Message Forums

Firstly you have chosen a great area for your holliday, although a bit further south than the area I go to.

Nottingham to Dover is about 4 hrs I always go A1 M11 & A2

Try using Michelin Maps for route planning they will also give you the toll cost as well.. Group 1 if your are solo or group2 with a trailer. Most main routes will send you via Paris and this can be a bit hectic bit it is easily avoided and cheaper by going via non toll motorways. Calais, Amien, Rouen, Evreux, Dreux and Chartres and excellent route which picks up the A10 near Orleans well south of Paris. The tolls are not cheap but the Dordogne is a long way from Calais, over 500 miles so with stops en route and traffic I would say allow more than 9 hours. . Remember you have two young children and you may require more stops. The autoroutes in France have far more services than in the UK. They are about every 12 miles. Some are full services like here others are just large picnic areas with just toilets. They are well signed on the autoroute, full have petrol signs, picnic areas have a table and fir tree sign.

 Half way will be around the Vierzon are but try giving your ferry times and dates of travel and we'll be able to give better info on overnight stops.

harryb

The site looks lovely - a bit like Le Paradis at St Leon sur Vezere was when we first went there thirty odd years ago!  We stayed quite near to Molieres, a couple of years ago, and thought it was lovely as it's a very pretty area and quiet.  The little village of Cadouin has some Son et Lumiere, centred around the Abbey, and lots of things going on, with some very good Sunday markets, and Beaumont was beautifully 'dressed up' with paper garlands throughout the village, and the main square was decorated everywhere with paper 'window boxes' and more garlands. There's a big market at Buisson, too, which is worth a visit.  It's really not that far to the 'madding crowd' attractions of the Dordogne, mentioned above, and we found that coming from south of the river it's actually easier to get to some of them than amongst busier traffic on the north side! 

If you do decide on the Dordogne, then there are plenty of budget hotels in all the major towns on the route.  You can get a family room which sleeps four in some of them and at that time of year it won't be that much more than an overnight campsite (and much less hassle with a tent!).   As has been said, the Abbeville, Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Vierzon, Limoges route is the most straight forward.  We left the autoroute A20, just south of Brive, and took the A89 for a couple of junctions, then headed down through Montignac and crossed the river south of Le Bugue.  It takes you right through the heart of Montignac (lovely place to stop for a coffee) and that too was decorated with paper garlands all across the streets and in the squares.

Now you've got me thinking about where we might go in May/June!

We did the Dordogne for the first time in 1981 - 31 years ago - when our eldest son was just six months old.  We stayed at Le Paradis, and the U shaped buildings on the site you've looked at just reminded me of Le Paradis!  We're still going back to France - every year for the past thirty-one years!  Both my sons loved their camping holidays - and they both camp in France still - with friends now, rather than with us!

It's a great holiday with kids, but it does make it easier staying in a hotel on the way.  The budget chains are a good option - the B&B chain sleep four - and they're usually situated in Centre Commercials where there are often places to get a reasonably priced meal - such as Flunch or supermarket cafeterias (which offer amazing value for money!)  They tend to have a 'Menu Enfant' which gives a starter, main and pudding, and a drink - very civilised usually!

Your children may like La Roque Cristophe - an enormous cliff face with cave dwellings, and nowadays an exhibition - when we went my sons could just climb about the place at will!  Les Eyzies is the centre for pre-history, but to be honest we thought it a bit over-rated.  There are other caves/grottoes/etc.  If you want to go further afield for a day trip then the Goufre de Padirac with an underground lake is spectacular - my son still remembers it!  There is (or was) a monkey forest very nearby - which they loved too!

I cant comment on the location, however we have bought a kyham screenhouse, which is basically a large day shelter. Thing is this goes up in about 10 mins. So the 2 kids blow up the air beds. the wife gets the overnight stuff ready and I put up the tent.I have managed to fit the tent inners from a Cabanon into the screenhouse. 15 mins all done. We can then drive until we have had enough and can pitch for about £15 for the night. there are plenty of spaces.

The beauty of this is the screenhouse becomes our cooking tent/storage/ keeping in the shade as well

Quote: Originally posted by Wakshane on 10/1/2012

---

We live near Notts and did it with two kids last year. We thought we could do it in one stretch and share the driving as we are both very hardy long commuters ....not a chance !We had some good advice from UKCS and we had an overnight - this meant it was all part of the holiday. We did Notts to the tunnel on a sunday morning for the midday tunnel (left about 8 am -plenty of time via M11) then drove via Paris ringroad (by mistake I add as we missed the turnoff just outside the tunnel but it was fine). Got to Chartres Novotel about 5pm - nice splash in the pool and a McDonalds (yes I know!) by the cathedral. Left at 9 am and had nice drive down to Le Paradis in Dordogne - arrived about 4pm. Plenty of stops and lots of places to buy bread, cheese etc. - I would be better prepared next year as if I have more picnic stuff to hand we can take advantage of the decent food in the petrol station garages - really! The ones that say 'Paul' are quite nice - we go to them in London and its proper French sandwiches etc. I would recommend the Novotel as a really nice way to start your trip - about 80 quid with breakfast.

On the way back we stayed in our tent in the Loire - campsite horrid but thats another story. Loire nice enough but nowhere near as nice as Dordogne and if you are into history its perfect. It was the equivilant of stopping at Chatres time wise - I would push on and get to the Dordogne. It was hot in the Loire on the way back but on the way down we nearly carried on to spain as it didnt brighten up until the last hour - then whoosh - like turning on an oven. But fine as its cools off at night so you can sleep.   

Have a good time - we liked it so much we back there this year ! Le Paradis is really really nice for kids I have to say. Le Pigeonniare was only about 20 mins away but I didn't go in.   

---

thats spooky, I've just checked availability on eurotunnel for the 3rd sun in august! its slightly more than the ferry but SO much quicker! lots of good advice, especially about stopovers, many thanks :-)