Joined: 19/10/2004 Diamond Member
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No, here I am. Val de Cantobre is lovely, and my sons enjoyed it very much there. We've been lots of times over the years since 1981, our first visit, and became friends with the owners BUT it is quite remote. It's perhaps two or three miles into the nearest village (Nant) - for basic shopping and some small bars and restaurants. To do a supermarket shop you need to drive into Millau, either across the Causse (the quickest way) or along the valley - scenic but takes for ever. The scenery is stunning - with views up the valley to the 'perched' village of Cantobre. The site has great facilities, a good restaurant and take-away (where you can sit down and eat your take-away at the same price), a nice bar, and in recent years the pool has been extended and now has waterslides. The river at the bottom of the site is not as good as it once was, following a 'fall out' with the farming family on the other side. When we first went the river banks were open to everyone, with a 'beach' area, the kids used to dam up the river, and there was a day to undam later in the year once the fish had finished spawning. Now access is restricted to one small area on the campsite side and it's not really a river that you could swim in now. There are beaver just up the river, by the old village of Cantobre, definitely worth a visit
We were last there in 2007 just before Clare and Francois sold the site - and it's now owned by RCN, a dutch company. I suppose we liked the fact that we were always made very welcome and really felt like old friends when we went back - and in fact we still meet up with Clare occasionally.
We've more recently taken to Les Peupliers, too - having discovered it just as an overnight stop on our way south one year. We love it there - and as you'll see, I recommend it to everyone. It's right alongside the Tarn river, ideal for messing about in - with good canoeing directly from the site, and plenty of places to swim either up or down river. You an also wade across the river and explore the pebble beaches, and banks on the other side. The site is small enough to be friendly, with big enough pitches, the sanitary facilities are up to date and kept very clean, the pool is small with one small waterslide (variable opening hours), the bar is friendly, the restaurant basic - BUT you're walking distance into Riviere sur Tarn, with a boulangerie, boucherie, fruit shop, and a couple of small bar/restaurants. However, the bread at Les Peupliers is just THE BEST we've had - crusty, and with a lovely fresh-milled smell. You're also a much easier drive into the spectacular scenery of the Tarn Gorge, and the gorges of the Jonte (a must visit is the vulture viewing area) - and also the Dourbie where Val de Cantobre is situated - you just go 'over the top' from Le Rozier, towards Roque St Marguerite. You're also much nearer to Millau for a big shop, filling up with petrol, and so on.
I suppose we're probably reluctant to go back to Val de Cantobre now, as it may break the magic we've always felt about the place, now that Clare and Francois are not there any more - although according to reviews it's just as good as ever.
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