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Hi there, we are avid UK campers.. but after an awful experience of Hurricane Bill last year we have decided to camp in France for the first time!! I am appealing to all you lovely expert campers for some sound advice

We kind of have an idea what we are after, but i am worried that it is a little too enthusiastic..unless i can get the right advice..so here goes..

Our children are  5yrs & 4 yrs, but are used to travelling long distances in the car. We would like to go for 2 weeks. A coastal site would be great and good weather, maybe fairly large and perhaps another fairly large site that has plenty of interesting things to see and do.I am not fussed on whether we go coastal first or not , but i would like the 1st site to be the farthest away and the 2nd back in the direction of Calais(we are crossing via Eurotunnel). Also we are travelling in the school holidays....eeeeeek!!

Many thanks. Claire

We have travelled to the Dordogne, Normandy and Landes region, all for their own reasons. If it is the weather you are looking for then the further south you go the better it gets, although you need to expect the odd thunderstorm!

The beaches around the Atlantique region are fantastic but with young children you have to be careful of the sea, the waves can become rather large. About 40-50km south of Bordeaux there is a series of lakes which a number of campsites are on the shores with clean sandy beaches and safeish water. Be warned the 'better' equipped campsites can be rather expensive, in school hols (UK) they can reach over £35 per night. If you wish to mix more with the French then look at the Municipal sites. These are run by the local Mayor and are much cheaper and generally clean and well kept, although you do get the odd bad one. One I have stayed on is Camping Le Lac at Sanguinet. It is vertially on the shore of a lake, picturesque village with attractions for young children. See the link below.

http://www.campeole.co.uk/LieuHebergement.aspx?lihe_id=340&culture=en-GB

Cheers

John

Hi Claire.

            We have been going to Southern France since 1962, and in all that time have never seen rain!, we nearly always go July, and up untill this year have been on sites at Antibes (Biot), Frejus and Argeles sur Mer to name but a few, my favourite spot always the Cote d Azur, this year though we went to the Southern Ardeche for the first time, same climate as the Med, but lots cheaper, not as busy, and around 400 miles less driving not to mention the saving on tolls, so of course we are going back again July 2010, as we travel from the NorthWest UK, we always like to do two overnights in France each way, using the budget hotels, F1, B&B and new to us for 2010 "Premiere Classe" hotels, my rule of thumb is draw a line accross France just below Lyon, and anywhere South of that line is almost guaranteed to give you wall to wall sunshine during the summer months, just go for it and enjoy, hope that helps. 

Hi Teeny.

             http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=8430

blueexp97 on here has done a review of the site, we like it because it is small but perfectly formed, also the village of Val Les Bains is less than a mile walk from the gates, and from there you can get the bus to the main town of Aubenas 3km down the road, for 1Euro return!, great if you fancy a day without the car, it is also a ACSI site at 15Euro per night c/w electric out of season.

Andy.

Hi Teeny.

             Definate yes for pooch's, the Dutch family next to us, also in a tent had a little mut with them, totally cute little thing, that seemed to have control of the whole family, so well behaved, the dog was as well!. also no problem with the river, in fact as the river runs right past the site, thier are signs to advise against folk bathing, just a case of the site covering themselves, of course every man and his dog was in the river with inflatables etc!.

Andy.

Thankyou very much for all of the advice given..i have got lots of exciting plans now, and just need to put them into action!! Which is all part of the excitement of camping! Happy New year to you all and may 2010 be a wonderful year for enjoying the great outdoors!!

Kind regards,Claire.

Stating the obvious but there are two sides to the Pyrenees - when it's raining on the French side it's usually sunny on the Spanish side (except when there's low cloud over everything!) so if you pick the right spot(s) you can easily find reasonable weather most of the year.  The same goes for sights, restos &c .... move a few miles and you have different scenery, food and culture. 

I prefer the Pyrenees to (for instance) the Alps - less extreme landscape but more easily managed - and friendly people too!

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........- we are starting off at the Pyrenees in a 3 week holiday and I'm looking for options on where to go next.  Because we are taking a chance weather wise at the Pyrenees I want to be almost guaranteed good weather for the rest of the holiday -..........

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