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Paul - first I'd suggest you read the posting on this Forum (in the yellow 'pinned' section) on 'Advice for Continental First-Timers'.  It contains a lot of extremely useful information.

Secondly, when are you going?   There are low season discount schemes, such as www.campingcheque.co.uk, www.touringcheque.co.uk, www.campingcard.com, and www.vacancesoleil.co.uk - who all offer pitches at betweeen £9.00 (Vacances Soleil) to 15 euros (ACSI) - for two people, electricity, pitch, and tent or caravan with awning, and one dog!  It's worth having a quick look at the websites, and searching from the map then having a quick look at what the sites offer to see if there's anything you fancy.

The Alan Rogers guide used to be the bible as far as Camping and Caravanning in France was concerned, with objective reviews of a wide variety of sites.  However recently some have noticed that it's tended towards the bigger sites, and reviews are perhaps a bit 'rose-tinted'.  Simple guides are the Michelin campsite guide - unfortunately all in French - but does give a wide variety of types of site, or have a look at www.campingfrance.com which gives brief details of all 11,000 sites.  You have a huge choice of sites - from the smallest 'A la Ferme' in an orchard somewhere, to four star all-singing, all-dancing sites.

I'm sure someone who knows more about the D Day beaches will be along with some recommendations - and I hope you have a great holiday.  France is a lovely place to camp (although prices have gone up this year because of the fall in value of the pound) - and almost everyone who goes, goes back again and again.

Hi Paul - it will be our first time camping in France this August too.

We are overnighting near Calais after a Dover - Dunkerque crossing on Norfolk lines (by far the cheapest crossing with 'sensible' time) and have booked Le Cormoran in Sainte Mere Eglise (not sure of my spelling but they claim to be the first town liberated i think) for 7 nights - they accept Camping Cheques from 23rd August and were happy to take my booking without deposit. They are very close to many of the beaches and museums etc and we are intending to visit the War graves at Douvres as my great uncle is buried there.

The site seems very family orientated so may not be your think unless you have children with you, but that aside the reviews are good, the facilities as shown on the web site look great and the email customer service i have received so far from Melanie has been 1st class.

I hope you have a fantastic time.

Here you go - Normandy Campsites - from the UK campsites list. The town website for Arromanches les Bains is particularly good and has two very good webcams.

Arromanches is quite centrally placed for touring around Pegasus Bridge at Benouville is 20 approx to the east and Saint Mere Eglis is approx 40 miles to the West. This would enable you to see all the invasion beaches with ease.

My recommendations are Castel Camping Chateau Martrigny near Bayuex. Its between Caen and Bayeux with great access to Gold, Juno and Sword beaches where the British and Commonwealth forces ( including my grandfather) landed.

You are close to Bayeux tapestry ( get there early before the coaches arrive) and the British cemetry at Bayeux. Also Pegasus Bridge (uncle won the DSO there).

A short drive away ( within a hour or so) are the American beaches and St Mare Eglise.

A good site near Le Mont Saint Michel ( again get there early) is Camping Mont saint Michel in a small village called Courtles i think its called about 3 miles or so east.

There will be plenty of people making suggestions but most sites are pretty good. We are heading for Scotland this year in an attempt to save a bit of cash but no doubt will head back to France next year.

Have fun

A quick question - what is the weather like in Normandy during August?

i've been told by people on this forum and friends family etc that it will be pretty much as per the south coast of England. A lot of people have said to expect rain like in the UK but its likely to be a degree or two warmer.