Ideas for a tour of the West Coast of France to Royan from St Malo
Does anyone have a list of sites or an itenary for a tour of France, with convenient breaks over 14nights starting and finishing at St Malo with a caravan and a pair of inexperienced travellers in France. We would wish to go down the West coast no further than Royan. Any help, however small would be most appreciated.
Many Thanks Dave and Chris Bassford
Novice Tourers of France !
Best Answers
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We spent an enjoyable few days around Carnac in 2023, taking in the standing stones. Lots of sites very close to stones and the seafront. We stayed at:-
Campsite 3★ Carnac with swimming pool | 500m from Men-dû beach
The Ile d'Re is well worth a spending some time on and great for cycling. We stayed at:-
Camping Camp du Soleil - CLICOCHIC à Ars-en-Ré, Poitou Charentes
We tried the quieter Il d'Oleron this year but did not it enjoy it as much.
If coming back "inland" you could try The Loire area. We favour around Amboise, east of Tours. Favourite site:-
Colin
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Thank you so much for your detailed and very informative ideas for our adventure into 'Western' France. Your advice about not travelling too much is one we will certainly be very aware of nos. Again thank you so much for your time,wisdom and help towards our holiday this year in France.
Best wishes
Dave and Chris
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Dave and Chris, Towns..StMalo, Rennes, Nantes, Rochefort and La Rochelle will all eat into your fortnight.
islands.. Re or Oleron , if you wish - but with limited time you will have to choose.
Coast ..perhaps the mainland stretch between La Rochelle and Royan.
Sites …well my taste might not be yours - so not knowing whether you come from Club sites or CLs I hesitate. But a few miles north of Royan I myself would go to Camping Jardin pres de l’Ocean at Les Mathes
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have only done one trip over to France, but would highly recommend the Castels chain of campsites, we stayed at two last year and they would lovely!
Very quintessentially French and think most it not all at set in the ground of small chateaus.
le brevedent was the site in Normandy we stayed at
https://www.les-castels.co.ukYou can book all their sites via the club.
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You are probably starting to realise you are spoilt for choice. You are going to enjoy your trip.
Colin
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I have no idea of what you want to do or any hobbies you may have so it's a bit difficult recommending an itenary for strangers but…
If I only had 14 nights then I would not want to spend too long hauling a caravan around so would split it into a maximum of 3x4night stops. Amboise, as mentioned above, is a wonderful French town to explore on the Loire. Then head to the coast, either to one of the islands mentioned or visit the Marais Poitevin, just inland from La Rochelle. An area of canals(not our sort but ones to explore in kayaks or canoes slowly), and greenery. You could always visit La Rochelle, a port with a nice harbour or nip across to Ile de Ré. The seafood from the market stalls in St.Martin on the Ile will astound you if you are just used to our supermarket fare. Then head north stopping around Vannes on the south coast of Brittany. Another easily walkable small pretty town. Brittany is a lot like Cornwall topologically and you could easily base a 14 day holiday circumnavigating the whole of Brittany.
My choices would be slightly different as I would base it around cycling, birdwatching, walking and food.
As it's your first time please note France is a lot bigger to get around than the UK. One other thing to note is that it is possible to arrive early at a lot of campsites but if arriving around lunchtime you may find you have a long wait. The French love their lunchtimes! Get to that restaurant early at 12 or miss out.
Enjoy your adventure.
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If you have a day left over you could always pitch up near St.Malo and maybe take a trip out to see Mont.St.Michel. If you don't fancy that St.Malo and its fortifications and centre make for a pleasant day or maybe Dinan. Here's a photo of the approach to Dinan town from the local campsite and a photo of the town itself.
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