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Happy New Year all

We are just beginning to plan our first camping trip abroad for August 2011.

We're decided that a journey back from the Dordogne to Kent might be a bit tiring to complete in one day (with no excitement to fuel us on the way back!!) so we're thinking of staying overnight somewhere between Dordogne and Calais (via Rouen).

Could anyone recommend any good places to stop off overnight? We are complete novices when it comes to camping abroad, so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks all

Wendy

Happy New Year to you.

You didn't say whether you intend to pitch your tent for the overnight stop or not. If you do want to use the tent you may want to consider leaving the Dordogne by joining the A20 at Brive La Galliarde and heading north past Limoges towards Chateauroux and then take the exit towards Tours. A big advantage is that the A20 is toll free from Brive northwards. We have used a site at Loches - La Citidelle (website www.lacitadelle.com which is just under the walls of the medieval which is in easy walking distance and is very attractive. The other advantage is that you can probably make it from the Dordogne (depending where you are) in under 4 hours which, if you get a reasonably early start would allow you to pitch by early afternoon leaving time to explore Loches. Don't know when you are going but this is a campingcheque site so if you are out of season you can benefit from the cheaper rates (see www.campingcheque.co.uk )

Although this may leave you a longer drive next day (on toll motorways via Tours, Le Man to Rouen) it is a straightforward run.

If you don't want to pitch then perhaps consider a Premier Classe hotels of which there are quite a few. They are cheaper than Campanile hotels but are located next to them so you can use the restaurant in the Campanile if you choose.

Hope this helps,

John Stott