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Hi all

We are very keen to take the van down to Loire in the summer ( first time in France)and are considering taking the gran kiddie aged 4 with us

Would the drive down from Dieppe prove ok with him in one hit or would an overnight stop be sensible and if so any suggestions as to where

We are loking to fo to Site de Fierbois

Thanks in advance 

The route planning site, Viamichelin.com gives the route as 364 kilometres, with a driving time of around 6 hours from Dieppe to St Catherine de Fierbois.  

I suppose if you arrive early morning then it would be a fairly easy day's towing, but if you've an afternoon arrival time, and want to be on site in time to set up fully and not immediately be rushed into making an evening meal, or bedtime for the little one, then it would make sense to stay overnight somewhere.  I always think it's nice to arrive on site no later than 3.00 pm - so you can set up, then sit and relax.  The following morning you then feel as if you've already been there for a day!

Again, overnight suggestions would depend on your ferry arrival time.  If you're travelling with Transmanche Ferries from a quick look at the timetable, it looks like your choice of arrival time would be at 2.30 in the afternoon, or 3.30 in the morning!  Not ideal times to get to Fierbois the same day. 

Cheers all

Thinking back to when ours where young that overnight stop on the way may be a good idea now, perhaps Rouen - have always fancied a visit to  the cathedral 

matt 

The advice I've learnt from this forum is aim for about 250 miles in a day, if you have a long way to go if you get further then it's a bonus otherwise you're stressing the whole time to make sure you get somewhere by a certian time when you have kids, they still need feeding and bedtime!

It's doable in a day from Dieppe but you don't say what time you are planning on getting the ferry, if you got a very early ferry yep you could do it ok with time for lunch and a few wee stops on the way!  

The only thing I will warn you about and I've noticed it more now my son is 4, he has what we call a "Funny five minutes" when we arrive at a site after being in the car all day, he gets a bit excited, hyperactive and naughty. Can't blame him as he's been so good in the car all day (although he did start the "Are we there yet" last year) so we always try and stay on a campsite with a pool (if it's an overnight) and I'll take him off for a swim whilst the other half gets on with setting up or I take him for a walk round and find the park. You just have to plan something in that focuses some time on them and tires them out ready for bed!