. Don't even think about it, just go and enjoy.
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Here are a few campsites I have found with hardstandings:-
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_les_erables.html
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_la_fountaine_des_clercs.htm
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camp_municipal_chalons.htm
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_municipal_les_cent_vigne.html
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_de_vittel.html
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/chateau_camping_la_grange_fort.htm
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_d_Uzurat.html
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_la_vieille_ferme.htm
http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_du_pont_d.htm
It should be noted that none of the sites listed are 100% hardstanding and the surface won't always match what the Club has to offer. There are probably more sites that we have not used. Anyway I hope these help.
David
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Certainly there are some sites that can be boggy after heavy rain. We stay at one site near Beaune that has a mesh over some pitches. They soon dry out though.
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In 40 years I have found no sites anywhere in Europe with anything which resemble Club hardstanding gravel chipping pitches. That's why we go !
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Good job we are all different and the problems start on forums when we can't respect other people's right to be different.
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Since becoming motorhome owners we have become a bit more cautious of the sites we choose regarding pitch surface. If the weather is set fair, as it often is in France, grass pitches are fine. Even the odd day of rain is not a problem. However if you get prolonged wet weather, as we seem to have had during our most recent trips, then with a motorhome that can lead to all sorts of problems. The most Caravan Club looking site I have been on is the old Municipal at Chalons with its rows of hardstandings! Obviously with a caravan these problems don't really manifest themselves. Just to put the record straight I don't set out to look for sites with hard surfaces but if its a choice between two sites with no other difference I would be inclined to go for the solid surface.
David
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As has been said, many French campsites are totally unlike UK Club sites in their having less spartan layouts with hedging and tree cover. Some of the best pitches available for you to choose will be those not having a line-of-sight for a satellite connection! Here's an example.
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Lovely picture.
I must say that one of the charms of France is the unstructured nature of many of the sites, especially the municipals. So different from the serried ranks of concrete slabs which make up most of the CC sites.
eg this: the municipal at Les Ormes where we were a couple of weeks ago. For several nights we were the only people on the site.
Beautiful place on the banks of the Vienne, €11 a night, short cycle ride to boulangerie and restaurant with excellent 4 course lunch for €12.80. Bliss.
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