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Topic: Taking tent abroad first time

warbis66

07/11/2011 at 10:02pm
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Sungari 600 Icarus 600 with canopies!

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Hi all

I am a regular on here, travelled to europe on many ocassions but always ready tents or, ok i admit the ocassional mobile home!

Next June we are going to take our own tent to France as i have not got around to booking any of the Canvas bargains breaks! Will use tesco for Chunnel but i need to know how far i can realistically get in one week, how much time i need to allow from getting off the very to pitch up etc etc

I quite fancy Lake D'Orient as we are going to have to stick to East side as not prepared to drive 9 hours. If we go here can we do the Chunnel, drive and pitch up in one day?

All advice very gratefully received.

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France Lover

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OliverDay

07/11/2011 at 10:15pm
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You will be able to get to Lake D'Orient easily, but this does depend what time you get the Train.

We normally take the 6:50 train and can get to Beaune pitch the cabin part of the TT and be sitting at a restaurant by 7pm.

When we only had a tent, before towing, the furthest we got was Annecy and the Dordogne (two drivers, different years!).

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Ollie

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Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup

alan29

07/11/2011 at 10:28pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Swift Freestyle 520 on seasonal pitch

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Beaune in a day is very do-able. We get off the ferry at Zeebrugge at about 10-00 am, and are setting up by about 5 -ish.

Cleef15

07/11/2011 at 10:48pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Sunncamp tent

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The Loire is achievable in a day if you are not towing. We always get the early train usually 6-7am. Stop somewhere in France for breakfast and lunch and then get to the Loire (Saumur) by about 5-6pm.

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franbee

08/11/2011 at 10:18am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan

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One thing I can add, is to know how long it takes you to pitch your tent. If it's a new set up, have a night at a local site before you go abroad, to practise. If it takes no more than half an hour, like we used to, then you can travel for longer. If you need a couple of hours to set up, then won't want to go as far.

warbis66

08/11/2011 at 12:54pm
Location: Bristol
Outfit: Sungari 600 Icarus 600 with canopies!

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We are dab hands at putting up etc, camp loads here, just never bothered to take it abroad as have enjoyed using ready tents etc

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France Lover

Viscount Bisquet

08/11/2011 at 2:46pm
Location: Bath
Outfit: Khyam Petworth & Excelsior XXL

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Don't necessarily rule out the Canvas option yet. In the weeks leading up to last May's half term Canvas reduced their ready erected tent prices down to same price as offered in the pre-30 September promotion e.g around £74 for a week in Spain.

Personally we catch the Tunnel and then drive through to the early hours then snatch a few hours sleep before setting off at day break. It means we reach northern Spain or southern France around lunchtime either with our own tent or in pre-erected.

Coming back we set off at breakfast and have an overnight (or two nights at same site) ) en route. Arriving back Sunday evening. This means you can actually manage 9 nights away rather than a standard 7.

Obviously, it depends on your attitude towards and aptitude for a long drive, but it can be done.

Just a word of caution on Lac de Orient - many, if not the majority of the pitches there are amongst the worst I have ever seen for drainage with deep standing water lasting for days after rain. Not brilliant in a tent!

VB

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