Message Forums

Our second trip to France (and it was back in 1982!!!) we stayed at Chateau du Boisson and liked it a lot.  Even at that time it was on split levels, with some pitches at the top near the Chateau, and others on a paddock at the bottom.  It's in a nice area, almost in the middle of a village down to the other side from the paddock, and there are some lovely walks from the site.   About four years ago we went back to have another look as it's in an area we like a lot.  It still looks good and I understand the toilet facilities were about to be upgraded, certainly in the top section.  The bottom section toilets were, we thought, in need of upgrading too.  The restaurant is much bigger now, and the pool is now much larger than it was, and there's also an indoor pool.  When we were there it was just a small round pool.  It's quite a 'protected' site, and we were stopped in our wanderings by security guards - nothing unpleasant, but just mentioned - and not what you usually find when looking around a site! 

If your children are small then it may be OK - but it's not a teenagers site.  The river nearby, the Ceze, is quite tame, and would be suitable for small children perhaps.

Soleil Vivarais at Sampzon is adjacent to the Ardeche itself - we've not looked around it, but have passed it lots of times, having spent many holidays in the Ardeche region, both with our sons as they grew up, and on our own in recent years.  There look to be some nice riverside pitches, and always lots of people in the river.  It appears to be quite a lively site - but that maybe a wrong impression.  Sampzon is near the Rocher du Sampzon - walk up if you can, but do it on a cool day, it's higher than it looks - nice little cafe at the top though, and lovely panoramic views.  You're nearish to Ruoms, but not walking distance.

There are so many good sites in the Ardeche area that really it's hard to choose one - and we've stayed at several and looked around several more - but our favourite when our sons were with us was L'Ardechois at Vallon (although the pool there is smallish too).  We liked the position, being walking distance into Vallon, and just up-river from the Pont D'Arc, with direct access to the river adjacent to some (small) rapids.  Our sons spent more time in the river than in the pool.  Our favourite activity was body-boarding (on those polystyrene boards) in the rapids, or down to the Pont d'Arc where neighbours on site would pick us up and bring us back.  L'Ardechois also has night security - with regular dog patrols - but not, as far as I am aware, during the daylight hours.  Just down the road from L'Ardechois the Gorges de l'Ardeche start - but in the Ibie river valley there are some excellent small climbs, and the campsite organised walks up to that area when we stayed there.  Vieux Vallon is just opposite too, and worth a walk up to for the view.

We still go down to the beaches above and below the Pont d'Arc to 'play' in the river with our inflatable canoe!

PS - Afterthought - have you looked on Zoover for reviews - usually mostly Dutch, but with translation you can get the gist of what they're saying.

I've read recently that six years olds are not allowed on the Ardeche, but we went years ago when our son was that age - and have a lovely photograph of him as still a little blond thing, gripping his paddle tight!   However, my older and wiser mum's head (18 years later) now thinks 'Why did I let him do such a dangerous thing at that age?' - especially since we witnessed a drowning just below the Pont d'Arc a couple of years ago!  Certainly when we've been on the rocks at Charlemagne recently (2009) we've seen some quite small children - and OH rescued a little girl who had gone into the water, when she was separated from her dad who was washed up on the opposite bank.  We've been back many times, and both my sons have done the full descent and bivouac on the banks in more recent years.   After typing this I had a look at the website of the company we always used (L'Arche de Noe) and they state children have to be over 7.

Lots of people at L'Ardechois had those cheap yellow inflatables, and we had bodyboards - would that do him?  If you took him down to the rocks first he might not actually want to risk his chances!  My sons certainly enjoyed just messing about in the river, on their body boards, through the small rapids near the site!

I think there are lots of tour operators at Soleil Vivarais - they have some of the prime riverside pitches - so should be plenty of British children there.  We always met lots of British families at L'Ardechois too, and I think Eurocamp and Canvas still have tents there.

Thank you very much. I'm afraid the little guy has his heart set on a canoe trip but maybe we will do a daytrip to a quieter river and maybe use an inflatable from the site. I can't chose which site, so I might let the kids do so!

By the way, any idea of the best beach to travel to from Sommieres!

Thanks for all the help!

We like the beach at Grau du Roi - which is probably also the nearest.  Head for the Port de Pecheurs for free parking, and then walk down through the port, across the bridge (which turns to allow boats through) and then down either the left bank of the river past all the restaurants and shops or the quieter right bank.  There are beaches at the end of both - with showers where you can wash sand off afterwards.  The beach to the left is broader and shallower sea, the beach to the right is narrower and shelves more.  It's quite a touristy little town, but also still a working fishing port.

Talking to OH he says Will (our youngest) was just six, but we didn't have to prove his age, so we just said he was seven!  He was tall for his age, and a confident swimmer, and that trip was fine, no-one went in.  However, a couple of years later David and Will's canoe overturned and they came out at quite a nasty point in the river (hence the mention in another post of the rescue by a Naturist Dutch camper!). 

If you're careful about the day, and the river level, when you go - and your son is a confident swimmer, then you'll probably both enjoy it. The mini-descent (enough for a six year old) is great.

An alternative is the Tarn - a bit more sedate, but still challenging in parts.  You can canoe down from Les Vignes, back to any of the campsites along the way.  Mind you, that opens up a lot more campsites to be perused over, and all their advantages and disadvantages weighed up - so perhaps for another year!!!!! 

I'd suggest you have a look at Google maps (or perhaps you have a SatNav) - as though it's very straightforward once you've done it once, the roundabouts are just a bit 'baffling'!

Hope you enjoy it - the Hotel du Grand Sud (on the left as you walk down through the shops) does a very good value 'Menu' at lunch and dinner - but do dress up a bit if you decide to eat there!!  The Maitre d' is a bit officious and will choose to let in those who are wearing long trousers, but not anyone in shorts (for instance).  If you can get in to the covered area by the river it's lovely.